KMS Creations

Illustration Friday- Old Fashioned

2010-09-24T13:23:00.008-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if I was born in the wrong decade/century.
Seriously, I love reading and learning about the history of the world around me. Life seems like it was much simpler then. No constant facebook updates, no annoying media stories about celebrities and politics, no cell phones glued to our ears.

Here is an illustration of an old fashioned ship at sea. I've only ever been on an old ship once and it wasn't even in the ocean. I did one of those sailing things on Lake Michigan one July weekend with my mom and friends Juli and Linda. It was still pretty fun though and it felt like we were on the ocean.

Illustration Friday- Acrobat

2010-09-21T10:00:00.014-05:00

Since I work as a screenprint artist, I get a lot of odd requests for designs. One time I had a guy ask me if I could draw a liver being suffocated by a wedding ring. Seriously. Odd huh?

Something about how all of the weddings he had to go to this summer were going to be hard on his liver. They loved the design and ordered over 24 of them. Needless to say, it was a strange shirt request.

This design to the right was another weird one. I arrived at work with a note on my computer that said,
"please draw me an acrobatic flying monkey"
No explanation as to what for. Just the note. I figured it was for one of our Kansas sales reps who were trying to sell Wizard of Oz designs. I came up with this character. He doesn't look very athletic but my guess is a monkey with wings would be pretty acrobatic.

Illustration Friday- Proverb

2010-09-14T16:16:00.007-05:00

Here is my design for this week's word, "Proverb."
When I moved to the city, I left my cat Cairo in the country at my parents home. He was an outdoor cat and I just couldn't keep him locked up in an apartment all the time.
He's much happier at their house. Not to mention spoiled. All the little animals he can chase and milk he can drink. I do miss having a cat though.
Cairo looks nothing like this however. He's part Burmese. But the colors weren't working so a white cat it is. :)

Illustration Friday, Immovable

2010-08-31T10:07:00.005-05:00

Haven't really had a whole lot of time lately to work on Illustration Friday. I've been working on a lot of paintings instead. Hopefully I'll find some time to get some of those up here once I finish them. Here is a quick vector graphic for this week's topic. Immovable.

Illustration Friday- Star Gazing

2010-08-19T13:45:00.003-05:00

So I have a different idea I want to submit for this week but it's still in the works. Patience is a virtue, right?! Well, not when there are deadlines!

Anyhow, here is another idea I had. Wolves don't exist here in Iowa anymore, but wouldn't it be beautiful if they did? I'm sure the farmers would not agree. Although they would help with our crazy deer population. Even so, they are amazing creatures.

Iowa State Fair

2010-08-16T10:35:00.006-05:00

So I went to the fair a few times this past weekend. The Iowa State Fair is probably one of the greatest places in the world for people-watching. Everyone comes out for the fair. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. I will have to draw some funny people illustrations. The fair is great for inspiration!
For now, here is a quick cartoon of my friends and old college roommates Jill & Kelly standing next to the "How Tall Are You?" board last year. They are twin sisters. :)
More fair fun illustrations to come! Maybe some that aren't digital. I think I'm in a watercolor mood.

Rain Rain Go Away. Seriously.

2010-08-12T11:49:00.008-05:00

Iowa is currently becoming one big giant river/lake. So far the cities of Ames and Des Moines have been hit pretty hard. Even my home town of Colfax is waist-deep in river water that should not be there. And unfortunately I think the worst is yet to come.
Now I love storms. Absolutely love them. But we just don't have any more room for this sort of rain. So would you please Mother Nature, just take a break and pour on some other state for a while? I hear some of the southwest is in need of water. I think it's time to share some of ours.

Also, for those who viewed this on Illustration Friday, these flood waters are really "caging" people in. I know it's a stretch but ask anyone who lives around here and they'll agree, it's hard to get out of some of these towns!

Sarah's Baby Shower

2010-08-11T09:02:00.005-05:00

My cousin Sarah is due to have her first child this October. I've been working on her baby shower invites. (as is usually my job in the family.... I am the invites person).I'm doing a birds and bees theme. We're all very excited for the baby to arrive. They aren't finding out whether it will be a boy or a girl. I think that's great. Makes for so much more of a surprise. Although I bet she gets a lot of green and yellow clothes at the shower. :)

New updated blog

2010-07-16T13:19:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the new blog!! I discovered "Pages" so now this blog functions much more like a web site. Please continue to check back as I upload some of my portfolio in each category. As always, I'll continue to use my home page as a daily source of art.

Happy Earth Day Everyone!

2010-04-22T15:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Earth Day! If I had a yard, I'd plant a tree today. Unfortunately I don't think my landlord would approve of me digging up their yard at my apartment complex.

Illustration Friday- Rescue

2010-03-26T12:00:00.001-05:00

Rescuing Earth, one piece at a time.

Illustration Friday- Expired

2010-03-24T14:03:00.000-05:00

Winter has finally expired and Spring flowers are here!

Illustration Friday- Clumsy

2010-01-26T15:38:00.000-06:00

My boyfriend got me a snowboard for Christmas. It is beautiful and will be sooo much fun.... once I actually learn to snowboard that is. I definitely under-estimated how hard it is to snowboard. Right now I am very clumsy on it and can barely make it a few feet without falling down. We just got back from a ski/boarding trip in Colorado a few weeks ago. It was wonderful! My boyfriend boarded and I....well... skiied instead! :)
Maybe next year I'll put my skis away and actually try boarding again!

Illustration Friday- Wilderness

2010-01-17T22:34:00.000-06:00

My entry for this week's word- Wilderness. The people on the canoe are actually my parents. I took their shape and put it in a stylized foggy world. This was a fun project.

Illustration Friday- Confined

2010-01-11T16:07:00.000-06:00

This is a crazy illustration I did for the band Trunk Monkeys. The word "confined" reminded me of the monkeys being confined in the trunk. Sort of stretch for this week, but I just got back from vacation so not a lot of time to illustrate. Kind of a fun drawing though, definitely different from a lot of my other stuff.

Illustration Friday- Pioneer

2009-12-30T00:27:00.000-06:00

This is an illustration I did for an assignment back in college. I went to school in Missouri where there are many Amish settlements. The Amish way of life is similar to those of people who lived during the pioneer days. Their lifestyle is full of hard work, but also beauty.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T09:19:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas Everyone! This image is courtesy of a clip art I altered. Since Christmas is a time of sharing, I thought it would be alright. Happy Holidays!

Illustration Friday- Hatch

2009-12-17T11:47:00.001-06:00

One of the reasons Santa checks things twice.

Illustration Friday- Music

2009-11-23T09:18:00.000-06:00

I love Jazz and Blues.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T11:03:00.001-05:00

Have a fun holiday!!

Illustration Friday - Fast

2009-10-26T13:23:00.001-05:00

So I know it's not that creative, but I've been looking for an excuse to post these characters for a while now. These two were printed on shirts and running numbers for the kids portion of the Des Moines Marathon last year.
Slow and steady wins the race. Or in my experience, slow and steady helps one to finish a race as long as a marathon! Too bad the hare thinks running fast is the way to go.

Illustration Friday- Frozen

2009-10-20T15:32:00.001-05:00

When I was little, my parents, my brother and I would go backpacking in Colorado every year for two weeks. We camped all over north central Colorado and some of Wyoming. One year we traveled over Trail Ridge Road and saw a bighorn sheep standing on the side of the road in the freezing cold. Dad's first response to the sight was "It's frozen, it's dead!"

I have no idea what he was thinking. Obviously the ranger didn't take an animal that was frozen in the snow and put it out on the side of the road for all to see. We made fun of him the entire 13 hour drive home that year. Although I know this isn't a bighorn sheep, it still reminds me of that story. I bet if it was a deer standing on the side of the road, Dad wouldn't have been surprised. It was still funny though.

DeadWeird Grateful Dead Skeleton

2009-10-15T14:51:00.001-05:00

So I have had a few friends ask about this design. One of my assignments for work was to draw a "Grateful Dead" style skeleton with a "Nightmare before Christmas" Jack face.
It is for a shirt design that is used in Deadwood, South Dakota. Here is the one they chose and the two design ideas I gave them.
This is the winner that was printed on the shirts.

The only difference on this one is the face. I think this one is meaner looking.

Illustration Friday- Flying

2009-10-13T08:56:00.001-05:00

Fly like an eagle. Trying a slightly more abstract style.

Illustration Friday- Pattern

2009-10-01T14:57:00.001-05:00

Although I think Dia de los Muertos is actually celebrated in early November, I still think this sort of fits the first day of October. Also, there are some interesting patterns in this design. This is a collaboration from a few designs that were used on t-shirts. I have to admit I was inspired by another artist when I created this.

Weddings Weddings Weddings

2009-09-11T11:31:00.000-05:00

A lot of my friends and family are getting married this summer/fall. I've been helping some of them out with invitations and glasses...ext. It's times like these when my creative ability comes in handy! Anyhow, below are a few of the invitation ideas I made for my friend Emily's wedding. The one to the right was the chosen one. Phone numbers and addressed have been changed for protection. If anyone wants invitations for anything done, let me know and I'll give you a quote.
This one was a idea #1

Idea number 2

Illustration Friday- Strong

2009-09-10T13:46:00.001-05:00

It's almost late again. But like always, just on time. I really didn't spend a whole lot of time on this week's drawing. This is something I quickly drew during my break this morning. Dancers are incredibly strong. I wish I had their stamina.

Illustration Friday- Tango

2009-07-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

Almost didn't make this week! Better late than never I suppose. I'm revisiting an old character for this one. You can find Mr. Hummingbird again on December 2008.(see Illustration Friday Balloon,)
Thinking about making Mr. Hummingbird and his new girlfriend an occasional comic on my blog. Any suggestions for what I should call him?

Illustration Friday- Hollow

2009-07-15T10:24:00.001-05:00

When I read this week's word "hollow", I started thinking about the Hollow Earth theory- the belief that Earth has a hollow interior where there is life. I don't really know where I learned that, just one of those useless information things that are only good for trivia games and shows. Either that, or I keep seeing Ice Age 3 ads everywhere. I think they fall into the "hollow earth" in that movie.

Anyhow, my space guy isn't really in the center of the Earth but he could be since nobody knows what that looks like. Also, happy 40th anniversary to the first walk on the moon this year!

Illustration Friday- Worn

2009-06-26T12:05:00.001-05:00

I'm back to posting again! Here is a worn out cat. So tired. Sort of how I feel today. At least it's Friday and the weekend is just a few hours away.

Illustration Friday- Cracked

2009-05-28T15:23:00.001-05:00

First entry of the new blog! Followers of my last blog, sorry, I don't know how to switch you to this one so you're going to have to become a follower of this blog now!

I always wonder what bats do during earthquakes.
Here is the entry for Cracked

Lazy Lobster- Illustration Friday "Fleeting 1"

2009-04-13T13:57:00.000-05:00

This is what I'd rather be doing on a Monday. Perhaps by an ocean beach somewhere on the North East coast? Too bad it's rainy and chilly here in the Midwest today. At least rain means Spring without any more snow. :)

This lobster is fleeting between daydream sleep and awake.

Illustration Friday- Talisman (Tally Man)

2009-04-08T14:44:00.000-05:00

So when I first read this week's word, I thought it said "Tally Man". You know, like the Tally Man from the Banana Boat Song? Seemed like a pretty strange theme to me. But then I realized it was "Talisman" like the good luck charm. Even so, I thought my mistake was funny so I illustrated a drawing for Tally Man. If I get ambitious, I'll draw the real Talisman drawing. Here is a Tally Man carrying a backpack(probably full of bananas) from a banana tree at sunrise. Daylight come and me wan' go home...

If you want to hear the song, here is a link to the Beetlejuice movie version on Youtube- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4eoMxGDEJA

I'm Late, I'm Slacking and Way Behind

2009-04-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

So I've been slacking a ton on Illustration Friday lately. The last few weeks have been sort of hectic! So I think some of the words I've missed are "Legendary, Poise, Intricate, Subtract and Breezy" I'm currently drawing one illustration that will combine them all. No word left behind!

Anyhow, I hurt my eye this morning while attempting to do makeup when I was really tired. (Not recommended by the way) Here is a quick cartoon graphic about it. That eyeliner and mascara is a real killer!

Mingo shirts

2009-03-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

Shirt #1 skyline

Shirt #2 sport look

I've started doing some more freelance lately with the apparel work I do. Here are some shirt designs for the little town of Mingo. These are for their Mingo Days celebration.

1st. Day of Spring

2009-03-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of Spring! Finally. Winter is over, bring on warmth! Here is a quick floral design to celebrate this day.

st. patrick's day

2009-03-18T09:50:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
a day late but I think most people are probably still feeling the spirit of the holiday as they force themselves to work...

Illustration Friday- Instinct

2009-02-24T14:50:00.000-06:00

When I heard this week's word was "Instinct" I immediately thought of how buffalo instinctively charge when they sense danger. Here is a shirt design for the Black Hills. One of these days I'll upload some more non-digital illustrations. I just spend a lot of time on a computer at work so digital it is!

Illustration Friday- Celebrate Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T14:12:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Illustration Friday- Time

2009-02-06T09:40:00.000-06:00

This week's word is "Time" for Illustration Friday. I really like this topic a lot. I may have to do a few drawings for it. Here is one simple silhouette idea of how over time things change.
This topic reminds me of "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. I read that book all the time as a kid. It is all about time and change. So this is my take on "The Giving Tree" when during the middle of the boy's life, where the tree is giving shade for the boy and his spouse.
Oh, by the way, I still have to upload those illustrations from my trips. So much to do and so little time!

Illustration Friday- Climbing

2009-01-27T14:13:00.000-06:00

Mountain goats are expert climbers.

Since I'm going to be leaving again tomorrow for my second/final trip this winter, I'll wait and put up the travel illustrations when I get back next week. I really hate to wait, because one of the drawings is of me climbing the hundreds of stairs there are in Paris. Would have been perfect for this week! Oh well, so much to do and so little time. So this quick illustration will have to do. I'll be in Washington for a few days to see another friend. I don't think there will be any mountain goats where I'm going but there will be plenty of mountains!

Illustration Friday- Pale

2009-01-19T13:05:00.000-06:00

The pale blue lobster stood out above all the rest.

I'm back from a most amazing trip overseas! I definitely need to travel more. I'm running way behind on Illustration Friday though. The past two weeks just didn't leave much room for posting time. But now I'll catch up! Be sure to watch for travel illustrations that will be up soon. For now though, here are some lobsters I designed for a children's t-shirt. These shirts are pretty popular in Maine. I didn't post the actual shirt design with the namedrop, but this is the illustration that is on them. I thought the lobster fit this week's posting.

Delayed

2008-12-27T09:41:00.000-06:00

Hello hello! So my IF entrys might be a little scattered the next few weeks. I'm currently on my way to France to see my friend Kawtar so I'll have some little illustration sketches from the trip. My plane was delayed in Des Moines for two hours due to cloud cover in Atlanta.
So in order to make our flight, me and the two other people I met on the plane ran out of the plane and sprinted across Atlanta Airport. We really sprinted too, up the escalators and everything. It reminded me of Home Alone when the family almost misses the plane and leaves the boy in New York. If there would have been a kid with us, he probably would have been left. After a long time sprinting, we made it to our gate only to find out that our plane had just left. :(

I still like the city of Atlanta, but I was frustrated! So all you Atlantans, don't take offense. :)

So we stood in line for 3 hours to complain to Delta and ended up splitting a hotel room in Atlanta until our new flight leaves today (24 HOURS LATER) at 5:30 p.m. When I get to France, I'll upload my illustration of me standing in front of the delayed Atlanta sign. I'll have to illustrate our run too. It was pretty comical. Look for more to come!

Illustration Friday- Similar

2008-12-11T08:45:00.000-06:00

Seven similar swans a swimming.

Try saying that three times fast! I'm busy with Christmas stuff a lot lately so this week's Illustration Friday entry is an old watercolor I did a few years ago. It fits the theme though and the season! Also, there is a partridge on the top that got a little cut off. (I need a better scanner... must put that on my Christmas list!) Now I have this Christmas song in my head. Oh well, tis the season.

Illustration Friday-Balloon

2008-12-04T10:29:00.000-06:00

Uh oh, that's not a flower blossom!

Here is a quick comic for this week! I'll post a drawn version later. :)

Illustration Friday- Opinion

2008-11-26T17:09:00.000-06:00

So in celebration of Thanksgiving for all of my American bloggers, I just couldn't resist putting something holiday-like up this week. It is Tom Turkey's opinion that ham is much better on Thanksgiving instead of turkey. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Soldier

2008-11-19T09:27:00.000-06:00

So I'm getting behind on Illustration Friday this week. So for anyone that is actually following this blog. (Jared, I think you might be the winner), here is an image I did in Printmaking about three years ago. This was created by carving the shapes for a woodcut. This,I believe, is 1 of 13 of the prints. They all varied in look by the end.

It was a lot of fun making this image. I started with a photo and made it a vector graphic. I then simplified the vector graphic even more and carved the shapes into wood. I'll have to post my process images on here when I'm home.
I had a lot of positive feedback for this semi-abstract piece. What do you all think?

Illustration Friday- Vacant

2008-11-06T17:50:00.000-06:00

The vacant dock glowed in the evening sunset.

Here is my entry for this week's Illustration Friday. I really need to start submitting these sooner! Thursday night is just too late! Hope you all like it.

Illustration Friday-Late

2008-10-22T18:24:00.000-05:00

The butterfly was a little late for summer. Winter had already come.

When I heard this week's topic for Illustration Friday, I first thought of traffic jams and rushing to work. My dad was actually the one to come up with the thought of a late butterfly. What would happen if a butterfly was late coming out of it's cocoon? It would be hard to be a late bloomer for a butterfly. This is one way of illustrating the idea. I have a few other styles I'd like to try as well. I was thinking a belated birthday card with a more cartoon-like butterfly would be nice. So look for this topic to appear again later. Any suggestions?

Illustration Friday-Strings

2008-10-16T17:22:00.000-05:00

The tentacles of jellyfish always remind me of organic whispering strings.

Hello everyone. This is my first time using an illustration blog. I just learned about IF yesterday. Hard to believe I went without knowing about it for so long. I worked this up really quick last night. Anyhow, I'll have a link to my portfolio site and more of my work up soon. Enjoy!