We all love videogames, sure. But some folks out there love them a wee bit more than us. Don’t be jealous, though — these superfans show their adoration by creating tons of cool, cultural things for our own amusement. That’s why we’ve starting the Cultural Corner — each week we’ll showcase a fan whose talents extend far beyond pushing a bunch of buttons.
First up: Grub-time doodler Derek and his personalized lunch bag art. Every day he makes some cool art for his kiddos and posts them on his website. It’s here you can check out his near-perfect renditions of videogame characters, Pixar-inspired Batman rides, and even KHAAAAANNNNN! We recently chatted with the talented food-cover scribbler to find out more about his hungry hobby.
Bitmob: So the concept of your site is pretty simple: You make a personalized lunch bag for your kiddos everyday. But, uh, how exactly did you decide to do this? Were your kids just not feeling the boring old brown bags?
Derek: I made their lunches, and the markers and crayons were nearby. I wrote their names, and then colored their names in, then put a dinosaur next to their names…it just got weirder.
Bitmob: Your art is very much nerd-approved (lots of characters from videogames, cartoons, and sci-fi flicks). But have you ever thought about branching off into other more classical works? Y’know, like, doing a Picasso or something? Or the funny lady from that religious Tom Hanks movie?
Derek: I’ve been thinking about doing a portrait of Lincoln. As far as other serious art goes, my favorite classical art usually involves a naked lady. I get enough notes from teachers as it is.
Bitmob: You’ve been doing this site for a while now. So long, in fact, we’re too lazy to count how many lunch bags you’ve created. You know how many you’ve done? Please tell us you’ve been keeping count!
Derek: I have not been keeping count. Also, I’d been doing it for a couple years before I started the blog.
Bitmob: How long do you plan on continuing this? Until you get bored or until your kids find out plastic lunch boxes exist?
Derek: Until the kids get tired of it. Currently they like it a lot, though my daughter and I have been drawing together lately. She’s been making her own lunch bag art more and more.
Bitmob: Speaking of, be honest: Do you hate lunch boxes?
Derek: That’s a strange question. Of course I do. With the fury of a billion exploding suns.
Bitmob: We know you’ve done a lot of these, but do you have one that stands out as your favorite? What about your children? Do they have a favorite? And what exactly happens after lunchtime ends? We hope your children aren’t lunch bag killers…
Derek: The kids throw them away. This is all about practice for me. Sometimes they’ll bring them home at the end of the day, and we’ll flatten the bags out and retire them with honor. I have a few favorites…I like Red XIII, and I’m okay with the Star Wars Battle Droid. Bill and Ted are okay. And I do like Mugatu.
Bitmob: Enough about the art — we want to know the real burning question: What goes inside those lunch bags?
Derek: You can get inexpensive dim sum at the store nowadays; my kids really like that. Also fruit and juice and boring things.
Bitmob: We’re getting hungry — do you think you can make us a personalized lunch bag art? We’re thinking Master Chief, Samus Aran, Mega Man, and RoboCop riding Splash Mountain at Disneyland. Mmm — sounds delicious!
Derek: RoboCop only rides unicorns. I’ve been thinking about doing a unicorn one again. Perhaps RoboCop will ride a unicorn.