Air Force Artwork

Hi All,

Good afternoon everyone.  I hope you're all doing well.  It's a nice day here in Phoenix, Arizona...getting warmer as we're on the road toward Summer.

Recently I've had a few reminders of the career I had in the Air Force.  Some of the recent reminders - Getting my GI Bill going for school in the Fall, nice people thanking me for my service (when they catch a glimpse of my Mil ID), and I found out one of my former troops had to be airlifted out of a deployment and have surgery (don't know the details, but glad he's doing well).  So I thought I'd share a little of my career and artwork from my Air Force days.

After attending graphic design school here in Phoenix, I enlisted in the Air Force about a year later.  I was very fortunate that with my training and experience, I was able to get into the Visual Information (graphic arts), career field.  And...I landed a choice assignment to Altus AFB, OK (LOL).  It was fun and a little bit of a culture shock - being in the Air Force and small town Oklahoma...but we had some good times out there.  I also got a lot of great experience and learned a lot from some great people.

Pen and Ink illustration.  A C-5 aircraft from Altus AFB, OK.  I drew this for practice and 

to be used on local products.

Along the way my family and I spent time stationed in Fort Worth, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Washington, DC (and I spent a little time in some other places here and there).

T-Shirt design for the Offutt Runway Run. 

It was a good career and I was happy and honored to serve, and I thank my fellow American citizens for the opportunity.  One of the highlights of my career was my last assignment.  I spent the last 3 years as First Sergeant for the 11th Civil Engineer Squadron, Bolling AFB in Washington, DC.  It was one of the most challenging and also rewarding positions I've had the pleasure to serve in.

Pen and ink artwork for 11th CES going away artwork.  A print could have a farewell message in the center and be framed as a nice farewell.  Even though I wasn't in multimedia, I still liked to do a little artwork when I had time.

T-Shirt artwork for 11th CES.  Proud to be an honorary Prime Beef troop.  They're a good bunch - hard working folks ready to do whatever is needed.

It's been 9 years now since I've retired from the Air Force and I spent some time with FEMA in DC, and now have a second career as massage and holistic therapist here in Phoenix.  Every now and then it's nice to remember the old days.  I really enjoyed being an Airman in the US Air Force and am grateful for all of the great folks I've crossed paths with along the way.  

Self Portrait...me, a little younger (little being a relative term, Ha!)

Now I'm on a new path and chapter in my life.  It's a good one too.  It's good to enjoy the journey and enjoy the moment.  I hope you're enjoying the moment as well.  Remember - we make a difference in peoples lives in every day.  Whether we're doing community service work, serving in the military, or just being kind to someone while in line at the store - the ripples go out.  Like I used to tell the troops...Keep doing great things!

Peace and Love,

Tom

Portfolio: www.behance.net/tk-art
HTS Website: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

Medical Illustrations - from the archives

Hi All,

I hope all of you are doing well.  Things have been going well here in Arizona.  It's warming up - pretty soon it'll be summer.  Also - I want to say Hello to my new friends in Russia, who have been reading the blog.  The blog has been getting several views there and I hope you're enjoying it.

I'm very grateful to have two careers going right now.  I'm an holistic therapy practitioner and an artist/illustrator.  I've been focusing on the holistic therapy biz the last couple of years, but recently it's been nice to find illustration work coming my way again.  I'm really enjoying it.  I've just finished eight illustrations for a book and am in the process of producing three medical illustrations for an e-book.  More to come on those as they progress in the publication process.

Today I'd like to share some of my medical illustration work from the past.   For 10 years of my Air Force career, I worked in teaching hospitals as a medical illustrator.  Part of that involved having the ability to render anatomical illustrations to support teaching programs.

Computer painted illustration - part of a jaw transplant series (remove part of the illiac crest/hip bone to use in the jaw).

A lot of the work I did was to illustrate slides and later, electronic presentations that were used to teach.  Originally I used traditional media - colored pencil, pen and ink, pencil, and I learned to use an airbrush to produce artwork.  These pieces of art were then photographed with 35mm slide film for use in teaching presentations.

18x24 inch mixed media artwork - for display in Neurology Clinic and used as a reference.

Not long after starting work as medical illustrator, I started integrating a computer system into the workflow process.  I had a Macintosh computer with the proper software, digitizing tablet, and 35mm film recorder.

Computer painted illustration for electronic presentation - supporting the Dental Residency program

I produced a number of different types of products for the two hospitals I worked at.  I painted some murals, designed fliers for use in clinics, and made posters to display public information....I did whatever they needed, as the mission dictated - and it was a lot of fun.

Computer painted illustration - cross section of the forehead

Today, as I'm working on these illustrations depicting procedures to stimulate healing in a fractured talus (bone in the foot/ankle), I did some reminiscing about the old job, the work, and some of the amazing people I worked with.  It was really an enjoyable job and an incredible learning experience.

Have a great day - spread a little kindness around (even to people who you don't know).

Peace,

Tom

On Line Portfolio:  www.Behance.net/tk-art
On Facebook:  www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design

Medal of Honor Recipient Portrait

Hi All,

Happy Tuesday!  It's a great day....taking another step toward wrapping up a big project, the sun's shining, and I'm breathing in and out....not bad.

I came across an old piece of artwork today that I produced for the Air Force Art Program.  I completed the artwork while still on active duty while stationed at Bolling AFB in the District of Columbia.  While working in DC I learned about the Air Force Art Program (AFAP), from my pals at the Pentagon.  The AFAP's office was right down the hall from Air Force Media and I got to see the operation and what it's about.

The Air Force Art Program is an office at the Pentagon that handles an amazing volume of artwork.  The artwork is donated by artists who create artwork with Air Force themes, in various sizes and media. They coordinate and catalog all of this artwork and sign it out to units all over the planet, to be displayed.

To have my work accepted into the AFAP was really an honor.  There was even an annual Art Induction dinner, where the year's newly inducted artwork was displayed as a show and the artists were invited to attend, along with guests and some other VIPs.  It was fun, and really a cool experience to be able to meet these other artists, get to know them, break bread together and just be a part of it.

Pitsenbarger - pencil and airbrush, 16"x20"

So I decided that I'd draw a portrait of A1C William Pitsenbarger.  He was a true hero and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  He was serving in Viet Nam in 1966 when he went on a rescue mission to help some Army infantry soldiers who were pinned down and taking heavy casualties.  He was lowered from the helicopter thru the trees and immediately started tending to the wounded and loading casualties.  When the helicopter started taking fire and had to leave, he waived them off and stayed to provide aid to injured on the ground.  He coordinated the evacuation of nine casualties. He continually put his own life on the line, pulling wounded from the line of fire, providing medical aid and returning fire when he could.  In the end, he didn't make it out alive that day, but was able to assist many others that day who did.

I drew the portrait of him in pencil depicting him in uniform with his helicopter aircrew helmet on.  The medal of honor is also on the pic, drawn in pencil.  I airbrushed in a warm background of a light yellow to brown.

As a graphic artist in the Air Force - it's an honor to have a piece of my artwork in the Air Force Art Program.  It's also an honor to have served with so many amazing men and women, who put mission before self every day. 

I'm glad that my artwork hangs somewhere in an office or hallway, in an Air Force building where Airmen and civilians alike can see his image and reflect on the inspiration that this man, William Pitsenbarger was.

Take care and have a great day everyone.

Peace,

Tom

Flexibility is Key

Hi All,

It's been a busy couple of weeks, but it's alright being busy sometimes too.  The New Year is off to a pretty good start and I'm glad to get a chance to sit down and do a little writing.  Recently I was involved in a situation with friends that revolved around a meeting place and time (I won't bore you with specifics).  Like I said, we're friends and everyone was kind, loving and civil, but there was one thing that stood out: inflexibility.  There were some "lines in the sand" drawn that really limited the outcome.

All of this reminded me of something from when I was in the Air Force.  One of the Tenets of Airpower is, "Flexibility is the Key to Airpower."  In an Airpower perspective, flight, agility and altitude, speed, the ability to fly anywhere in a short period of time, etc...all of these things allow the Air Force to act or react to situations in the world with great flexibility.

Pen and Ink illustration from my first duty station - 1365 AVS, Det 4
Altus AFB, Oklahoma.  It's a drawing of a C-5 aircraft.

Now that I've got your attention (or put you to sleep), you've probably figured out where I'm going with this.  I've always liked using this saying seriously and also with a little tongue in cheek.  It's simple with a deep and broad meaning.  When I was an NCO and my troops were resistant to some direction or change that I was imposing on them, I'd quote this tenet.  I'd also use it with my kids as they were growing up.  OK - I admit that a big part of that was me being humorous (or at least in my own mind I was funny).  And....quoting this to my Airmen or my kids never made them happy.  However, there's a point made here and a real life application that weaves in and out of the fabric of all of our lives.

A drawing I did while stationed at 11th CES, Bolling AFB, Washington DC.  I printed
some and gave them away as going away gifts.  I'd write a personal message in the blank space.

The application is obvious and you know it...flexibility is key.  You have to be flexible.  It's going with the flow of life.  It's being in the present moment and enjoying it, and when something doesn't go our way, it's switching to "plan b," or going with the flow, knowing that life is change and thats alright.  In negotiations its a give and take, and how can we come up with the best solution for everyones best interest.  It's also adapting to the constant change in life.  On earth, everything changes all the time; things break, storms wash out your picnic...our best made plans can often be made to change in an instant.  If viewed in the proper perspective, that can be what keeps life interesting.

Being flexible is also being free of expectations.  Expectations are tricky and can lead to a lot of disappointment.  Ever hear yourself saying, (in a disappointed way), "is that too much to expect?  Am I being unreasonable?"  Your expectations may not be unreasonable, yet they may not always be met.  If we're hanging on to the outcome we expected and we felt we deserved, it can be a tough time.  So enjoy whatever life throws at you.  That's about all we can do, right?

I also had another saying I liked to use that has a similar theme; "Do your best, Do what's right, and let the chips fall where they may."  From spiritual aspect, I just need do the footwork and trust and have faith in my Higher Power/God, that all will work out for my highest good.  When I do that, things always work out well - although not always the way I envisioned or even wanted them to.  Conversely, when I try to impose my will on any situation, it always stresses me out and messes with my serenity.

In a physical sense, when we keep our bodies fit and flexible, everything flows better too and helps us to maintain balance and health.  We do this thru nutrition, exercise and stretching.

All of this being said, I'm not saying that we have to be door mats or accept unacceptable behavior.  What I am saying is it's a universal principle that can help us lead a happier and more peaceful life.  I don't do it perfectly all the time, but I know when I'm able to be present and just flow with life, it's a sweet ride baby!

Have a sweet ride today.  Enjoy the moment, even if you're in a long meeting or in traffic, or whatever you're doing.  Act from a place of love and kindness with everyone.  It'll be good.
Have a great weekend.

Peace,

Tom

My Massage and Holistic Therapy Business
www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

My Art and Design business
www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design
www.behance.net/tk-art

Going Away Artwork

Hi All,

I hope you're all doing well.  I'd like to feature "going away art" today.  Here's what that is.  If you're part of an organization that may have members moving on every now and then, you may consider developing some type of art to reproduce as a unique going away gift.  It can be a nice memento that you can personalize easily as an added touch.

As a career Air Force member, I've done my share of moving around.  Over the years I've collected a number of plaques and photos and things from various places, given to me as going away gifts.  As an artist, I thought - "why not come up with something unique, reproducible, and maybe something that we could easily personalize or use as a fundraiser.  So I started developing pen and ink artwork that could be reproduced, given as gifts, and easily framed.

Prime BEEF - 11" x 14"
Pen and ink on bristol board.

The picture above was done for the 11th Civil Engineer Squadron (CE), in Washington, DC (where I was First Sergeant for a few years).  Their deployed mission is called "Prime BEEF" and is represented by a bull - so that was a major theme in the piece.  I also included a local flavor from DC and the CE corps badge (lower left corner).  I wanted to make it a fun memento that I could easily print up at Kinkos or a local print shop in a nice quality paper.  I left a "hole" in the middle to write a personalized message for the recipient.

55th OSS - 18" x 24"
Pen and Ink on Illustration Board

I developed a larger montage illustration for the 55th Operations Support Squadron in Nebraska.  They hired me to develop this as a piece they could reproduce and use as a long term fundraiser.  The piece represents the local area as well as scenes from around the base.   I did the same thing for the hospital at Offutt AFB as well.  They went over well...the hospital Commander even proudly gave one to the base Commander when he departed for another assignment.

Over the years I've done a few others as well at various places.  They're fun and can even make a few bucks for you or your charitable organization.  I'm sure this type of thing could be developed for various corporate offices, schools, charitable organizations...anywhere people come and go occasionally.

Take care all and have a great week........

Peace,

Tom

Tee Design - More Beef Than You Can Handle

Hi All,

I came across my tee shirt from the 11th Civil Engineers Squardron (CE) recently and thought I'd get out the artwork and share it here in the blog.  The last three years of my Air Force career, I moved on from multimedia and became a First Sergeant.  I was assigned to the 11th CE Squadron, Bolling Air Force Base in the District of Columbia.

The shirt was to be a fun shirt that folks may want to wear to squadron functions and also to be a fundraiser for the squadron booster club.  Because I'm an artist, we saved some bucks on the artwork.  The shirt was printed with black on a grey (ash) colored tee shirt.  The Prime Beef logo was printed on the front of the shirt, on the breast pocket area.  This is a common "logo" used by civil engineers throughout the Air Force.

Logo printed on front of shirt.  Breast pocket area, about 4" in diameter.

On the back we did a Prime Beef cartoon design.  As you've suspected, "More Beef Than You Can Handle" is an Air Force Civil Engineers slogan and the Beef steer is the representative mascot.  I'm embarrassed that I don't remember what the acronym "Prime Beef" stands for.  But, it's the part of CE that mobilizes and responds in contingency situations.

Design on the back of the tee shirt.  

We printed the back one color (black) as well.  The cartoon is pretty obviously a "Prime Beef" mascot who's a CE Airman, surrounded by various aspects of what they do.  Basically, as you've probably figured out, they're the construction element of the Air Force.  Electricity, Power Production, Vertical and Horizontal construction, Plumbing and Water Treatment, Facilities Maintenance, and Plans, Contracts, Procurement, Designing, and the Readiness folks (can't forget them or I'd be in trouble :).

Tee Design with color.  Color added with Photoshop and Wacom tablet.

Just for fun, I decided to color the design.  The original design, I created in pen and ink on bristol board. Eventually I scanned it in and I colorized it using Photoshop.

Today, I look back on my days with the 11th CE Squadron with fondness.  I still count most of the folks I served with among my friends.  CE - thanks for the memories, it was great to be able to serve with you for that time.

Have a great week everyone.