Holistic Therapies and Lifestyle - Past to Present

Hi All,

It's been a very hot weekend here in Phoenix (high of almost 120 degrees Fahrenheit).  So I thought I'd do a little blogging while stranded indoors.  Today I'd like to talk a little about my bodywork business, Holistic Therapy Solutions, what I do, how I got here, and where I'm going with it....hopefully you'll go there with me.

Originally, when we moved back to Phoenix 3 years ago I set out to be a freelance artist.  I didn't have any thoughts of doing anything else.  However, plans change when you least expect it.  One day while looking at a Facebook friend's profile, I noticed she attended Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, AZ (a Phoenix suburb).  It caught my attention and within a week I had taken a tour of the school and signed up for classes.

I immediately signed up to take the Associates Degree program in Holistic Healthcare.  My main course of study was massage therapy.  The degree program also provided a lot of good information regarding holistic living.  It included in-depth classes in Western Herbalism, Holistic Nutrition, Ayurveda and more.  Besides the core classes and business classes, I had a lot of elective credits to fill.  The elective programs I was able to specialize in were, Myofacial Energetic Massage, Reflexology, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reiki, and Hypnotherapy.

Being a graphic designer, illustrator and fine artist is something I've always loved doing and is something I'll never stop doing.  Yet, I'm so excited to take my new business, Holistic Therapy Solutions, out to the world.

Logos that I designed - Left: my holistic therapy business, Right: my artwork business

I've always had an interest in nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle.  What I'll bring to my business and my social media, is information on alternative and complementary therapies and the amazing benefits that they provide, nutritional information/holistic diet, information on herbs, and holistic remedies.  I'm also offering a line of nutritional supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies available for my clients from a company called Energetix. 

Energetix is an innovative company that provides high quality products for therapists as well as medical professionals.  They provide a wide array of products made from pure raw materials using clean processing methods.  I like being a representative and client of this company because I grew up being given homeopathic medicines when sick.  I know it works and I know it takes a whole person approach - and I've never heard of homeopathic remedies having any negative side effects (like so many mainstream medicines do).

Where am I going with all this?  I'm going to be providing therapies, supplements, and information that help people feel good.  I'll encourage people to take a whole person approach, and at the same time, I'm incorporating all of these in my own life more and more, every day.

Of course, I'm still creating artwork as well....again - my philosophy is that the best approach  incorporates the mind, body and soul.  What you feed your body, mind, and spirit and emotions are important factors in your health, and....together, we'll all grow and heal.

Peace,

Tom

On Facebook at  Holistic Therapy Solutions: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

and Tom Kreienbrink Art and Design: www.facebook.com/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design

Late With the Birthday Card

Hi Everyone,

It's good to be back blogging again.  As I mentioned in my previous post, I now am doing two businesses; Art and Design and Holistic Therapy Solutions.  So I'll be blogging about topics related to both art and design, and holistic therapies and holistic lifestyle.

This time of year is always busy and hectic and many times important dates and events get by me.  I'm known to be late with birthday cards and presents...at least if it involves mailing them.

So per the usual, my Dad's birthday snuck up on me and I hadn't sent anything out.  So I thought it would be nice to do something custom for him.  One of the fun things I like to do now and then is to create a card.  It's fun, I can do it while relaxing, and I can create something with a little humor and a little bit of myself in it.

First, I got out the Bristol Board, pens and pencil and eraser.  The idea presented itself right away.  It's getting very hot, very early here in Phoenix this year and I wanted it to be a little bit of a spoof on the old postcards that would have a "Hi from Beautiful....," and a photo of the desirable destination on it.

The front of the card - drawn in ink on Bristol Board

After sizing the board and sitting down to draw, it was pretty easy and fun.  The idea is self explanatory, the place is very hot and dry looking - not the place you want to spend a vacation.  I sat down with pencil and sketched it out, then inked it in.  Of course, there's the birthday wish inside and a blank place to sign the card.

Of course, the inside; with the Belated Birthday Greeting

The Blog is Back, but New and Improved

I'm Back!  But it's going to be a little different.

Three years ago - I started on a new chapter in life.  My wife Sue and I moved back to Phoenix, AZ after 25 years and I started a new career chapter as freelance artist.  There's sub-chapters to the story though.  Two years ago, I started another journey;  studying Holistic Healthcare at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.

Today, I'm here in Phoenix working as an artist and massage therapist (among other therapies I provide).  I'm loving it too.  I love doing artwork and I've always had an interest in holistic lifestyle and holistic/complementary medicine.

So I'm combining the two businesses in my revamped blog.

Logo I designed and use for my therapy business, Holistic Therapy Solutions based
in Phoenix, AZ.

I'll be discussing artwork, techniques, design ideas and illustrations.  I'll also be talking about some of the therapies I provide and the benefits of them, as well as holistic lifestyle topics like dietary supplements and nutrition.

My original Art and Illustration Logo

I hope you enjoy the new format and additional topic.  

You can still check out my artwork page at:

www.behance.net/tk-art   -   on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design/170670816317477?ref=hl

You can see my website for Holistic Therapy Solutions at: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com   -   and on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions?ref=hl

Have a great day everyone and make it a wonderful weekend.

Holiday Wishes - e-Christmas Cards

Hi Everyone,

Happy Holidays, whatever Holidays you celebrate.  Personally, I celebrate Christmas.  It's been a busy fall and start to Winter.  School's keeping me very busy, and the holidays are always a busy time around here too.

Today I thought I'd highlight some of my Christmas Cards that I've created in the past.  I've made many over the years, but I've got three here today.

2011 Holiday Card - digital art

The artwork above is the card I sent out this year even though it was really a last minute "throw together."  I came up with an idea, scanned in a pencil sketch and went to work.  I decided to have some fun with it...after all, it is Christmas.  I love using the program Painter, with my Wacom Tablet and Mac computer.  Most of the picture was "painted" with the chalk tool in Painter.  I wanted to have fun with a loose, fun, chalk or crayon type illustration.  When finished, I posted to Facebook and sent out to friends and family attached to an email as well.  I just don't send cards in the mail any more (judge me if you will, but that's a tradition I don't do).

2010 Card - digital art

The 2010 card was a little bit generic, but it also reflected our location and also the Christmas star, that led the Wise Men to Bethlehem.  We had moved to the desert last year from the East Coast of the US.  I love Christmas in the desert, reflected in the mountains and cactus with lights.  This one was more of a simple and clean design, produced on computer using Photoshop and sent out via email and social networking.

2009 Christmas Card - digital art

Finally, the 2009 Christmas Card.  This one started with a little more developed pencil sketch, painted with Wacom Tablet and Photoshop.  We were still in Washington DC, so I've got Santa on the White House roof top with monuments in the background, and the Star guiding to Baby Jesus in the manger.

This was fun and I put a little more detail into it than some of my cards.  I also created individualized cards with this theme for some colleagues at work and a few others.  I also sent it out in a wider distribution via electronic media.

I hope all of you are having a very happy and peace filled Holiday Season, whatever holidays you celebrate.  Merry Christmas and have a Joy filled 2012.

Peace,

Tom Kreienbrink

Pen and Ink Cartooning

Hi All,

Well, I've been cleaning up a couple old cartoon scans and decided that this weeks blog should highlight some of my pen and ink cartoon illustrations.

Day Tripper

The first - a guy I've been drawing since I was a young kid.  I call him the Day Tripper.  I've drawn him on a unicycle, in stocks, hitchhiking and doing all kinds of stuff.  Although I grew up in the 70s, it's clear I was influenced by the hippies of the 60s.  Yes - I think it's true that this is some kind of alter ego character.  I've often thought of developing a comic or cartoon strip around the character, but never did.

Cartoon Self Portraits

Above: self portrait cartoons.  The one on the left is circa 1995 and the one on the right is recent.  In the 90s I was a medical illustrator in training hospitals.  I used to fool around with cartoons of me and the photographers, using them for funny signs and not so serious self promotional items.

Promotion Item Artwork for a couple of events at
Offutt AFB, Neb.  Circa 1995-96

A couple of cartoon style illustrations from the 90s.  The one on the left used to promote the EMT Rodeo and the one on the right was used for the Offutt AFB Runway Run Tee Shirts and posters.

Jerry and Ron - Medical Photographers
Circa 1993-96

Above are toons of two of the medical photographers I worked with at Offutt AFB, Neb;  Jerry King and Ron Kikel.  These guys were amazingly talented.   The work they did was vital to the training programs in a facility. They were also my friends...we had more fun than people should be allowed to have at work.  We worked hard and played hard too.

Cartoon greeting card for my parents
(caption in word bubble changed for blog)

Lastly is a card I gave to my parents.  It was set in our apartment on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.  It was a great little apartment....good times.  It had a different caption in the word bubble, but I changed it for the blog.

I hope all is going well for everyone reading the blog.  I hope you enjoy it and that you are enjoying life.
Bless you all.....

Aloha,

Tom

In Honor of Fall and Our Nations Capital....

Hi All,

Well, it's fall again.  In a lot of places the leaves are turning orange, red and yellow and are starting to drop.  It's finally cooling off a little here in Arizona too.  And, football season is well under way here in North America.  So I decided to break out a picture I did a while ago for some friends.

Riggo - Pen and Ink with digital color

I lived in the Washington DC area for about 8 years and created this piece for some friends who are huge Washington Redskins fans.  The artwork commemorates the former Redskin great, John Riggins (or Riggo for short).  I know not all of you are fans, but  Riggo is a revered sports hero in the DC area.  He's a big ol farm boy from Nebraska who was a powerful running back in college and in the NFL.  He played for many years as a Redskin and on more than one championship winning team in Washington.

The technique I used is one I enjoy quite a bit.  I start out with reference material and sketch out my design.  On this one I liked the idea of incorporating a scene from one of the Super Bowls he starred in, his number, name and the team mascot in the background.

Riggo - Pen and Ink version

Next I render a nice tight pen and ink drawing.  Personally, I really enjoy pen and ink.  I used it a lot when I was starting out because we did a lot of one color printing.  I use bristol board and Koh-i-noor technical pens.  The thing I like about it as well, is that the pen and ink is a stand alone piece of artwork (I like it better than the color piece myself).  And after I add the color it can be used as a dual purpose piece.

After completing the inked artwork I scan it in to my Mac.  Then I use Photoshop and my Wacom tablet to paint in the color.  A couple things I like to do are first; touch up the pen and ink in Photoshop.  I want the black image on a layer by itself in Photoshop and I want it to be tight.  So, it takes a little touch up work and time.  Then, I can paint in the color on a layer beneath.  This keeps the black image crisp with the color popping in thru the area that they should.  I normally have several layers of color while working on it.

So, here's to all you Redskins fans and DC area residents; enjoy the beautiful Fall weather out there.  I know the Skins aren't having their best season, but hang in there.  The rest of you - enjoy yourself, wherever you are.

Have a great week all.

Aloha,

Tom

Go Brewers Go - Ryan Braun Illustration

Hi All,

Hope you're all having a good week.  As a native of the state of Wisconsin and a sports fan, I've got to say, it's been a lot of fun lately.  The Packers and UW are having great football seasons, UW and Marquette University basketball teams are consistent winners, and now the Milwaukee Brewers are in the playoffs for the first time in a long time.

I don't define myself by sports, but I've always enjoyed playing a variety of sports and watching my teams.  As an artist one of the subjects I enjoy working on are sports figures.  I was inspired to work on a fun illustration of my favorite Brewer, Ryan Braun.  This guy is the complete baseball player, reminiscent of guys like Paul Molitar and Robin Yount.  Anyhow, enough about me, here's the finished piece.

Braun - finished piece is high resolution, approximately 10" x 8"

Here's the technique I've developed that I like to use for some of my sports pictures (and it can be used for other art work as well).  It's easy and fun, but can be a little time consuming sometimes.  I start out with a pencil rendering of the subject.  Of course I work off of photo reference and use a variety of hard to soft pencils.

Initial pencil sketch after being scanned.

 
After scanning in to my iMac, I start working on the image; sharpening the images and the details.  I also try to bring out stronger values throughout - darker darks, crisp highlights and good contrast.  I normally use Adobe Photoshop and a Wacom tablet with a pen stylus.  I work it with greyscale values and also use varying opacity settings on the brush.

Pencil rendering after working lights and darks and
sharpening details.

Above is a little more fleshed out version of the pencil sketch.  You'll see I've added much more detail in the features throughout.  The darks are much more solid and even the lettering in the helmet logos and jerseys are tighter.  Sometimes I think I want to be a little too tight, but hey - that's how I roll.

In progress, after working in layers of color and texture.

Finally I start layering in various shades of blue.  I use a variety of blue hues.  I use a number of layers and differing levels of opacity on those layers.  It gives a nice layered and textured look.  I also use various brush shapes to really punch up the texture as well.  Finally, I add the name, rasterize the text and work the color on it.  Finishing touches also include a nice border to hold it all together.

The final piece.....Go Brewers!!

There you have it.  One of my favorite ball players, who is tearing up the playoffs.  Go Brewers!!  I hope you're enjoying your lives and your artwork wherever you are.  If you're not an artist, I hope you enjoy the blog and the artwork too.
Have a great week everyone.

Aloha,

Tom