Category: Random Doodles

Foosball Panda

Post author By Chad Frye
Post date May 21, 2013

I’m not a big app user. There are so many little applications you can have on your portable hand-held computers (I use the iPod Touch variety) that are mostly distractions from living the life that surrounds you. That being said, I was intrigued by a relatively new app and decided to give it a try the other day. The app in question is Character Design Shuffle created by my pal Stephen Silver.

The idea behind the app is to give you the inspiration to create a random character design. The app has several parameters to suggest what type of physical character it is, gender, outfit, action, age, body type, height, etc. Each category rolls by and stops on some crazy combination that you can then go draw. Some of the suggestions are waaaay out there, so it can be a challenge AND be a lot of fun. Mostly it helps get your brain to think in a way that is different from what it is used to.

So, I gave the parameters a spin and it spit out panda, male, athlete, playing foosball, muscular, and intimidating. This is the result…

I might consider subscribing to ESPN if they had interspecies competitive foosball.

Another fun aspect of Silver’s app is that they have a Facebook group (CLICK HERE to see it) where no matter what your skill level, you are encouraged to share your efforts with other users. Pros and amateurs alike have been displaying their inspired creations. Some designs that have been posted will knock your socks off! It is fun to see how this little tool is inspiring some fun drawings.

So, no matter who you are, if you need a little inspiration, check it out and give it a try. Always keep drawing to improve or even develop your skills!

Old Maroon Hot Air Balloon

Post author By Chad Frye
Post date April 30, 2013

Last year I gave my father a birthday gift of a hot air balloon ride since it was something he had been wanting to try for awhile. He’s flown in fighter jets, a glider, and sailed the seven seas, but has never sailed through the skies with hot air. Well, not in a balloon at least.

I, however, am not quite the daredevil Dad can be. The notion of a ride in a hot air balloon has a primal romanticism to it, so on that level it has a certain appeal, but bouncing along with the whim of the wind gives me the willies. You never know if you’ll wind up unexpectedly in Oz where you’ll live half your life. I’d rather sprawl out in the shade with a cold lemonade.

That being said, I felt inspired last night to do this sketch. When seated safely at my desk, I don’t mind reaching down to touch the treetops.

You can almost hear the 5th Dimension as this goes up, up and away. Almost.

Dad is supposed to take his balloon trip soon. He did try it once, but due to winds it was cancelled. I think his is supposed to go a little higher than mine purely for safety reasons. We shall see…

Art: Drawings Illustrations Random Doodles Sketchbook

The Ugly Cowboy

Post author By Chad Frye
Post date April 25, 2013

It seems like many western movies, whether from their heyday up until now, the hero cowboys are always chiseled sculptures of men. You know, like Michelangelo’s “David” with a wide brimmed hat and facial stubble. However, all the cowboys in the background and the side players are the ones that were probably most like real cowboys. Yes, folks, we are talking about the ugly ones.

Real cowboys could not possibly have taken care of their teeth very well, or shaved at all out on the trail, taken a bath in weeks, or had proper protection from the sun while out on a cattle drive. They would have been wrinkled, brow beaten, hairy, and very very dirty. Why do you think they kissed their horses? It’s because they were so ugly, the horses were the only ones who didn’t mind the attention.

So, in the spirit of true cowboys, I present to you this mighty ugly hero of the western stage…

I know what you are thinking after what was said above. “How come he doesn’t have a full beard?” It is because this cowboy is only 9 years old. Life on the trail is cruel.

Art: Drawings Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook

Tow Truck Sketches

Post author By Chad Frye
Post date April 19, 2013

Yesterday started out like any other: wake up, get lunch put together, shower, get dressed, and take off for work. The trouble was in the “take off” part. There was no “up, up and away” to be had.

You see, I drive an old car. It has served me well as it served my grandmother well before me, and some dude before her. However, yesterday my ’95 Mercury Sable decided to require service of its own. The power would not work at all. So, a tow was required.

While waiting in my car for a tow truck to arrive, I pulled out a trusty thin blue Sharpie marker, and found an old piece of paper in my trunk and began to doodle randomly. There was no rhyme nor reason to the sketching – no frustrated mechanics or dilapidated vehicles. Just some good ol’ fashion creatures. Although if I were to analyze these drawings, I was probably experiencing the disposition of the giant turtle creature while the happy-go-lucky guy inside the jaws was the mechanic about to make some coin.

Waiting for a tow truck can bring out some weirdness – in a good way.

So, no matter what curve ball life throws at you, with a pen and paper, you can get through it okay. I can’t wait to see what my next jury duty will inspire!

Animals Monsters Random Doodles Sketchbook

Lounge Lizard

It has been awhile since my last post. Things have been swamped at the office with the imminent debut of an animated television show I have been working on for the past fourteen months, and the schedule has not lightened up one bit. Spending all day every day drawing in someone else’s style can wear on you a tad, so every now and then you need to let a little of yourself out on the page.

Last night I wanted to do something fun to break in a brand new sketchbook. As any follower of my blog knows, I enjoy drawing monsters, and if I have to draw a real life monster, reptiles are what come to mind first. This skeevy looking alligator fell out of my pen ready to prey on his next unsuspecting victim. Right now he has his eye on Ms. Animation Deadline.

Yeah, he thinks he looks suave, but he’s really all gut and no glory.

Animals Art: Drawings Art: Inking Character Designs Monsters Random Doodles Sketchbook

Frankensketch

Post author By Chad Frye
Post date October 31, 2012

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This Frankensketch came alive in one of my sketchbooks!

Well, I managed to squeeze out one more monster drawing here in what I usually dub “Monster Month”, and I leaned on my go-to guy Frankenstein. This one started as just a Prismacolor pencil sketch in my sketchbook, and I liked how he turned out so I added some watercolor right there in the book!

Yes, you purists out there will say that technically he is Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, and not actually Frankenstein. I differ with you on that, thou nay sayers! If one gives birth to a new life, they take your name. Dr. Frankenstein birthed, sort of, this creature, so by all rights he should also bear the name “Frankenstein”!

Regardless, Frankenstein has appeared a few times on the ol’ blog. In case you would like to explore my past with the big green guy, CLICK HERE to see all the Frankie posts.

Hopefully next October I’ll be back with monster art for each weekday. Until then continue to enjoy the various other art that I post here throughout the year!

Art: Drawings Art: Painting Art: Watercolor Character Designs Frankenstein Monsters Random Doodles Sketchbook

Beast of Burden

For the past three Octobers, I posted a new monster drawing almost daily in what I called “Monster Month”. Here we are in the middle of October, and only one person has asked me where my creatures that go bump in the night are this year. One person.

Well, Mom, it has been an extremely busy year for me working on a new television show, the occasional illustration here and there, and trying to work on a new children’s book. What it boils down to is that there has been a whole lotta art goin’ on that I can’t share on the blog for now, and the monsters I love to draw in my spare time haven’t had room to roam and groan.

That being said, yesterday I got the itch and sketched out this beleaguered beast. It was just one of those things that came out of my stylus without a plan in my head. I began with the mouth, and the rest just fell into place. Background is courtesy of Canson paper, and the art was all done in Photoshop.

It’s a hard-knocked life for him.

So, perhaps I’ll get another monster or two up on the blog before October is over for the fan who asked. The rest of you can take a look at them as well if you’d like.

Art: Drawings Art: Photoshop Art: Preliminary Sketches Character Designs Monsters Random Doodles Sketchbook

The Asphalt Jungle

Post author By Chad Frye
Post date October 10, 2012

Last year I did a few character concepts for a potential television program set in New York City. I can’t divulge anything more than that about the project, but I can show you some of the drawings since the producers decided to go in a different direction.

I liked the way these sketches turned out. They were pencil on paper, with a splash of Photoshop color thrown in for good measure. While they all should look like they are living in the same universe with each other, hopefully they portray specific personalities with just their expressions, costumes and body language. That’s always the goal when working on good character design — unless the client wants a series of characters that are cookie cutter to each other. I’ve worked on those kinds of projects, too.

If you’ve already had your shots, enjoy the drawings!

Animals Art: Photoshop Art: Preliminary Sketches Character Designs Random Doodles Sketchbook