Butt Sketcher - The Duke of Derrier
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: July 7, 2010
He's been called the Duke of Derrier. And for more than 20 years he's made a living sketching people's behinds. Now, Krandel Lee Newton says a former associate has stolen his idea. And he's not just going to turn the other cheek.
Right here on this corner 21 years ago, Krandel Lee Newton sketched a backside for the very first time.
Krandel Lee Newton said "and it just clicked, sketch butt. So I coined the phrase original butt sketch, so I hung a sign charging people based by their shape you know, flat round or regular."
Since then, he's sketched seats of all shapes and sizes and he says the puns.
Krandel Lee Newton says "there's no end in sight, here we go with that pun stuff, back side, booty, you give whatever name you want.”
Customer Cynthia Gilmore says "he really caught a side I didn't know I had, you know what I'm sayin?"
And the compliments.
Customer David Vinson says "I think it's neat, I think it's really cool."
Are endless.
Krandel Lee Newton said "it's really been propelled by the people."
From his humble beginnings here on the West End, Krandel has traveled all over the world but he wants to make sure his bottom dollar, doesn't come to an end.
But, Newton says a former associate is threatening all he's built.
Krandel Lee Newton says "and that's what we have here is a guy who feels like, well I'm gonna take this popular idea and I wanna get my own artist to go do the same thing. Well, you really can't do that."
Newton patented the name "Original Butt Sketch" in 1989, and he says Michael Bergenholtz not only used the name, he marketed it on his website without Newton's permission.
Krandel Lee Newton said "the focus of what we do in our business is to have fun. We do it in a certain way and not trying to overreach here, but we do it a certain quality."
As Krandel says, the subject of his sketches can be a little sensitive, so it has to be approached a certain way.
And since it's his idea, Krandel says he needs to be the one to set those rules and no one else has the right to take that away.
Krandel Lee Newton said "it's just protecting a business, nothing more than that."
No if’s and’s, or butt’s about it.
