An artist who chained his legs together to draw a picture loses the key for the restraints.

San Bernardino County sheriff's Deputy Ryan Ford says, Trevor Corneliusien, 26, tightly wrapped and locked a long, thick chain around his bare ankles Tuesday while camping in an abandoned mine shaft about 5 miles north of Baker, in order to draw a picture.

When he finished the drawing, he was unable to locate the key and had to make his way to city, while bound.

"It took him over 12 hours because he had to hop through boulders and sand," says Ford says. "He did put on his shoes before hopping."

Once Corneliusien made it to a gas station on the edge of town, he called the Sheriff's Department, which sent paramedics and deputies with bolt cutters.

The artist was freed with only bruised legs, the painting, according to officials, was an accurate description of an individual bound at the feet.