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Hunt for the whimsical characters street artist David Zinn is leaving behind

by jeff in News

A corroding old pipe left sticking out of a Laguna Beach sidewalk makes for a fine hat for a lucky little leprechaun.

Artist David Zinn uses the ordinary – a brick in the wall, the corner of a curb, a stone in a pillar – to make whimsical characters to delight audiences as long as the chalk and charcoal he uses will last.

Artist David Zinn uses a pipe in the ground for a hat when drawing a character with chalk and charcoal Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn’s characters, Phil and Sluggo, appear to pop out of a brick at city hall in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Artist David Zinn’s character, Phil, a pig with wings, or as he calls it, a “Pigasus” appear to pop out of a rock pillar at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn’s character, Phil, a pig with wings, or as he calls it, a “Pigasus” appear to pop out of a rock pillar at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn explains to visitors how he uses a long stick to draw characters so he can stand far away and see the perspective other people will have in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn uses chalk and charcoal to draw whimsical characters around in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn uses chalk and charcoal to draw whimsical characters around in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn uses a pipe in the ground for a hat when drawing a character with chalk and charcoal in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn uses chalk and charcoal to draw whimsical characters around in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn’s characters, Phil and Sluggo, appear to pop out of a brick at city hall in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. His whimsical characters will be popping up around town this week. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Artist David Zinn uses chalk and charcoal to draw whimsical characters around in Laguna Beach, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Zinn often uses a style called anamorphosis – he draws a distorted drawing which appears 3D-like when view from a particular point. The art work is sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach Temporary Art Sub-committee. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The style of art is called anamorphosis – using a distorted drawing to appear 3D when viewed from the right angle. He’s been bouncing around downtown Laguna Beach this week drawing his characters.

On Saturday, March 30, he’ll be at Heisler Park’s amphitheater at 11 a.m. holding a free workshop showing how his temporary art works.

Visit Laguna Beach is hosting a contest for people to hunt for and photograph Zinn’s street illustrations for a chance to win a signed copy of his art. Information: visitlagunabeach.com.