The Chad Frye - Illustration Guy
“America is a country of abundance, but our food culture is sad – based on huge portions and fast food. Let’s stop with the excuses and start creating something better.”
– David Chang (1977 – )
I’m not sure this is what Chef Chang meant, but the drawing still seemed to fit his quote in its own way. The thing about this kind of fast food, though, is that you have to be faster in order to catch it. However, just be careful with those portions. Too big might be too much to handle.
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”
– Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
A new sketch made its way into my sketchbook the other day. Inspired by Auguste Rodin’s Thinker sculpture, here is a robot contemplating the meaning of life while sitting on top of a pile of discarded technology.
Our society today eats up the latest technology at a voracious pace. As soon as the next version of something comes out, whether it is a computer system, a smart phone, software, or music playing device, people just HAVE to have it even if their previous device still works and serves them well. How depressing it must be for a robot who comes to this realization.
Now excuse me, I think I hear my rotary phone ringing…
By the way, it has been awhile since my last Drawn & Quoted column (2012 – yikes). If you’d like to see more of these from the past, feel free to CLICK HERE!
“Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted, but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.”
– Garrison Keillor (1942 – )
A Prairie Home Companion came to Los Angeles this past weekend. Lake Wobegon was a long way from home when Garrison Keillor brought his well known NPR show to the famed Hollywood Bowl. Regrettably, I let the opportunity slip by to get my tickets to see the rare recording of an actual radio show – a true dwindling art in the world of entertainment.
However, I did have the good fortune to be able to meet Mr. Keillor when he did a book signing the next day at the wonderful Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena. Vroman’s has been a Pasadena staple for over 100 years. It is a beautiful locally owned two-story book store that really understands its community far better than Amazon ever will. They host countless author chats and signings, and champion local community events and causes.
Garrison Keillor, in his white summer suit and trademark red sneakers, was so charming and affable to each and every customer who came out to buy his new Guy Noir and the Straight Skinny book. He exhibited every bit the gentle, down-home persona that you hear on the radio. I was so intrigued by his unique face, that when I came home from the signing, I felt the urge to draw him.
So, enjoy the drawing, and if you aren’t familiar with Garrison Keillor’s work, take a listen any weekend on NPR to his tales of Lake Wobegon “where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.”
– Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980)
In response to Mr. Hitchcock, “Oops.”
– Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870)
Well, I’m not sure the fella above is texting another man to be brave and true. Instead he is probably texting a friend saying “Yo, I’m down at the Coffee Bean where some weird dude keeps looking over at me and scribbling in a book!” I try not to be noticed when I’m sketching in public, but sometimes it’s hard to hide on a small patio. Lattè cups aren’t quite large enough to duck behind. Oh well. Still managed to squeeze out a sketch in between sips before the stranger got up and left.
– Xenophon (circa 430 – 354 BC)
– Epictetus (55 – 135)
It is hard to believe, but the last Drawn & Quoted column was posted way back in June of 2010! It is high time to resurrect these combinations of quotes by famous people with drawings that relate to their words of wisdom in some way. I say “some way” because some drawings have been straight forward while others have travelled the path of the sick and twisted. If you would like to see any of the previous Drawn & Quoted columns, just CLICK HERE!
– Candice Bergen (1946 – )
I was recently in an airport and noticed this girl sitting across from me. She was dressed to the nines in designer clothing, an expensive handbag, and pricey purchases she was going to carry on to the plane. She was quite young, probably in her early 20’s, and had an air of snootiness about her. I know it’s not really fair to ascribe to her a haughty personality without having met her, but it did get me thinking about other people I have actually known in recent years that looked like her.
I’ve noticed a certain sense of entitlement amongst people in America. They have to be first. They have to have the best. They have to have the latest in technology. They have to dress only in name brands. They have to drive expensive cars. They roll their eyes at people they feel are beneath them. The list can go on.
I have a theory….We are bombarded by media messages that “you are beautiful the way you are”, “you deserve the best”, “you can have it now and probably pay for it much later”, “self-esteem, self-esteem, self-esteem!” Parents buy into these philosophies, and teach their kids that not only can they have it all, but they absolutely will. They buy them the latest toys, video games, and movies the second they come out. The material cravings are met right away without having to either wait for it or work for it. The kids grow up into adults expecting everything to just come their way, and often don’t care who they push aside on their quest to get what they want. I wonder if the current crisis of housing foreclosures aren’t, in part, a result of these “must have it now” ideals ignoring the inevitable consequences of such arrogant thinking.
Quite frankly, self-esteem flies in the face of care for our fellow man. Even in a passage of the Bible written roughly 2000 years ago, Philippians 2:3 says “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” And what is commonly known as “The Golden Rule” flies in the face of self-esteem teaching. It often is quoted as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This “others first” philosophy has roots in the Bible as well. Amongst several passages that relay it, Luke 6:31 says, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” The opposite of self-esteem is humility.
I don’t typically get so heady in my blog posts, but this is something that bothers me quite often. Interesting that a random airport sketch could serve as a reminder to “think of your fellow man, lend them a helping hand…”