Category: Animals

Spring Selfie

Welcome to the first day of spring!!!

While many parts of the United States have already been showing signs of spring, others are still buried under snow thanks to a big storm that hit just last week. Where there is snow, there may be some hibernating bears you don’t want to awaken.

If you happen to be hiking through the woods, stay alert out there! DON’T bury your nose in your cell phone. You may come across a bear just up from a long winter’s nap, and he may want to check his e-mail or take his first 2017 selfie!

 

This just happened to be something I sketched while in the freezing cold of Russia this past January.

 

You may laugh at the absurdity of this situation, but believe me, it could happen. A few years ago I was watching the morning news on television here in Los Angeles, and a situation like this almost happened. Someone posted the clip on YouTube, which I have provided for you here…

 

 

 

By the way, this just so happens to be my 550th post here on the ol’ blog. I’m sure that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

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Animals Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook Videos

Mad Dog

You know how it is when you play fetch with your dog…

He/she jumps up and down giddy with the anticipation that you are about to lob that tennis ball somewhere. As you release the fuzzy orb into space, the dog bounds after it with the energy of NASA rockets, snatches the ball before it comes to rest, and races back to you re-entering the atmosphere at breakneck speed. As you reach down to retrieve the orb for another launch, the dog immediately turns into a ferocious beast with growling and fangs ready to rip you to shreds as if it had been infected by some strange being from another world it may have encountered while on its journey.

If only the dog returned with some kind of superpower like the Fantastic 4.

 

Houston, we have a problem.
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Animals Art: Drawings Art: Inking Art: Painting Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook

Lion & the Mouse

Back in September, I picked up one of those neat Toned Tan hardcover sketchbooks made by Strathmore. While not perfect for my way of working (I wish the paper had more tooth), I have been having fun experimenting a bit with sketching on this mid-toned paper with some darker, lighter, and colored media.

Just felt like drawing a lion yesterday, and as I started the sketch, that old Aesop’s Fable story The Lion & the Mouse came to mind, so I added a mouse in the mane. Some get lice, the lion gets mice. (As a side note, one of my favorite depictions of this story was illustrated by veteran artist Jerry Pinkney whose stunning version of the story rests firmly in my personal library.)

Roar.

 

The mouse that roared.
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Animals Art: Drawings Art: Inking Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook

Elephanting

Two posts ago, I showed you some sketches of real Russians drawn from real life while really in Russia. While I didn’t personally see any elephants while visiting that fascinating country (maybe they were hibernating for the winter – I’m not a zoologist, so it’s probably true), my mind still wandered to them one cold Russian day, and they made an appearance in my sketchbook.

I wish I had a more expressive pencil on me at the time, but armed with just a .5mm mechanical pencil, a few elephants emerged from the cold recesses of my mind. I present them to you here with a little digital enhancement.

 

Elephants truly are funny looking creatures, but so amazing at the same time.
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Animals Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook

NCS Foundation Charity Auction

Over the past year, Bongo Comics’ Bill Morrison and I have been working on putting together a fundraiser for the National Cartoonists Society Foundation. This week we launched the auction on Ebay.

We have 85 items featuring the work of over 70 of the nation’s top cartoonists, illustrators, and animators, most of whom donated their own work to our efforts for which we thank them!

All the money raised goes to the NCS Foundation, a fully licensed 501(c)(3) charity, to help them continue their work in assisting cartoonists in need, providing scholarships to students, and further promoting the cartoon arts which has been the hallmark of the National Cartoonists Society since its inception in 1946.

To see the art and to place bids, CLICK HERE to go directly to the NCS Foundation seller page on Ebay!

 

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Animals Art: Animation Art: Drawings Art: Inking Art: Painting Cartoons Chad's Editorials Character Designs Comic Books Disney Illustrations

The Deadly Hike

Be careful out there in the cold winter everyone. Wear those coats and gloves and scarves and warm knit caps.

Oh, and also remember that not all bears hibernate…

Always good to eat a healthy snack. Hikers are very healthy.
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Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Drawings Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook

Mistletoe

How about a little warmth during this season of cold weather? I’d like to think that real snow people might steal a kiss or two when humans aren’t looking.

A little ink and  gouache creation on brown paper…

He’d better be careful – don’t want to make her melt!
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Animals Art: Drawings Art: Inking Art: Painting Character Designs Illustrations Random Doodles Sketchbook

Drawn & Quoted: Life’s Challenges

“There is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.”

– Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

The drool of death.
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Animals Art: Inking Character Designs Drawn & Quoted Random Doodles Sketchbook