At nine years old, Madeline Skillings received her first Etch A Sketch, a toy that has now become an avenue for her to create beautiful works of arts that she then erases.
“One thing I love particularly about the Etch A Sketch toy is that the pictures don’t last, that you have to enjoy it in the moment. People become horrified when they learn that after I create something, I shake it,” Skillings toldKSL.
A BYU student finishing her nursing degree, Skillings still finds time to capture images inspired by her LDS faith or memories, if even just for a moment.
“I am just a firm believer that it’s fun and creative,” Skillings told KSL. “I love it because it’s hard. You really do feel accomplished after creating something. There are so many avenues for art and this one is unique.”
Check out these incredible works of art from her Instagram:
#etchasketch #angel #religiousart A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Apr 6, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT
#etchasketch #religiousart A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Apr 6, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT
Part 2 for all of you who haven't seen what this Spring Sketch turns into. I chose this picture because it made me think of how every ending is coupled with a beautiful beginning. Spring will always follow the dead winter! #etchasketch #inspiration #nature #spring #hope A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on May 4, 2016 at 8:22pm PDT
"A New Father and His Baby" Thanks @aarondoria for being my model. #fathersday #newfather #etchasketch #father #love #newbaby #baby #happyfathersday #father @theellenshow A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Jun 19, 2016 at 3:37pm PDT
Found the album from years ago when I was in high school and just starting to try and make real pictures on the #etchasketch! A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Jul 6, 2016 at 9:22pm PDT
FUN FACT: the models in each of these sketches are MARRIED and that's the same baby in both pictures! ALSO, somehow I forgot about these sketches and they have been preserved for over 8 months (which is a record for me because I usually shake them right away). #funfacts #etchasketch #etchaskillz A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Apr 21, 2017 at 4:33pm PDT
Friends: "Do you just pull etch a sketch pictures off the web and post them on your feed?" - Me: "Actually, nope." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #proof #etchAsketch #etchaskillz #easter #happyeaster #christianart #mondayvibes #happymonday #artist #uniquetalent #uniqueartist #abstract #tbt #behappy #funnymeme #funnymemes #expert #artistsofinstagram A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Apr 17, 2017 at 4:42pm PDT
"He is not here..." ☀️ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #heisrisen #happyeaster #easter #etchasketch #eastersketch #etchaskillz #christisrisen #becausehelives #christianart #eastersunday #ldsthought #happyspring. [matthew 28:6] A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Apr 16, 2017 at 1:59pm PDT
💘In today's self-centered society, I am inspired when I see new mothers who, among many other things, sacrifice their perfect bodies to grow a baby for 9 months, sacrifice their sleep to tend a newborn, and sacrifice their time to chase around little beach bums who keep trying to eat handfuls of sand. My sister @hill_doria is one such inspiration. She keeps making the sacrifice of motherhood look more and more joyful and exciting. #purelove #motherhood #selfless #happybirthday #etchasketch #motherandbaby #baby #newborn #toddler #beachbum Sketch time: 1 hour A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Aug 29, 2016 at 4:56pm PDT
Bottom left: Russian swimmer Efimova was on her way to the top despite her well-known cheating by drug-use. Top right: U.S. Swimmer Lily King still manages to win the gold medal and exclaims, "It just proves that you can compete clean and still come out on top with all the work you put in." #2016olympics #rio2016 #lilyking #olympicswimming #2016olympicgames #goldmedalist #cleansport #etchasketch #efimova #2016olympicswimming #roadtorio #rio2016olympics #olympicgames A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Aug 9, 2016 at 8:18pm PDT
Short rose bouquet demo. Full video on YouTube! #etchasketch #howto #tutorial #etchasketchtutorial #etchaskillz A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Jul 27, 2016 at 4:56pm PDT
This etch was sketched in anticipation of the last HP movie release. Those were the golden days. #etchasketch #ohioart #harrypotter #harrypotterart #harrypottersketch #etchaskillz A post shared by Madeline @madskillings (@etch.a.skillz) on Apr 6, 2016 at 5:30pm PDT