Written by Today we have a little thing that burst onto cinema screens everywhere in 1982 by the name of E.T. The concept was based on an imaginary friend that Steven Spielberg created for himself after his parents divorced. One might think he’d create a talking teddy bear, but instead the outcome was a loose-skinned, wrinkled alien with a long neck and impossibly large eyes. This film was such a great memory from childhood, and it actually surpassed Star Wars and became the highest grossing film, until Jurassic Park came along later to beat it. So, I decided to see what the little alien would look like in a doodlewash.
My E.T. looks just as weird as the original I think. Philippe didn’t like this movie and thought it was too scary for kids. He also kept wincing as he walked by me sketching it as he thinks E.T. is extremely ugly. Many kids I went to school with thought he was “ugly cute” but many others just thought he was plain gross and “grody” looking. I was in the “ugly cute” camp, but only because of the story and the fact that this little guy was essentially abandoned on a foreign planet and just wanted to go home. I couldn’t imagine what that must be like.
Also, I had the video game on my Atari 2600 (they actually released the 5200 the same year as this movie, but I never owned that version). The game was silly fun, but not particularly amazing. I just liked it because I liked E.T. This was also the reason why I had to have Reese’s Pieces candy as well. This was the candy that the little boy, Elliott, uses to lure the alien into his room to hide him. The most iconic part of the movie is when E.T., wrapped in a blanket in the basket of a Elliott’s bike, uses his power to make the bicycle fly across the moon. Ugly or not, if this little guy could make my bicycle fly through the sky, he would have been my friend as well.
Still playing catch-up and trying to get caught up on things, and so these posts are coming to you rather later than usual. But I’m determined to keep going and wanted to thank everyone who’s continuing with me on this journey! There’s only a few days left of this little doodlewash adventure and a new one begins on Monday. Hope you’ll stay tuned with me to see what’s next! I say “with me” because as many of you know, I haven’t a clue what’s next and am just as anxious to discover what it might be.
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Burnt Sienna, Azo Green, Pyrrol Red, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Teal, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink and second pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
My older daughter had a stuffed ET (not plush, some kind of soft plastic) that she carried around everywhere for about a year. It lacked the detail of your painting, but the face was very close to what you drew. I always thought it was kind of cute. And who wouldn’t want a bicycle that flies? (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 💕😃I had the plush as well…or pleather version. I think they made traditional plush, but those looked weird. So cute she always carried it with her!! Hehe
Pleather! exactly. Must have been the same one. It originally belonged to my nephew (who is about your age), but he passed it on.
I don’t know what happened to mine…my mother hasn’t tried to give it back to me so I fear he might be lost. I wish I still had him! 😊hehe
I think we gave ours away to a younger child somewhere along the way…hopefully it’s still being passed along!
ET Phone Home! You made ET adorably “ugly cute” Charlie O! Great job, and thanks for posting! Can’t wait to see what’s next! 🙂 <3
Hehe…I could not get that phrase out of my head while sketching this. Thank goodness it wasn’t a long session. Lol 😊 Thanks Jodi!! ❤️😃 I can’t wait to see either! Lol
Oh my! Your E.T. is perfectly ‘ugly cute’ (never just ‘ugly’!) Great job! Ashamedly, I haven’t seen the film (quelle surprise) but I’ve seen chunks here and there – I’ve definitely seen that magical bike scene. As for that Atari game, I must find a way to play that myself – I’m sure it’s meant to be one of the worst games EVER! 😛 I’m sure it can’t be that bad, right!?
I’m very much intrigued to see what’s coming up for February – I’m sure you’ll pull something out of the bag at the last moment, as usual. I’m trying to think what on earth you haven’t covered by now!
Thanks Jacob! Ugh…you are going to be sooooo busy this year with the movie list I’ve given you. This one is required viewing as well. Lol And the game was so strange. If I recall, you could extend his head to float up to the next screen. Hehe…or something like that. I kind of wanted to try it again myself! Hehe And who knows what I’ll end up doing…there’s tons of possibilities left! 😉
It’s on the list 😉 I actually really want to see this now – I’d forgotten how cute he was!
I’ve just got an awesome Atari emulator and this game. It’s certainly interesting – pressing space does the head thing of which you speak. But the opening music is quite adorable! Why is there the number 9999 decreasing at the bottom? Am I doing it wrong? 😛
I’m having too much fun for it to be the worst game ever though. I love games from this era!
Haha! I can’t believe you actually played it! That’s awesome!! I can’t even remember exactly how it worked. I think that might be a countdown? Hehe…so cool you tried it!! 😃😃
Haha, it was too tempting with all that I’d read about it before!
The 9999 seems to count down every time you move – perhaps it’s a score and you’re supposed to get to the end, wherever on earth that is, with as few moves as possible? Who on earth knows! But it was hilarious fun to try it out.
On a similar doodlewash vein I also downloaded ‘Big Bird’s Egg Catch’ from 1983, but I can’t even work out how to get that past the opening screen! These old games are too complex! 😉
I’m sooo jealous of these games you’re playing. If you lived next door I’d be running over every day! Hehe
Haha… it’s simple: hop on a plane, Charlie, and come play E.T.! 😉
Haha…you say that like I own a private jet or something. 😎lol
Oh you mean you don’t? I’m sure it’s only a matter of time! 😉 I would say you should call it The Doodlewash Express but I suppose that should really be saved for your train.
Oooooo….I want a train called that!! Why does nobody have a private train?! So much cooler than jets!
Definitely cooler than jets (well, a steam train at any rate). Switch your little ‘do’ logo to ‘choo’ and stick a few on the sides just for a laugh 😉
Haha! Yep! That would do it!! Too funny! Choodlewash coming to a city near you! 😉🚂
I’m definitely in the “Ugly-Cute” camp! I worked at a drive-in movie theatre at the time and we took our breaks outside, watching pretty much the same bloody scenes over and over! Still love the little guy…
Awww fun! I wish I had seen this one in the drive-in…I liked those! Though I can’t imagine watching the same movie scenes over and over! Yikes!! 😳hehe…glad you still love E.T. though!
It was cool, that’s for sure.
Definitely not fun!
E.T. is ugly to our human notions of beauty, perhaps, but your E.T. doodlewash is definitely ugly-cute! <3 For some reason, I thought the movie came out mid-80s instead of 82. It just felt like I was older than 18 when I watched it….well, I sure feel old now! Hah! 😀
Hehe! Thanks Teresa! 💕😃Hoping I got a little cute in with the ugly. Philippe was no help at all as a judge because he hates this one! Lol
Oh, I loved EY. It was such a sweet but sad story. I’m in the ‘ugly cute’ camp.
Yay! Another in my camp. Thanks, Teri! 💕😃
Aww so cute! And a challenging subject too! Looking forward to your next trick, Charlie! So glad you keep rolling on! 💜💜💜
Hehe…he was weirdly easier than I expected actually. Hard lines!! Yay! More like architecture than a portrait, so I was good to go! 😊😊lol Thanks Laura!! ❤️❤️
Oh, you could do anything, Charlie. I sincerely believe you could. I wish I could do buildings! Yours are so lovely. But seriously. Nothing is beyond your reach! 💜💜💜
Awww you’re so sweet. But I think getting a good likeness with people is still my final challenge. Yours are wonderful…I guess them every time (even when I’m not super familiar with “that sports person”…lol) 😉💜
You’re also a very good guesser!! Sometimes even I don’t see the people I’m drawing lol. You and Jodi are the King & Queen of this!
I love ET, you really captured his adorable weird face so well. Thanks for posting Charlie.
Hehe! Thanks Sharon!! 💕😃 I was hoping I got the face right. The body is just sort of a weird mess. But I’m a big ET fan! 😊
Oh, I love how you outlined ET with sepia ink. Very “ET” as in “Extra Talented” Charlie! I loved this movie! 🍿 Super doodlewash, friend! 😜👍🎨
Hehe!! Thanks Jill! You’re so sweet!! 💕😃 I’m loving my second Lamy with the sepia. Sometimes I don’t want such a cartoon black line for everything. And E.T. was real!! At least I thought so as a kid. 😊lol
I loved ET! And though he wasn’t the adorable teddy bear, I still fell in love with him. Thinking back, what happened to ET when the government found him would be scary for younger children. It was just so sad for me to watch. Your doodlewash is wonderful with all the wrinkles! Wow! And I love his expression!
Thanks Kari!! 💕😃Yeah when Philippe said it was scary I had to think back and realized…yeah…government chasing down kids on bikes, men in hazmat suits invading your home…terrifying! But I still loved it! Glad you liked the doodlewash! And thrilled you liked the expression…I sort of improvised it a bit as I didn’t like the ones in my references. 😊
Awesome doodlewash. And thanks for bringing ET back from my memory…I ve almost forgotten him over the years. I think it was the first film I was watching with classmates without parents, though.
Thanks, Kathrin! 💕😃 So glad it brought back good memories. That’s a cool memory in itself…first time to see a movie without parents. I can’t think of what movie that was for me at the moment though! Hehe
I’m with Philippe on this one, Charlie. In fact, if I were asked to produce a list of my least favourite things by some anti-matter Julie Andrews (what?) ET and Rubik’s cube would be right there! You make both charming by your wonderful doodlewashes though. Hats off, yet again!
Haha! Thanks Michael! 😃No worries…I’ve had a few this month that had mixed reactions! Lol It’s been fun to see which camps people fall into and doodlewash things I would never think to paint! Hehe
That is awesome! I love E.T.
Yay! So glad you like him too! And my doodlewash! Hehe…thanks Catherine!
Phone home 🙂 👍🏻
Hehe…thanks Carol! now it’s stuck in your head isn’t it?! Lol You’re welcome! 😘
Yikes, I’m trying to get caught up too Charlie. I could swear they added two additional days to the work week!! But on to the important stuff. I loved E.T. (The movie), it was magical and sweet in it’s own way. E.T. was just a charming little character, once you got beyond his exterior there was a heart of a child. Your rendering feels the same, charming!
They did add extra days this week, Cathe!! I swear that must have been it!! Hehe…yay though! Glad you liked ET as well …it really was a great movie! And glad you liked my doodlewash of him! 💕😃