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

New On-Line Art and Gift store

Hi All,

I just wanted to get this out quickly.  I've been holding off for a while, but I've been putting together an on-line store featuring my artwork and designs.  It's on Zazzle.com.  Check it out.

Here's a link to the store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/kbrink_design

Zazzle is a place on line for people to order custom products like coffee mugs, t-shirts, canvas and other types of prints, stationery, phone covers, etc....they'll customize almost anything you can think of.  You can type your own message on something, or use your own design.  However, designers and artists like myself can start a "store" there and sell products with their own designs on them. 

Ladies long sleeve t-shirt with Windy Lion design.

It's convenient for the artist and customer.  I've finished some artwork and designs for the site and I'm showing a couple here.  Of course I'll be adding new artwork regularly to keep interested customers coming back.  

Coffee mug with original artwork and design by Tom Kreienbrink

If you like what you see or I have your attention, check it out.  I've got a few Halloween ideas coming quickly and of course Christmas is around the corner (sorry - I know it's early).  My point is that they make great gifts for friends, family, or for yourself.  I hope you like it.  Bookmark the page; it's called Coffee Love.  The link again is: https://www.zazzle.com/store/kbrink_design

Have a great day all.  Get out there and do some good.  Help a neighbor...make the world a little better than it was yesterday.  We need you. 

Peace,

Tom Kreienbrink
Tom.kbrink@gmail.com
Web portfolio: www.behance.net/tk-art

TomK self portrait 2019

Hi All,

Well - I've become a very very inconsistent blogger.  I've got several pieces of artwork in the pipeline and in process, so I'll be back a little sooner next time.  Things are heating up here in Phoenix...in the 100s every day now.  I've got plenty on the plate; work, artwork, projects around the house and more.  Whew...busy life but excited about some of the things coming on the horizon.

One of the mediums of artwork I've always enjoyed is cartooning.  Over the years I've done several cartoon portraits....and self portraits.  Recently my older son Dave gave me this great hand made sketch book.  One day about a week ago I did some sketching and one that I did was a cartoon self portrait.  (I have another fun one coming from that day that I need to finish, but it's coming). Then today, I thought I'd take it to the computer and do a little color and finishing.

I complete the project using Photoshop and a Wacom tablet on my old Mac desktop.  It's fun working on little pieces like this once in a while.  Here's the finished product....

It's me.  I just sit with a pencil and paper and sketch it out.  Not very detailed, but fun.  I'm going to put up a couple other goofy ones that I've done over the years.  However - above is the 2019 version.  When I'll do the next one?  Who knows.

Above is one from 2011.  This was produced with pen and ink. I was a little younger and definitely entrenched in Arizona culture....tshirt, shorts and sandals.  And, I'm pretty much the same today, just older.

Here's a fun one from the early 1990s.  It's a pen and ink illustration. I was the medical illustrator at an Air Force teaching hospital, while on active duty.  I'd use this in some of the material I'd put out regarding the service I'd provide.  I'd produce little informational brochures to provide info to my customers and potential customers.  It was fun. 

So have some fun yourself, this summer.  Enjoy every day.  Be good to others, but also be good to yourself.    Have a great summer and more blog posts and artwork to come....now I'm going swimming.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink
tom.kbrink@gmail.com
www.behance.net/tk-art

KBrink Design - Andy K Artwork

Hi All,

How's it going out there?  Hope everyone is doing well.  Things are going pretty good here in the great southwest (Arizona, USA).  It's heating up...summer will be here very quickly.  I hope its been a good Spring season for all of you reading this.

It's been a while since I've blogged and today I'd like to do something a little different.  I'd like to highlight the artwork of one of my sons - Andy Kreienbrink.  Andy has been drawing and creating artwork since he was a kid.  He has a very different style than I do, but I love his creativity.

He and I have been toying with the idea of starting a business together for a while.  While tossing around ideas, I'd been working to teach him the computer aspect of creating finished illustrations.  The designs below are his (with a little assistance from the old man).

The pen and ink above depicts The Trailer Park Boys.  This was an illustration that was part of a birthday card I recieved from him and his family.  I'd had the artwork for a while and finally scanned it and cleaned it up in Photoshop.  It's exactly as he drew it, just that the whites are whiter and the black areas are solid black.  I love the stylized depiction of The Boys.  If you're familiar with them, there's no doubt who you're looking at.

The, I Heart Bacon pic is a collaboration that Andy and I produced together.  It was his brainchild and I provided some technical guidance and the heart illustration.  It was a fun little project.

The illustration above was a fun little collaboration piece as well.  The drawing was all his and I went back into Photoshop and cleaned it up.  Cleaning it up doesn't mean the picture was drawn sloppily.  It means I made the blacks a solid black, any color bleeding cleaned up and other imperfections as well.  I added a background and border also.  As you can tell, Andy is a fan of the horror genre.

The final design is an Andy Kreienbrink original.  It's a sticker design of Jason vs. Machete.  I provided technical input to assist him in carrying out his vision.

So the Kbrink Design project is still up in the air.  Will it come to fruition?  We'll see.  It the mean time, I just wanted to showcase some of Andy's artwork.  He's done some punk rock stylized art as well, for his bands and for others.  He's a budding talent for sure.

Have a great week everyone.  Take a breath....look around, and enjoy life a little.  Enjoy each day and the people around you.  Stay present.
Until next time....

Peace,

Tom

www.behance.net/tk-art

Taking Care of Yourself

Hi All,

How are you doing?  I hope you're all doing well.  Things are going well here in the desert.  Our winter has been wonderful, (not trying to rub it in northerners).  Our summer was long and hot - so it's nice to have a nice cool winter.  I know some of you are enduring a bitter cold winter and it's cold and flu season as well.  Today I'd like to just touch on some self care basics, from a little bit of an holistic point of view.

I'm no longer a full time holistic healthcare professional, but I still enjoy sharing some info that I've learned about holistic living.  First thing - what are you feeding yourself?  Holistically this entails, your food diet, but are you taking a little time to feed your spirit?  Do you feed yourself a diet of negativity on TV - like the never ending news cycle, (too much of that is not good for the soul).

Diet is important - eating a good, well balanced diet is a great idea.  Good quality, whole foods is best - organic, if you can.  Raw fruits and vegetables should be a part of that.  Moderation in food intake is also a great idea...people write books on this topic - I'm not going to here.  Do your best and I know, (as an EMT on the road for long hours), organic, locally grown food is not always easily available.  As my Holistic Nutrition teacher would say, "whatever the food available on your plate - bless the food and eat it with gratitude, and it will serve you well."

It's fresh lemon season here.  Slicing a lemon and adding it to a pitcher of water is

 a healthy and cleansing drink

 TV/Media Diet is also important to look at.  If we over do it with screen time or constantly feed our minds/consciousness negativity, it can and will affect our attitudes and our outlook on life.  Most news shows are a constant barrage of negativity.  Its enough to keep you up at night if you're not careful.  For me, I try to stay informed, but not overdo the news.  I enjoy shows on TV to be entertained as well, and I like to just do a little reading once in a while.  Too much of any of it throws me out of balance.  Evaluate your screen time, (computer, TV, tablet, phone, etc...), is it in balance or are you over doing it? 

I feed my soul with some uplifting spiritual study on a regular basis.  I feel like this is important for me.  Traditionally, going to church has been a staple of our society for spiritual uplift - and it's good.  I'd ask, how to you feed yourself spiritually?  Reading or studying can be a good avenue for this as well as on-line videos or other spiritual media.  Another great one is to be of service, either formally volunteering or helping someone out who's in need.  There's always plenty of opportunities to volunteer all around us - it's good to give back, and it's good for you, on every level.

Exercise is always good for the body.  It may be cold outside, but there are things you can do inside.  You may belong to a gym or have home gym equipment - use it.  I have an exercise bike.  Full disclosure - I've been getting back on it again lately.  Walking can be a very effective exercise for health.  Get the blood flowing a little bit, (or a lot) every day.

Dietary Supplements - do you take them?  Do you feel they make a difference?  There are some fantastic supplements out there.  Typically I'd go to more of a higher end or health food store for them, rather than purchasing from a standard grocery store - the quality of product is what you're after.  There are certainly some very good products available from your holistic practitioner or specialty shops - herbal supplements and remedies, vitamins and minerals, CBD oils, cremes, tinctures, capsules.  Do a little research and get the products that are going to help you heal or get back into balance.

Massage, Holistic Therapies - A very good way to take care of yourself.  I recommend a massage once a month.  It's a very wonderful way to relax, decompress and release some of the stress and tension that can build up in our bodies and minds.  Find what works for you and a therapist that you like and practice some self care directly to your muscles.  If you have medical conditions there are massage and holistic therapists that specialize in types of massage that can be very beneficial.  However - if you have a cold or the flu, you should wait until it passes to get a massage.  Your therapist can let you know if there are contraindications.  Of course, if you have a medical condition and you're unsure if you can get a massage - ask your doctor.

This winter (what's left of it), and all year long -- take care of yourself.  Be gentle with yourself.  There are some really good things that can help us remain healthy this time of year, but at the end of the day a balanced lifestyle will be best for most of us.  Take good care.

Peace,

Tom   

More Medical Illustrations

Hi All,

Happy New Year to you.  I hope your New Years celebration was a good one.  I was working on NYE, but it was a good shift.  May your upcoming winter months be good ones...make every day a good one.

Recently, I was contracted by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons to do more illustrations for a publication.  The illustrations are re-creations of classifications of pediatric tibia and fibula fractures.  These fractures are on the distal (lower) end of the bones and involving the growth plate.  These fractures in children can affect how their bones grow - so it's important they are treated properly and heal properly.

pen and ink and computer: this classification shows various common ankle breaks

.

All of these illustrations are started with pencil and paper.  I then develop "master" pen and ink drawings of the bones, that I can work with.  When I have that, I take the illustration to the computer, where I can copy and modify the illustrations, showing the various types of breaks.  It still requires a lot of work, but better than drawing each one individually.

Salter-Harris - pen and ink and computer

It's nice to keep my hand in some medical illustration occasionally.  For 10 years of my Air Force career, I was fortunate to be a medical illustrator in Air Force teaching hospitals.  This is the kind of work I would do to support teaching programs and residency programs.  I worked with some really awesome people and really enjoyed it.

Triplane Fracture Variants - pen and ink and computer.

The Triplance Fracture series was the most labor intensive.  It required a little more research and a lot more work.  Each of the series had to be drawn individually.  But it all came together and shows the information needed.

Fun work - I enjoy drawing, painting and illustrating a variety of different subjects.  I'm not a full time artist or designer anymore.  Most of the work I do now days is for myself, but I still enjoy freelancing as well.  I hope you all had a great holiday season.  Enjoy winter (or summer - if you're south of the equator).  Have a great day.

Peace,

Tom

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