LA Design and Custom Decal

Hi All,

Welcome to 2020.  It's a new year, the holidays are over and it's time to get back to biz.  It's winter here in Phoenix, AZ and it's so nice.  We're getting a little frost on the windshield of the car and some cooler temps in the day.  I know it's not winter like some of our northern and higher elevation friends experience, but it's a welcome break from our long hot summer.

I've been pretty busy, but still working on some artwork here and there.  One project I recently completed was requested by a friend of mine.  She's been getting out of her comfort zone, trying to construct a project/gift for her girlfriend: a make up table complete with lighted mirror.  She asked if I could design and illustrate a logo for this desk, to specifically customize this unique project and help with a solution to carry it out.

My friend wanted to show/reflect her partner's talent and love of singing, and customize it with her initials; LA.  LA (Los Angeles), is also where she's from.  The basic idea was there, so I got out the sketch book and pencil and drew up some ideas.  When I got to where my friend, Janessa wanted to go with this, I completed a tight sketch to work off of.

I took the sketch into Photoshop on my computer and using the power of layers, I started plotting points and creating paths.  For the most part, it's assembled with dark layers on bottom, working toward the lighter ones on top.  I created  two designs.  One with a star and one without.

When finished she decided she wanted the mic w/cord on the desk top and the star version as a small decal for the lighted mirror frame.  The next step - search the internet for a company who can print the decals.  We found Stickersstickers.com and had them print for us. They did a great job at a reasonable price.  The next step was to apply the decals.  So I got together with Janessa and we applied them to the prepped desk.  Janessa used a product called Modgepodge to cover and seal the decals to prevent peeling and damage.  (she told me later that the Modgepodge worked great).

When finished - the desk looked wonderful and is a piece to be treasured for many years to come.  I'm happy that I was able to assist in helping this project become an amazing gift.

Well, gotta go.  I hope you all are doing well and that your projects are coming along nicely.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink
on-line portfolio: www.behance.net/tk-art
on-line gift shop: https://www.zazzle.com/store/kbrink_design

JD Salinger Photo Art

Hi All,

Happy Friday.  It's been a pretty good week.  I've been busier at my business - Holistic Therapy Solutions, doing some massage and energy work.  And - I've got some artwork projects going as well, which I enjoy.

Recently, I had a little fun with a picture of the great author, JD Salinger.  There is a documentary made about him, not too long ago called, "Salinger."  I watched it a while back, (it was pretty good).  While watching, I took a photograph of a photograph of JD Salinger off of the TV screen.  It's an HD TV and so the picture turned out alright.  I took the photo because I figured I'd do something artistic with the photo.

So I had this photo of Salinger - it was this really good black and white portrait of him.  I guess I was a little inspired by him and of course, I read his most famous work, "A Catcher in the Rye."  So I was inspired to do something with the photo and I set out to have a little fun.

The amazing thing to me, is the quality of camera that the phone has.  I don't have the most high end phone either...but the phone takes a pretty good pic and it has some good photo adjustment tools.  So in the phone, I cropped the picture, and messed with the contrast and adjustment of the image.  Then I applied one of the arty borders to it.

When I got that far, I downloaded the photo on to my computer, where I could start playing with color. I love the old black and white photos with the watercolor touch ups.  My grandfather, Arnold Vahl, was an artist, lithographer, and printer.  He used to do some great coloring of black and white photos with watercolors.  I would have loved to see him work with the digital tools I've got now....I know he would do some amazing work...but I digress.  I added some blue around the border and added some really subtle coloring to him and the background (just like Grandpa might do), being careful not to lose the amazing effect of the black and white photo.

And there you have it, an easy piece of artwork using smart phone and photoshop.  That's it.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm attending a taping class tomorrow.  It's a class to learn how to use Acti-Tape - tape you apply to the body for therapeutic effect - helping to heal injuries.  Should be fun and a nice addition to my body-work practice.

Take care - be good to yourself and those around you.  Little things can help this world become a better place.  It starts with one person - you.  Have a great weekend.

Peace,

Tom

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

FB-Art page
www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design

Social Media Advertising Artwork

Hi Everyone,

How's your week going?  Things are going good here.  I'm keeping busy.  In fact, I spent a good deal of the day today working on promoting my Massage/Holistic Therapy Business.

In my business, Holistic Therapy Solutions, I provide therapeutic massage, reflexology, energy work and hypnotherapy.  However, another aspect of the biz are that I have a couple of groups that meet every week (meditation and Weight Loss with Hypnotherapy), and I teach some therapy classes.

One of the benefits of being an artist is I can not only write my own curriculum, but I can do my own artwork for classes and advertising.  Lately I've been having fun doing some illustrations to accompany some of the social media promotions for these groups and classes.

Artwork for the "Holistic Weight Management with Hypnotherapy" group advertising.
Produced with Photoshop and Wacom tablet over a photo.

I've been having some fun putting some (hopefully), eye catching graphics together.  At the same time, I'm really trying to practice time management and not spend a great deal of time on them either.  So I'm going into Photoshop and putting some illustrations together.

This morning I put a piece of artwork together for my meditation group.  I figure, it'll do better with a visual, than with none.  Either way, I had a good time putting it together and if it provides dividends, that's great.

Artwork for the "Midweek Re-Set Meditation Group" advertising.
Produced with Photoshop and Wacom tablet over a photo.

It's good fun.  I'm not putting together anything too intensive, but I'm working to put together something that's appropriate to help provide balance between the artwork and the text ad, and to brand the groups/classes.

Artwork for upcoming "Introduction to Chi Energy" class advertising.
Collage art assembled and illustrated with Photoshop and Wacom tablet.

So, I hope you're having some fun in whatever you're doing for work.  It's been alot of fun creating these.  Enjoy your week.  Do something nice for someone else - just because you can.  Be easy on others - and be good to yourself too.

Peace,

Tom

www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com