Category: Art: Drawings

Justin Beaver

I know the title is corny, but it made you look, didn’t it? I suppose the only thing this critter has in common with his namesake is the feathered fur, which, by the way was completely drawn on a Wacom Cintiq tablet – my first decent digital drawing posted here on the blog!

Chad's Beaver Drawing
* No wood (pencil) was harmed in the creation of this drawing, though I can’t say as much for the tree he took that branch from.

For those of you not in the know, a Cintiq is pressure sensitive computer screen on which you can draw with an inkless pen called a “stylus”. Press lightly, your line is thin. Push harder, the line gets thicker. Pretty neat stuff that has been sweeping through the artistic community within the past two years even though these tablets have been around for close to ten years now.

Back when I worked at Disney Feature Animation, Wacom loaned the studio one of their first generation Cintiq tablets. It was housed in my office where many of the artists could come down and give it a try. Most hated it back then, but technology has a way of improving, and some of those guys now not only use one at work, but they’ve bought them for use at home, too.

I’ve been using one at work for a few months now, and had a few minutes of my own time yesterday to play around with doing something more than storyboards on it. Hope you like the results!

Categories
Animals Art: Drawings Art: Photoshop Character Designs Development Art Random Doodles Sketchbook

Illin’ & Chillin’

One of the perils of winter is the proclivity for one to become ill. How the evil germs seek out their victims is beyond me, but this past week I fell prey to their maniacal misdoings.

Just last Friday I finished my character design and storyboard revising job on two Zhu Zhu Pets movies. I packed my things, went home, enjoyed a nice Saturday, then BUM bum buuuummmm – Sunday hit with a thud. I started coughing in morning church, and after a two-hour afternoon nap, it was evident that something was wrong.

I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again – curse that mischievous Murphy and his confounded law! My first week out of work and I have been spending it nursing a fever, achey back, and runny nose having never been ill while I was employed. Today is the first day I have felt well enough to even sketch something, which I’m sharing with you:

Save Chad Frye
My infernal Cheshire Cat mug just sat there mocking me all week in my sick stupor.

This is not the first time I’ve ever been sick, but somehow it always strikes me as a big surprise when it happens. I tend to forget what it feels like in between illnesses, so when it hits, all the symptoms are rediscovered anew – much like how you look for Waldo again after having not picked up the book in a year – only less fun. Stupid germs.

So, whether you live in the cold reaches of Indiana, or in the 70+ degrees of southern California as I do, the winter bug may seek you out. Try not to be too hospitable to it, ok? Especially if it is wearing a striped shirt and glasses.

Categories
Art: Drawings Caricature Chad's Editorials Random Doodles Self Portrait Sketchbook

2010 Monster Month: Day 29 – The Kitty Killer

For those of you who have been following my Monster Month drawings, you will have noticed that I tend to lean toward the cartoony and humorous style of beastie. That’s my nature – a glimpse into my inner core if you will. Last week I was issued a challenge by an artist whom I deeply respect as he is quite an original himself. Ralph Steadman wrote “As a rule, monsters have got to be almost so obscene they need to be scary – too scary to look at.  Avoid the cartoon monster- smell the sweat!!!”

After giving Mr. Steadman’s mandate some thought, I came up with this toothy monster. What is scarier than an otherworldly creature who preys on sweet innocent little kitty cats? (Yeah, I know – I had to get something cartoony and humorous into the picture, too.) Ralph, this one’s for you.

The teeth are one thing, but that horrendous halitosis will kill you first every time..

Well, I know the above monster doesn’t necessarily smell of sweat, but it’s a step in the right direction. In order to make my drawings more sweat worthy, perhaps I’ll have to think of scarier things to get in the right mindset. My current mental scare tactics aren’t working – tactics like what if you have to squelch a burp in church, or getting up to the register at the grocery store only to realize you left your coupons at home.

Then again, for some of us, those thoughts can be pretty hard core scary.

Categories
Animals Art: Drawings Character Designs Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 26 – Bed Bug

Talk about a BED BUG problem…..

Bed Bug

This past weekend I spent several nights sleeping in a hotel in the Phoenix, AZ area. While the room appears clean when you first arrive, you always wonder what those cleaning ladies may have missed. With the current bed bug scare in the United States, you hope desperately that the preceding traveler didn’t leave behind little guests of their own that enjoy room service.

Thankfully I didn’t have bed bugs (that I know of), but it still didn’t stop me from sketching this drawing right there in my room of what could have been. Oog.

Categories
Art: Drawings Art: Inking Cartoons Character Designs Monsters Random Doodles Sketchbook

2010 Monster Month: Day 25 – Treevesdropper

Remember kids, it’s always safest to go into the woods with a buddy – preferably a buddy larger than yourself to increase your chances of him getting attacked first so you can get away…

Tree Creature
This can’t be good.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Drawings Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 22 – The Babysitter

Every couple with children really should schedule a date night from time to time. You know, an evening for just the two of you without the kids. The children tend to consume your every waking moment to the point that you need to be reminded of your love for each other.

Go back to a time in your minds when your young love was budding – no mortgage to worry about, no children, no responsibilities, and quite possibly no money. (If that last one is the case, zip forward just a scooch to when you don’t have to negotiate with the maitre d.) Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

It’s settled then! Go get yourselves a babysitter right away to take care of the little squirts so you can head out to a nice romantic restaurant for two. Just don’t call the service that these children’s parents hired…

Demon Beast with kids
What are these kids still doing up?! It’s waaaay past their bedtime.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Drawings Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 20 – Homeless

We all see them – homeless fellas standing at freeway ramps and street corners with their signs requesting your financial assistance. However you respond to them, perhaps it’s best in this case to definitely avoid making eye contact…..

Homeless
Honesty in marketing is so rare these days.

(Feel free to click on the image to see a slightly larger version.)

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Art: Drawings Cartoons Character Designs Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 18 – Purple Ice Cream Eater

If you followed last year’s Monster Month, you might remember a morbid ink sketch of a monster enjoying some ice cream that was posted on this very day. I’m not sure why exactly, but the thought of one of these hairy beasts truly enjoying some frozen dairy delights just strikes me as funny, peculiar, and just a wee bit nostalgic. Ice cream is definitely tasty, so why wouldn’t creatures that go bump in the night decide to bump into some for themselves? Well, at least the ones that aren’t lactose intolerant I suppose.

Purple Ice Cream Eater
What do you bet she actually has four tongues ready to attack that stack?

Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Drawings Character Designs Monsters