Author: Chad Frye

Bug Bites

So, to elaborate a little on my last post, I thought I’d share just a tad bit more about my camping experience a few weeks ago in the Russian wilderness…

Camping and I just don’t get along well. I prefer seeing nature through the protection of a window – protection from the insects. I am big and juicy, and every manner of mosquito, black fly, and anything with wings with a taste for flesh manages to find a spot on my skin and digs in for a delightful smörgåsbord.

Not having gone camping once since I was fourteen years old, I had hopes that this trip might be different. After all, Russia and America have been on decent terms with each other since the early 90s. Surely their mosquitos would welcome me with open arms just as the Russian people had. Just the same, following Ronald Reagan’s advice to “trust, but verify,” I went armed with the best deet bug spray I could find, and coated myself with that stinky armor ready to defend my pure, lily-white skin. The Russian mosquitos welcomed me alright – welcomed me with open teeth.

Ranging from teeny tiny to flies about the size of my head, my body became a living sacrifice to the whims of the wild. Due to the frequency of the swatting, I got to know the tone of the slaps on my body so well, that by the end of the camping trip I was able to flawlessly play Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture on my skin. This was strangely appropriate since that song was written to celebrate the 1812 defense of Russia against invading mosquitos – I mean, Napoleon.

 

While maybe not exactly scientific, this is an accurate depiction of how I remember the experience.
While maybe not exactly scientific, this is pretty much an accurate depiction of how I remember the experience.

 

All humor aside, the trip did have many wonderful moments with friends old and new. The 50 or so other folks I camped with did indeed welcome me and showed me such incredible hospitality. The father of one friend graciously loaned me sleeping bags and a tent, one family saw my discomfort in not being able to sleep and loaned me an air mattress they had brought for swimming, while another family loaned me an extra sweatshirt as I was woefully unprepared for the drastic shifts in temperature, and the camp nurse graciously gave me a salve for my countless bug bites. Other folks did all the cooking, sometimes with a hot three-course meal which always helped distract from other discomforts. So yes, it was real camping away from the comforts of home, but with the generosity of others, it was an amazing six-day long experience.

Still, I’m not sure that needs to be repeated.

Categories
Animals Art: Drawings Caricature Character Designs Life Drawings Self Portrait Sketchbook

John Silver

A couple of weeks ago, I spent six days camping in the untamed nature of Russia. You read that right – in RUSSIA! I am not much one for going on a genuine camping trip. My last camping trip was when I was 14 years old, and it was the trip that convinced me to never go camping again. Well, sometimes you have to break promises you made to yourself.

This isn’t an official post about my camping trip. Maybe I’ll share with you more about that another time. However, this IS a post to share a drawing I did while on that camping trip. I went into the Russian forest with a large church group where we heard many messages preached from God’s Word, we went swimming in a lake, played volleyball, and had craft time every day.

Craft time for me mostly meant doing drawings for everyone else, which was perfectly fine. I drew several Mickey Mouses (or would that be Mickey Mice?), Donald Duck, Winnie the Poohs, a Kronk used on a nail craft project, and even some of my own creations. One that was maybe the most fun to draw, and most unusual to get a request for, was John Silver from Disney’s Treasure Planet.

While I did work on Treasure Planet, I was not one of the animators. I had done some sketches of him back in the day, but was long removed from the project. One friend of mine had internet access out there in the middle of nowhere, so we looked him up for reference, and I worked out this sketch of Silver with his companion Morph. I loved how it turned out, and thought maybe you’d enjoy seeing it, too.

Camping – in the woods – in Russia – with internet access – drawing John Silver – very strange, yet memorable.

 

Arrrr! The Russian woods be a risky place to be drawin' pirates!
Arrrr! The Russian woods be a risky place to be drawin’ pirates!
Categories
Art: Animation Art: Drawings Disney Random Doodles Sketchbook

Honey Bear

Today’s sketch was a little something I created on the first page of a sketchbook I gave to a friend’s niece. She is a creative 10-year-old, so why not make a little gift of something to encourage her with her art!

The sketchbook is your regular ol’ white-paged book and the drawing was inked in it with a brush pen with just a splash of yellow watercolor to define the honey. I just decided to goose it a little digitally by scanning it into Photoshop, dropping it onto some brown Canson paper, and then adding some modest highlights and shadows on the bear.

 

A bear in his natural habitat. Just don't ask where he got the straw and little umbrella.
A bear in his natural habitat. Just don’t ask where he got the straw and little umbrella.

 

Categories
Animals Art: Inking Character Designs Illustrations Random Doodles Sketchbook

Noah

A few years ago, I was hired to create a portrait of Noah that was to be used as Noah’s profile picture on Facebook. Yes, you read that right. Noah was going to join Facebook.

Answers in Genesis, the organization in Kentucky behind the Creation Museum in Petersburg, had announced back then that they were going to build a full-scale replica of Noah’s ark. I was told by the ad agency hiring me that they wanted to set up a Facebook page for Noah where he could talk about the new Ark Encounter theme park, and answer questions from kids and the like. Well, tomorrow the Ark Encounter opens in Williamstown, Kentucky after all these years of planning and building. I’ve seen pictures, and think it looks pretty neat!

Sadly, I don’t think Noah ever joined Facebook. I never saw this portrait used there as it was meant to have been. So, five years after having painted him, it is time to let him “out of the ark” so to speak. His look is based on photos of Noah mannequins on display in the Creation Museum, but hopefully with a little more life and a twinkle in his eye. (Museum mannequins tend to creep me out a bit.)

This Noah was created with watercolor paint and colored pencils, just as they would have used back in Noah’s day. Well, maybe not EXACTLY like back then, but certainly no digital art methods were used back then.

Actually, come to think of it, it makes sense that they would have had WATERcolors available. (rimshot)

 

I know what you are thinking, and no, the dove is not trying to stick the branch in Noah's ear.
I know what you are thinking, and no, the dove is not trying to stick the branch in Noah’s ear.
Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Painting Art: Watercolor Bible Art Character Designs Illustrations

Viking Cat

The other day in a weird burst of thought, it occurred to me that Vikings must have had cats for pets. They were a seafaring people, and with all that fish around, surely there had to be cats. Maybe the cats enjoyed plundering and pillaging little mouse villages, too – who knows?

One thing is for sure – after a hard day’s work of marauding, a tired Viking would probably enjoy putting his soggy feet up by a fire and exercise his sensitive side by petting a purring kitty as he drifts off to a Norse dreamland.

 

The call of the sea is a strong one.
The ferocious Viking and his trusty kitty in tune with the purr of the sea.
Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Drawings Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook

Max & ServiceMan – page 9

If you are just joining us, please know that this is the last page of a 10 page series being posted here on the ol’ blog. Please CLICK HERE to start back on the first page to see a full explanation of what this art is all about. Thanks!

 

Page 9
Page 9

 

Nuthin’ says “good job” like a high five with your teammate! OH YEAH!

 

ChadFrye_Max_TheEnd_2016

 

And that’s the end of Max Visits the Hospital! Hope you enjoyed it. Even with a couple of years to reflect on it, I’m pretty happy with the results of this two-week rush job! It was a fun challenge. I believe I finished it late one night, and the next morning I was on a plane off on a long-planned trip. Got it done by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!

Now for the final word on what this book was actually selling when it was handed out at that 2014 convention for which it was created!

 

ChadFrye_ServiceMax

Categories
Art: Drawings Art: Inking Art: Photoshop Character Designs Illustrations

Max & ServiceMan – page 8

If you are just joining us, please know that this is one page of a 10 page series being posted here on the ol’ blog. Please CLICK HERE to start back on the first page to see a full explanation of what this art is all about. Thanks!

 

Page 8
Page 8

 

Those are some pretty happy customers. Now the kids are back playing with their toy, which might actually be how it came to be broken in the first place.

Categories
Art: Drawings Art: Inking Art: Photoshop Character Designs Illustrations

Max & ServiceMan – page 7

If you are just joining us, please know that this is one page of a 10 page series being posted here on the ol’ blog. Please CLICK HERE to start back on the first page to see a full explanation of what this art is all about. Thanks!

 

Page 7
Page 7

 

“Gimme that doohicky, STAT!” (No, I do not have an intimate knowledge of x-ray machine parts. 1. I made up that part, and 2. I’m pretty sure that is not a real x-ray machine design. However, walking talking iPads definitely are real.)

Categories
Art: Drawings Art: Inking Art: Photoshop Character Designs Illustrations