Pancake art:
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rQNsOfkV_Q

This one is showing portraiture (of the Beatles).

But there are many on YouTube to find with other ideas.
(some are mostly just people goofing off and having fun).

No lumps in the batter...and the longer certain areas are on
the griddle the darker those parts will be. This video is time compressed, so some trial and error will be needed to learn the shades.

How to get the batter into the squeeze bottle is a challenge.
One gal used a flexible cutting mat --rolled into a funnel shape, and sprayed with PAM a little, and poured thru that into the
squeeze bottle. Don't fill to the very top, as you need a little air to start the squeeze process.

Make a skull for Halloween!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5FFySbDnPI

Wow, Is that for real? Amazing. :D

Yes, it is for real.... simple too.;)

Who knows, playing with food, may lead to a new hobby in ART!
The concepts are the same, but only the materials differ.

There is another version, by making a template from a picture, cutting out various areas. Then sprinkling with cocoa, and/or powdered sugar.

In any case it trains your eye to see values--light and dark.

Only trick I know to pancake making and it's not art, is that the first pancake never works in my pan. Usually have to throw that one out and then all the rest work just fine. I think the trick is to have a good pan.

Next time I make pancakes I'll make a George Harrison. My fave. :)

Funny how these trends work. A while ago it was the vegetable art. Making lotus flowers out of carrots and things like that. I have fancied up some salads in my time by making slits in radish and dipping them in icy water. Same with the celery. These days I don't bother. lol What does that tell you?!

The pan has to get really hot... It sometimes helps to have a little oil or butter on it.

Our propane stove upNorth, cooks way different too. I guess electric stove vs gas vs propane would all be different in heat up rates.

I like cooking with gas better than electric, (plus it's less expensive here), but I'm stuck with electric.

There is a trick to knowing when the griddle is hot enough.

You sprinkle water with your fingers on it. It the droplets dance around and fizz away... it is hot enough for the pancakes. ;)