Football Illustrations - a sampling

 Hi All,

Hope things are going well where you are.  Doing a little promotional work on the business today and thought I'd share one of my passions with you....sports.  I'm originally from the Milwaukee, WI area and it really is a great sports area.  One think I've enjoyed is creating artwork that is sports oriented.

DeVondre Campbell - pencil and digital media

Above is a more recent piece featuring DeVondre Campbell of the Packers.  They picked him up to try to beef up their linebacker corps and he delivered an All Pro season.  An amazing player.  Like a lot of my work, it starts with a pencil and paper.  This one I decided to get a really tight rendering and then go in with Procreate on iPad (using the Apple Pencil).  I finished it off with a little work in Photoshop.

Barry Sanders - pencil and Photoshop

The Barry Sanders pic is another one similar to the Campbell art.  Using a solid pencil rendering as a start, then I went into Photoshop and added color, dark darks and highlights, as well as the border.  I've always admired Barry's play and so, I created this piece.

Vince - Pen and Ink

Vince Lombardi pen and ink.  I have done a lot of work over the years with technical pens; heck, pens of all kinds.  This particular illustration was created using technical pens.  I started with a fairly tight pencil rendering and then went in with the Rapidiograph pens and put in the detail and shading.  It's an oldie, but a favorite of mine.

Donald Driver - pen and ink with Photoshop

Ok...I did this one when I was still a medical illustrator for the US Air Force many years ago.  This guy was an all time great guy and a very talented and clutch player.  I loved watching him play football. On this piece, I was trying to get a certain effect of pen/cartoon/gradient color flashes.  I was happy with the finished product.  The one thing that's a little frustrating with computer illustration is consistancy of color.  Different devices interpret colors differently.  Things have gotten a little better over the years, but it's still frustrating once in a while.

Favre - pen and ink with digital color

I'll finish up today with "that Brett Faaaverray Guy." (trying to quote Ben Stiller from There's Something About Mary).  Brett Favre...same generation and technique as the Driver pic.  Another fun one like Driver.  Both of the players were so fun to watch and passionate about the game.  They both gave me years of enjoyment as a Packers fan.

Well...this is a sampling of some of the football illustrations I've created over the years.  I hope you like them. I'll share more another time.  

Whatever you do to live, drive and survive...keep it up and be safe out there.  Also - we are living in interesting times - there's a lot of people hurting out there -- crazy weather, politics, illness, homelessness, and a lot of folks just stressed out by the day to day rat race.  Spread a little love and kindness around.  Keep an eye out for your neighbors.  Be patient with folks who are slow in the store or may not be driving in traffic the way you'd like them to.  Also - take care of yourself too....and...have a great day.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink

Freelance Illustrator and Designer

Portfolio - www.behance.net/tk-art

email: tom.kbrink@gmail.com

  

Aaron Rodgers Sketch

Hi All,

You may know...I'm a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan.  And...they're one game away from the Super Bowl.  Yes!!  I'm excited.

So the other day I was doing a little sketching in a nice custom hand-made sketchbook my son Dave gave to me for Fathers day last year.  I did a little sketch of Aaron Rodgers.  I didn't intend to share it, but then I took it into Photoshop and had a little fun with it and...I'll share it anyways. 

Just quick and dirty sketch fun.  I had fun doing them.  I get a little self conscious sharing something that's loose and quick - but that's ok.  I will anyhow. 

The NFC Championship game is today. Go Pack Go!!

Have a great Sunday,

Tom

on line portfolio: www.behance.net/tk-art

Packers Artwork

Hey All,

How are you doing?  Did you have a good summer?  We had a hot one here in Phoenix, AZ.  Thankfully it's cooling down now - yes!  (but summer is always hot here - LOL). 

I've been pretty inconsistent about posting, but I've been busy busy.   Got several projects that I'm working on, so I haven't put out any new Packer artwork lately....and I need to get on it.  However, the Pack is 4-1 so far this season and I want to share some of my classic Packers art.

I'm including some pieces that I created a while ago.  Some of these are old and I haven't shared in some time.  Some are created in different mediums or typically a combination of art media.   Enjoy.

Favre - started as a straight pen and ink on bristol board.  I added color to it with Photoshop on computer.  This guy was so fun to watch for a long time.  A great Packer.

Reggie White - the Minister of Defense.  Saw him preach in Hawaii once - quite an experience.  What a great Packer too. This piece is about 24 x 18; gouache (opaque watercolor) on illustration board.

Bill Schroeder - WR and Wisconsin native.  This was a fun and funky little experimental piece that I created with the program, Painter and Macintosh with Wacom tablet back in the late 90s.

Ty Montgomery - WR/RB was traded last year after making a questionable decision on the field in a big game.  He had some pretty good years in GB.  Digital paint and Wacom tablet on Macintosh.

Aaron Kampman - this is an old one too...for a few years he was a quarterback rushing beast at defensive end.  I think after a while knee injuries got the best of him and production dropped off.  In his prime years he was as good as there was.  This was a pencil sketch imported into photoshop/macintosh where I did some digital painting and added effects.

Donald Driver - I and everyone in Wisconsin loved watching this guy play for the Pack.  He was just a fun player to watch and a very talented wide receiver.  A pen and ink illustration with color added in photoshop.

Lombardi - the greatest coach of his generation and arguably all time.  He was an amazing man, mentor and coach up in Green Bay in the late 50s and 60s.  This is a simple pen and ink on bristol board.

There you go, some of my Packers artwork that I've created over the years.  Enjoy the autumn and upcoming winter seasons while you enjoy the NFL season.  I hope the Packers keep on winning and getting better.  Go Pack Go!!

Have some fun, take care of yourself, and do something nice for someone else....lets make this world a little better place to live.

Peace,

Tom

www.behance.net/tk-art

Digital Painting - Mike Daniels

Hi All,

How are you doing?  Things are going pretty good out here in AZ.  It's crazy - I know that it's getting cold and leaves dropping off the trees in so many places, and here it's still around 90 degrees in the day.  But that's how it is.  It was a long hot summer - so it's nice to get a little break.

I've been working on a little more artwork this fall.  I'm just finishing another Green Bay Packer piece.  This one features defensive tackle and amazing player - Mike Daniels.  This guy is a huge, powerful lineman whose motor never stops.  This is turning out to be a big year for him, so I felt it was time to get a Mike Daniels illustration in the collection.

Mike Daniels - digital paint by Tom Kreienbrink

 I drew and painted the entire piece on my old Mac computer in Photoshop, using my Wacom tablet.  I used a line art technique first.  Drawing the images on the top layer.  Then I colored the images of Daniels on a layer below the line art.  Finally, I applied a green background, border, text and finishing touches. 



I love illustrating people.  Being a Green Bay Packers fan, I enjoy illustrating some of my favorite players.  On this piece, I thought I'd try a little bit of an old school comic style. 

Enjoy the artwork - and enjoy fall, the rest of football season and the coming winter.  Every day is a gift, so enjoy it (even Monday).  Work on something creative yourself, and spread a little kindness around you.

Have a great day.

Peace,

Tom

On-line portfolio - www.behance.net/tk-art

New NFL Season - New Packer Artwork

Hi All,

Well - it's been quite a summer and is shaping up to be a crazy fall. There's so much going on in the weather and natural disasters, social and political arenas, and just about every aspect of life.  Sometimes it's nice to come together and enjoy a little diversion.

Here in the USA, we love our American Football.  Tonight we had our first football game of the new season, but most of the games are played on Sundays.

As you may know, I'm a Green Bay Packers fan.  I've been a fan and been creating Packer artwork since I was a kid.  For the past few weeks I've been working on a new piece for 2017.  I've decided on Ty Montgomery as the subject. 

Ty Montgomery - computer illustration

Last year, the Packers wide receiver stepped up and stepped into the running back position when all of the Packers RBs were getting injured....and he excelled!  He's a team guy, who's willing to do what's needed.   He's a tough guy, hard worker, and I admire the kind of player he is -- I'm hoping he has a big year.

I created the artwork by drawing/painting it on my computer with Photoshop and a Wacom tablet.  I hope you like it.

He reminds me of another hard nosed player who used to play for the Packers -- Big Ray Nitschke.  He played the game with grit and passion.  It's nice to see players for the Packers carry on those traditions and continue to grind it out on the "Frozen Tundra" of Lambeau Field.  Go Packers!!

Ray Nitschke - computer illustration

Enjoy the football season everyone.  It looks like it'll be a good one.  And...remember those who are having a rough time.  Lend a hand when you can.

Peace and Blessings,

Tom

Super Bowl Sunday and the MVP

Hi All,

Writing a quick post before the Super Bowl.  As any of you who read the blog know, I'm a big Packers fan.  The loss to Seattle two weeks ago was a devastating loss.  I know it's just a game and there's so much more to life than football.  That being said - the loss and the manner of the loss is still hard to swallow.

Rodgers - pencil and computer...I did this one a few years ago.

There's one bright spot in all of it.  Aaron Rodgers was named MVP of the NFL.  He's truly the best of the best, and a good guy too.   Congrats to Rodgers.

Packers fans - chin up.  Next year is another year.  Keep the perspective.  It's a game.  We love our team.  And...as we know, they don't always get to the Super Bowl.

Rodgers Toon - I did this one this year.  Worked it with Photoshop and
my Wacom tablet on Mac.  Fun project.

Today - I'm pulling for the Seahawks.  I'm going to enjoy the game, the commercials, and even the Katy Perry halftime show.

Enjoy the show today...enjoy whatever you're doing.  Be in the moment every day in gratitude.  It makes it a lot better.

Well - I've got to go...the game is starting.  Congrats Rodgers.  You're the best.  Good luck to the two teams playing today.

Peace,

Tom

Green Bay Packers Artwork

Hi All,

Alright - I'm excited.  The Packers are one game away from the Super Bowl.  They play Seattle this weekend.  It's going to be a tough game and a lot of fun.

The Packers are my favorite team.  I'm from that area originally and have followed them since I can remember.  Throughout the years I've enjoyed drawing my favorite Packers.  With the playoffs coming toward the end - The Super Bowl, I'd like to share some of my newer and older Packers artwork.  I hope you like it.  Go Packers!!!

Hall of Fame Linebacker - Ray Nitsche.  I met him once when I was about 10
years old.  He was a nice person and one of the toughest players ever, on the field.  Picture
produced using Wacom tablet and Painter software.

Current Pro Bowl Linebacker - Clay Matthews.  Photoshop and Wacom tablet
starting with a pencil sketch.  Love this guy - he's a gamer!!

The late, great Reggie White.  One of the all-time greats and an even better person
off the field.  This painting was produced with opaque watercolors (gouache), on
illustration board.

Brett Favre - pen and ink with Photoshop.  Of course we all know about Favre; the guy could flat-out
play Football.  

I have always enjoyed cartoon drawings.  This is one of former Packer wide out,
Donald Driver.  Driver was one of Brett Favre's favorite receivers to throw to.  He
was a great.  I drew the illustration with pen and ink - colored it with Photoshop software.

Usually when I'm making this kind of artwork, I like to try new and different things....it's
play-time for me.  This one started with a tight pencil rendering, then scanned and worked
it with Photoshop.  Dorsey Levens - former Packers running back.  He was a tough runner
and a good receiver out of the backfield.

Eddie Lacy - current All Pro running back for the Pack.  This guy is a load - stout and runs with
incredible power.  The pic is comprised of photo reference, painted in Photoshop.

Aaron Rodgers - All World Quarterback for the Packers.  Pen and Ink cartoon, painted with Photoshop.
Love this guy - he's an amazing player.  We'll see how he plays this weekend.

Last one - Pen and Ink picture of Reggie White.  I've done many pen and inks of Packers over the years, so I had to include at lease one that's just an ink drawing.  RIP Reggie.

I hope you enjoy my collection of some of my Packers artwork.  I enjoyed drawing them.  I can't wait for the game this weekend.  We've got friends coming in from the midwest and family from San Diego...should be a lot of fun.
Enjoy the game and remember - if your team doesn't win - don't take it too hard.  I sure hope the Pack can make it and win the Super Bowl - but only two teams will be there.  It's been a great year so far...we'll see what happens.

Peace,

Tom

www.behance.net/tk-art  - on-line portfolio
www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design - follow me on FB

Cartooning - Mr. Rodgers

Hi All,

I just finished a cartoon drawing of Aaron Rodgers (of the Green Bay Packers).  It combines two lifelong loves of mine; The Packers football team and Cartooning.

Since I was a young boy I loved cartoons and comic strips and I was always a Packers fan.  The Packers were the local heros where I grew up, and I still cheer for them (win or lose).  I also loved cartoons and drawing cartoons.  I would copy pictures of Snoopy and others, as well as making up my own characters.

My favorite cartoons growing up were Peanuts and probably Beatle Bailey (as a young boy), and Doonesbury was one of my favorites as I got into my teens.  Of course there are many others that I enjoyed - as well as Batman and Archie comic books.

Pen and Ink, photographed and partially colored in Photoshop on computer.

I've been playing with this piece off and on for about a month and a half.  I start out with bristol board, pencil and eraser.  Then I created a pen and ink cartoon.  I took a photo of it with my phone camera (hadn't purchased the new printer/scanner yet).  And - as you can see above, started cleaning it up and coloring the toon.

I do most of this with the brush tool in Photoshop.  I was working on this for fun and wasn't in a big hurry, so taking the extra time on this piece gives it a real hand drawn look (because it really is).  I use other tools and know of many other more efficient ways - I'm telling you how I did this picture, and it's a slower process for sure.

Finished artwork of Aaron Rodgers immortalized in a cartoon.

When the actual cartoon character is finished, I work the lettering.  I clean up the letters and use selection tool and airbrush to get the effect.  Finally I use custom brushes, layers, and transparency levels to put a nice background together.  Simple and fun.

Have fun with the cartoons.  The beauty of cartooning is you can do it anywhere and just about at any time.  All you need is a drawing implement and something to draw on.

Have a great week.  Go Packers!!

Peace,

Tom

www.behance.net/tk-art

Packers vs. Bears Rivalry Artwork

Hi All,

In American Football...known as the National Football League or NFL, the oldest and one of the most fierce rivalries is the Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers.  It's been going on for almost 100 years, and year in and year out - it's always a game both teams look forward to...and so do us fans.

Today, they met again and the Packers won (played in Chicago).  Full disclosure - I'm from Wisconsin originally and have always been a Packers fan....so I was happy with the outcome.  It's always a tough game and today was no exception.

Clay Matthews - pencil and computer illustration by Tom Kreienbrink

I don't know that I've shared the Clay Matthews piece before (forgive me if I have).  He's a star linebacker currently playing for the Packers.  I produced this piece a few years ago.  He's a great player.

What I'd also like to do today is to feature my Bears artwork.  While stationed in Washington DC in the Air Force, I worked with a guy, who was from Chicago and huge Bears fan.  He talked me into doing a couple of Bears pieces, do I did and made copies for him.

Sweetness...Walter Payton - Pen and Ink by Tom Kreienbrink

Another reason for the artwork, is that I've got Chicago connections.  My wife Sue and her family are originally from Chicago and we have friends there as well.  I thought it would be fun to offer them copies of the artwork as well.  I did the pen and ink artwork on bristol board with technical pens, then made copies at 11" x 17."

Former Bears Coach - Mike Ditka - pen and ink by Tom Kreienbrink

The Chicago artwork that I drew were pictures of Walter Payton and Mike Ditka.  Payton was perhaps the greatest running back of all time (I'd probably put Jim Brown and Barry Sanders in that group as well - and maybe Emitt Smith).  Ditka was head coach of the Bears for several years and took them to a Super Bowl Championship in 85.  He also had a great career as a player for Dallas and Chicago.

So there's my Bears artwork.  It was fun drawing these.  As much as I dislike the Bears - I respect them.  For just about as long as I can remember, they've put a decent team on the field, year in and out.  They go back as far as the Packers, and no matter what, it's always a gut wrenching game (for me anyhow), when they play.  For today, though, I celebrate a Packers victory - and hope there's more where that came from.

Take care all.  Have a great week this week.  Remember - the games are fun, but it's just a game.  Enjoy the moment and every day.  If your team loses, shake it off.  There's always next week or next year.  Be good.

Peace,

Tom

On-line art gallery
www.behance.net/tk-art
FB-Art page
www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design

NFL Season is Here - Eddie Lacy Artwork

Hi All,

Are you ready for Football?  I am!  I'm a fan of the Green Bay Packers.  They were the local team, when I was a kid growing up in Wisconsin and I still follow them today.  The old loyalties are strong sometimes.  So naturally as an artist I like to occasionally create Packers artwork.  I do it for fun.

Last year the Packers drafted running back Eddie Lacy and he had an amazing rookie year.  It looks like this year may be even better for him.  This made him a natural choice to become piece of artwork that I can share with friends and internet.

reference material and layout

I found a couple of photos on the internet that I liked and started with them as reference material.  I like the contrast between him with helmet off, in a candid moment and the other photo, with Lacy running with great intensity straight at the camera.  I combined them in a photoshop file.  I removed/erased all the material around the photo without the helmet and laid it over the action photo.

re-drawing, or drawing over the photographs

Usually, I'll do a pencil drawing to start with.  In this case, I just started drawing right on the actual photo layout itself.  I kind of consider it "cheating."  However - in the interest of saving time, that's the way I did it.  This technique is still not instant, it still took a good chunk of time to "re-draw" the photos and background.

smudging the background

When I started working the background more, I used the smudge tool to give it a little illusion of motion.

after applying the duo-tone color

To add color I applied a duo-tone to the artwork thru Photoshop.  Giving it the green and gold coloring over the entire picture.

Eddie Lacy - Running Back, Green Bay Packers, by Tom Kreienbrink

I made some adjustments to the colors, added a border, a little more drawing/sketching and added a logo overlay and.....it's finished.  I hope you enjoy the artwork and the upcoming football season.

Take care everyone and have a great week.  Summer's fading fast, so enjoy it while it's here.

Peace,

Tom

www.behance.net/tk-art

Tom is also an holistic therapy practitioner in Phoenix, AZ.
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

Packers Gallery - Playoffs start this weekend!

Hi All,

Happy Friday.  I'm excited.  2014 is starting off pretty well in many ways.  One good thing - my favorite football team (Green Bay Packers), will be playing the 49ers on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs.

In honor of that, I'm posting a gallery of some of the Packer artwork that I've done over the years.  Go Packers!!

Aaron Rodgers - pencil and digital paint

Of course - there's the current star quarterback for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers.  However, I thought I'd dip into the archives and break out some Packers of the past.  Some of these, you may not have seen for a while.  I hope you enjoy.

Leroy Butler - Defensive back - originator of the Lambeau Leap.  Digital paint.

Aaron Kampman - Defensive End and pass rush specialist.  Digital paint.

Mike Mckenzie - Defensive Back.  Digital paint.

Ray Nietzsche - One of the baddest, meanest Linebackers of all time.  A Hero
in the Packers teams of the 1960s.  digital paint.

Bill Schroeder - Wide Receiver  - Amazing speed and ability to make
the coach furious.  digital paint.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.  If you're a football fan - have fun watching the playoffs.

Cheers,

Tom

Life as Art - The Trip to Lambeau

Hi All,

I hope your week was great.  Mine flew by (like all weeks seem to).  Recently I had the opportunity to do something very special.  I took a trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin to see a Packers home game.  I've been a fan of the Green Bay Packers my whole life and had always wanted to take in a game, but just never gotten to it.

I'm originally from Wisconsin, but my because my family moved across country when I was 13, I never had been to a Packers game as a kid.  Another special aspect to this trip was getting together with my brother Dave, and cousins (Kurt and Kyle).  We all were kind of close growing up, so this was a special trip, to a special place...a pilgrimage of sorts.  So I thought I'd share some pictures of the sights I'd seen on this trip.

My really bad map (that I sketched out), showing the trip.

My brother Dave and I flew in to Minneapolis and met up with Kurt on Friday.  We enjoyed some hospitality from Kurt, Karen and family Friday night.  Saturday morning, we set out on the 350 mile trek to Wabeno, WI.  Wabeno is where my Dad grew up on my Grandparent's farm, and Kyle now lives in the old farmhouse.

We saw lots of farms along the way.  You can still see many small family farms, but its
become a big business in Wisc., like so many other places as well.

It was a fun drive, with some nice fall colors on the trees, lots of farms, and more and more as we got to the north woods of NE Wisconsin, we found more and more of the trees had lost their leaves by then.

Fall colors in western Wisconsin.  The colors were actually a little better
than this photo represents.

It was a sentimental trip for sure.  Spending time with these guys, and in Wabeno (which was like another home where I spent a lot of time over the years).  Unfortunately my other brother couldn't make it on this trip.

The Kreienbrink Farm house.

The Kreienbrink Farm circa late 1950s.  The farm was a little less than
170 acres.  A beautiful place.

We made it up to the farm and found Kyle getting ready for work.  We spent the afternoon driving around seeing some sights around the town - places we'd spent so much time at and have so many memories around.  We had a great time that evening, did some partying downtown.  We ran into some old friends and made some new ones.  We reminisced with some folks who knew our Dads and Grandparents.

Tom and Dave

Luckily on Sunday the game started late in the afternoon.  This gave us time to have breakfast in town at the only restaurant, and make the 100mile drive to Green Bay.

Tom, Kurt, Dave, and Kyle Kreienbrink.  Look at the guy photobombing
between Kurt and Dave...I don't know who he was, just another Packers fan.

A packed stadium

The game.

The game was excellent.  We did a little tailgating, had a few beers, and then headed into the stadium.  The energy in the stadium was incredible.  It really was a fun and tremendous experience - 35 degrees at game time, drizzling rain, watching the game with 70,000 fans packed into Lambeau with me.  By the end of the game, our Packers had won, and our throats were hoarse from yelling.  Time to drive back to the farm.

Holstein Dairy Cows - in America's Dairyland

Monday morning brought a long drive back to Minneapolis in a car not made to seat three big guys - Ha, we laughed about that, but we survived the trip and had fun anyhow.  After a nice dinner with Kurt and family we went had to fly out, back to our lives.  What a trip.

Is this blog post related to my art or holistic business?  Perhaps not directly.  But when it comes to our health, it does help to take time out, have some fun, see some family or friends and cut loose a little.  I thank you for letting me indulge in sharing some photos and stories of my trip.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Perhaps this weekend you can take a little time to relax and enjoy yourself a little.  Take care and be good to each other.

Peace,

Tom