Random Object toys

A couple of years of years ago, I became addicted to drawing these little toys called Toobs. They are educational toys produced by Safari Ltd. I currently keep them in a large sack and pull one out at random to draw for ten minutes each morning. After I draw it, I put it in a different bag so that I don’t get it again until I’ve drawn all of them and switch bags.

Bags of toobs

Since I’m spending ten minutes every day doing this, I notice my skills improving faster and my motivation to do it growing. After a few weeks it began to feel awkward if I didn’t do it. I have to tell you, it takes several weeks to get it to the habit stage where your day is not right if you don’t do it, but it only takes a weekend to break the habit.
I thought that some of you might want to draw along. I can’t promise that I’ll get a post online every day. I will, however, try to post as often as I can. 

To that end, I cut up this beer carton and taped a large sheet of drawing paper to it for a make shift light stage.

Beer crate light stage

This allows me to eliminate unwated shadows and colors so you get a nice crisp image to draw. I will upload the images in color and in grey scale, as well as my completed sketch.

Color whale toob

Greyscale whale toob

Whale toob

However, I find that the two sack system is cumbersome, annoying, and not nearly as eccentric as I like. That’s when I began thinking about building an alternative system. Inspired by the vending machines in grocery stores I have been building my own.

Random Object Randomogrifier

I’m still working out some of the details, but I intend to fill the RANDOM OBJECT RANDOMOGRIFIER with 500 capsule full of toobs. It should make it where I just pull one out at the bottom, draw it, and drop it back into the top. I may enhance it with a motorized delivery system. All of that will have to wait until I know what size capsules and tube will work for the toobs. 

I fully expect this to get wildly out of hand.