Growing up, the artist behind these drawings loved Saturday morning cartoons. One of his favorites was Popeye, which from the 1960s to the 1980s was hosted by Tom Hatten. During the commercial breaks, Hatten would guide watchers through cartooning tutorials, helping them learn how to draw their favorite characters. Tom Hatten also held contests, in which fans would send in a “squiggle” and be able to watch Hatten finish the drawing on television.

When this artist was still young, his father launched a brilliant plan to help his son win the contest. When they mailed in their submission, they covered each and every inch of the envelope with stamps. There might have been 80 stamps! This got the attention of the studio, and the artist won the cherished memory of watching his letter selected on the air. Decades later, he still remembers this Saturday morning fondly.

Tom Hatten died in 2019, after a long career in tv programming. He is beloved by many for helping a generation discover the love of drawing.

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