Category: Art: Colored Pencil

Giving the Hook

Last year when I was working at Disney Television Animation on My Friends Tigger & Pooh, a colleague of mine on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse asked if I’d be willing to do a drawing of Captain Hook for her. I love the design of the characters from Disney’s Peter Pan, so I thought it might be a fun project. It was. I hope I have the chance to do more with Captain Hook in the future.

Thought it was about time I shared the resulting watercolor sketch with you here. Enjoy!

A watercolor sketch of Disney's Captain Hook. Click on the image to see it larger.
A watercolor sketch of Disney’s Captain Hook. Click on the image to see it larger.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Disney Random Doodles Sketchbook

“Terrible Yellow Eyes” Art Show

For those of you who will be in the LA area this weekend, I wanted to let you know about an art show that opens on Saturday, September 19.

A few months back, I shared with you here on the blog my step-by-step process in the creation of a Where the Wild Things Are (the children’s book by Maurice Sendak) tribute illustration. I created that painting for TerribleYellowEyes.com, a website put together by illustrator Cory Godbey to celebrate Mr. Sendak’s brilliant book. Cory has continued to compile a wonderful selection of art for his website by artists from all over the world.

Chad Frye's "Where the Wild Things Are" tribute painting created for TerribleYellowEyes.com. Click on image to see it larger.
Chad Frye’s “Where the Wild Things Are” tribute painting created for TerribleYellowEyes.com. Click on image to see it larger.
Chad Frye with Cory Godbey taken at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con at Cory's Portland Studios booth.
Chad Frye with Cory Godbey taken at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con at Cory’s Portland Studios booth.

Cory’s website caught the attention of the folks at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California. They selected a nice array of art and will be opening a show and sale of the art this weekend which will run through October 6. Cory (whose work you can see in the latest Flight 6 graphic novel anthology) will be flying out from his home in South Carolina for the show. Some of the other participating artists will also be in attendance.

While my piece was not among those selected for the show, I’ll be there Saturday night as well to take in some great art! Come get swept away by your childhood imagination!

Click on image to see it larger.
Click on image to see it larger.
Click on image to see it larger.
Click on image to see it larger.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Chad About Town Illustrations Monsters

The “Haiku Ewe” Project: FRIDAY

Welcome to the last of my “Haiku Ewe” posts. If you haven’t been following along, “Haiku Ewe” is a web comic by Big Al the gal on GoComics.com. She asked me to fill in for a week when she injured her drawing hand. It was fun illustrating Al’s sweet, little lamb by putting her into scenes of impending doom all while set to contemplative haiku poetry.

Today, you will see the lamb intrigued by some berries, despite a fierce bear about to get all naturey on her. Below are the various steps from sketch to final comic. Enjoy!


This is the rough pencil drawing submitted to Big Al the gal for approval.
This is the rough pencil drawing submitted to Big Al the gal for approval.
Here's the colored pencil line that was drawn onto some nice watercolor paper.
Here’s the colored pencil line that was drawn onto some nice watercolor paper.
The uncropped watercolored piece. Details to be finessed in the next stage!
The uncropped watercolored piece. Details to be finessed in the next stage!
And here's the final with Big Al's haiku. I have worked quite a bit for Disney, and am a Disney guy at heart. Only one friend noticed the hidden Mickey in this piece. I used to hide Mickey in still life oil paintings back in art school.
And here’s the final with Big Al’s haiku. I have worked quite a bit for Disney, and am a Disney guy at heart. Only one friend noticed the hidden Mickey in this piece. I even used to hide Mickey in still life oil paintings back in art school.


Well, thanks for following along with these “Haiku Ewe” posts. If you missed any, please CLICK HERE to see a list of them here on the blog, and enjoy! Next week I shall return to thoughts and art of a different nature. Perhaps I’ll share with you some photos of my experience at this year’s San Diego Comic Con!

Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Preliminary Sketches Art: Watercolor Cartoons Illustrations

The “Haiku Ewe” Project: THURSDAY

Welcome to the fourth in my 5-part series of the step-by-step creation of my week’s worth of “Haiku Ewe” comics seen on GoComics.com last week. Thursday’s comic once again pits our little lamb in mortal danger – this time at the hands of a conniving wolf. While that is indeed scary, what might be scarier is the realization that wolves can write, and sheep can read.

Well, that is neither here nor there. Let’s just get on with the artwork, shall we? By the way, all the images today can be enlarged if you click on them.

Enjoy!

Here is the pencil rough drawn on tracing paper. While Big Al always wrote the haikus, I had my bit of fun coming up with the words on the signs. It's not every day you get to be punny.
Here is the pencil rough drawn on tracing paper. While Big Al always wrote the haikus, I had my bit of fun coming up with the words on the signs. It’s not every day you get to be punny.
Here's the final pencil drawing (with colored pencils) with just a splash of paint on the background so far. I typically paint the element that's furthest away first, and work my way to the front.
Here’s the final pencil drawing (with colored pencils) with just a splash of paint on the background so far. I typically paint the element that’s furthest away first, and work my way to the front.
The painted version without any finishing touches like additional colored pencil or highlights, shadows, words on the signs, etc.
The painted version without any finishing touches like additional colored pencil or highlights, shadows, words on the signs, etc.
Here is the cropped final with all the little touches that make the artwork pop.
Here is the cropped final with all the little touches that make the artwork pop.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see Friday’s final post on my guest artist week of “Haiku Ewe”!

Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Preliminary Sketches Art: Watercolor Cartoons Illustrations

The “Haiku Ewe” Project: WEDNESDAY

Below is the third of my step-by-step of the process in doing the “Haiku Ewe” comic illustrations that appeared on GoComics.com the week of July 20-24. This particular comic was there just one week ago today.

Today’s comic continues the week long theme of the lamb being in mortal danger, but unlike the other days, this one shows her escaping what would surely have been a death of starvation down in that pit. It was nice of the gophers to lend a hand – er, head – wasn’t it?

Well, below are the various stages that I took the time to scan with limited comments. If you’d like to see previous posts on this series, just CLICK HERE!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the rough pencil version drawn on tracing paper. I will later tape this to the back of watercolor paper and trace it through by using a light table.
Here’s the rough pencil version drawn on tracing paper. I will later tape this to the back of watercolor paper and trace it through by using a light table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Grape Prismacolor pencil for the final line once again, with various stages of lighter colors the further back you go to help create depth.
Black Grape Prismacolor pencil for the final line once again, with various stages of lighter colors the further back you go to help create depth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the final uncropped painting. You can see that I used an airbrush in the pit. This was to help evenly darken areas without losing the integrity of the brushed on paint underneath it.
Here’s the final uncropped painting. You can see that I used an airbrush in the pit. This was to help evenly darken areas without losing the integrity of the brushed on paint underneath it. You can see on the left where I was holding it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's the final with Big Al's haiku. That "popping up" thing kept me thinking of gophers popping up to help the lamb. A friend said something about it in conversation that led me to have her using the gophers as a kind of ladder out of the pit.
And here’s the final with Big Al’s haiku. That “pop up” text kept me thinking of gophers popping up to help the lamb. A friend said something about it in conversation that led me to have her using the gophers as a kind of ladder out of the pit.

 

Come back again tomorrow to see all the art leading up to Thursday’s final image.

Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Preliminary Sketches Art: Watercolor Cartoons Illustrations

The “Haiku Ewe” Project: TUESDAY

Welcome to the second day of my step-by-step progressions of the “Haiku Ewe” comics I drew for last week’s run on GoComics.com. Written by Big Al the gal, the art is completely my interpretation of her haikus. As with yesterday’s post, I’ll keep my comments minimal while letting the art speak for itself. Enjoy!

This was my first pencil rough that I sent to Big Al the gal for her approval which she gave. However, afterwards, I felt the sheep's expression was too sinister. It looked as though she was stepping on the horn on purpose, and it was supposed to look accidental.
This was my first pencil rough that I sent to Big Al for her approval which she gave. However, afterwards, I felt the sheep’s expression was too sinister. It looked as though she was stepping on the horn on purpose, and it was supposed to look accidental.
This was my second pass. Putting a more frightened/helpless look on the sheep's face really helped get the accidental concept across better.
This was my second pass. Putting a more frightened/helpless look on the sheep’s face really helped get the accidental concept across better.
This is the final pencil (with just a tad of paint on it). I used the Black Grape again for foreground lines, and used lighter colors the further I went back to help create a little depth.
This is the final pencil (with just a tad of paint on it). I used the Black Grape again for foreground lines, and used lighter colors the further I went back to help create a little depth.
Here's the piece fully painted in watercolor. You'll notice flicks in the ground plane which were put there by masking off the area around it and flicking paint with a tooth brush. It's all rather flat at the moment until....
Here’s the piece fully painted in watercolor. You’ll notice flicks in the ground plane which were put there by masking off the area around it and flicking paint with a tooth brush. You might notice the addition of a mouse, too. I couldn’t help myself. It’s all rather flat at the moment until….
...the final. I lifted some highlights out of the cave with just a wet brush, and added a sweat drop to the sheep's face. And that branch off the side of the cave was in the way, so it was digitally removed. In placing the text, the area behind the letters was digitally lightened so they'd read better. And colored pencil all around was added - as was a little mouse.
…the final. I lifted some highlights out of the cave with just a wet brush, and added a sweat drop to the sheep’s face. That branch off the side of the cave was in the way, so it was digitally removed. In placing the text, the area behind the letters was digitally lightened so they’d read better. And colored pencil all around was added.

On the official “Haiku Ewe” post on GoComics.com, the idea that a random horn just happened to be there in the wild seemed ludicrous to some readers. I let them know that it was left over from a Girl Scout who came by selling cookies one day.

Check back again tomorrow for Wednesday’s step-by-step progression!

Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Preliminary Sketches Art: Watercolor Cartoons Illustrations

The “Haiku Ewe” Project: MONDAY

Two weeks ago I shared with you some preliminary sketches for the “Haiku Ewe” comic strip project. (If you missed them, CLICK HERE for access to all my “Haiku Ewe” posts.) My friend, Big Al the gal hurt her drawing hand and asked a few folks to fill in for her so the “show” could go on. I took a week of her delightful strip featuring a haiku poem which was then illustrated with the adventures of a little lamb. “Haiku Ewe” appears every weekday on GoComics.com.

Big Al wrote some wonderful haikus which perhaps she thought I would illustrate in some sweet way. When I read her words, my thoughts immediately went to images of her ewe facing perilous and mortal danger. The contrast between words and images seemed to go together pretty well, and so the flurry of drawings began.

My week’s worth of comics ran all last week. While you may have seen the final images there at GoComics.com July 20-24, I thought I’d share with you the artwork progression from rough sketch to final illustration. So, for this week here on the Chad Frye • Illustration Guy blog, each day I will be showing you one day’s worth of progressions. Today is the strip that debuted just one week ago.

Enjoy! Oh, and a few of them you can click on to see a little larger!

haiku ewe

This was the rough sketch I submitted to Big Al for her approval.
This was the rough sketch I submitted to Big Al for her approval.

haiku ewe

This was the final pencil drawing done on watercolor paper with a Black Grape Prismacolor pencil.
This was the final pencil drawing done on watercolor paper with a Black Grape Prismacolor pencil.

haiku ewe

This is the painted version with all the edges exposed. The final will be cropped along those guide lines you see in each corner.
This is the painted version with all the edges exposed. The final will be cropped along those guide lines you see in each corner.

haiku ewe

And here's the final. It's been cropped, colored pencil was added in places, and the lettering was added digitally.
And here’s the final. It has been cropped, colored pencil was added in places, and the lettering was added digitally. Haiku Ewe is now officially pondering the meaning of life.

Come back again on Tuesday when I’ll show you the artwork progression for the comic that reminds us we are not yet experiencing the times when the lion will lie with the lamb.

Categories
Animals Art: Colored Pencil Art: Preliminary Sketches Art: Watercolor Cartoons Illustrations

Indiana in Ohio – Part 2

In my last post, I shared with you the preliminary stages of a new illustration I did for the University of Dayton Magazine this past weekend. Getting to do an Indiana Jones type of character was a lot of fun. I enjoy coming up with humorous ideas for things, and in this case it was to make a point about the way our modern Western society holds the mundane in such high, sacred regard. We make idols of the most innocuous things.

If you read the last post, you saw the various thumbnail ideas and the final drawing submitted for approval. Approval had been given, so I moved ahead with the colored piece. This was going to be another of my watercolor/colored pencil hybrids. If you have read my step-by-step posts on the creation of my Where the Wild Things Are tribute painting, or the one a little further back about Frankenstein, then you know I like to do an underpainting to get some of the shadows worked  out in advance.

The "Indiana Jones" illustration with a watercolor underpainting of purple and other colors to assist in the shadows of the piece.
The “Indiana Jones” illustration with a watercolor underpainting of purple and other colors to assist in the shadows of the piece.

You know, this piece will be reproduced pretty small on the page. It’s important for it to make its point as quickly as possible. The focus of the composition is that baseball, which is why everything points to it in just the bare drawing. The strap, the look of the character, the hand poised just above it…you get the idea. I need the coloring to do the same thing.

So, in this next step a whole bunch of paint has been slathered on the paper with that purple underpainting showing through. To draw your attention to that ball, I painted the watercolor in to look as though it is glowing. the baseball has become the primary light source.

This stage of the illustration is the rest of the watercolor painting. You can see the shadow tones peeking through the transparent overpainting.
This stage of the illustration is the rest of the watercolor painting. You can see the shadow tones peeking through the transparent overpainting.

Once the majority of the paint was done, I masked off certain areas and spritzed in some texture on the green background, and also some on the skin. I also deepened the tone of the edges of the green areas. Then whole thing was finished with colored pencils. And yes, I drew on Babe Ruth’s signature – but for accuracy, I traced it from a photo of a baseball he had actually signed.

Here is the final piece that will be seen in the magazine. The rough edges seem to add to the composition, so they will remain uncropped.
Here is the final piece that will be seen in the magazine. The rough edges seem to add to the composition, so they will remain uncropped.

Thanks for checking out my Indiana Jones inspired editorial illustration. And thanks again to the University of Dayton Magazine for allowing me to share this with you prior to their publication of the piece.

Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Illustrations