Usui Sensei Artwork

Hi All,

I'd like to show my latest piece of artwork today...a portrait of Mikao Usui.  I titled it, "Usui Sensei."

One of the bodywork modalities I practice in my holistic therapy practice is Reiki.  Mikao Usui is the person who "developed" Reiki.  Stories vary, I'll let you do your homework on it, but in brief, he discovered/was given reiki while on a 21 day trip up on Mount Kurama in Japan in the early 1900s.

Final Artwork - 15"x15"- available as giclee print

photo of Mikao Usui

Reiki is an energy work modality.  You apply Universal Life Energy - commonly referred to as Ki, thru your hands to your client.  It's great work - soothing and can be so healing on many levels.  Beautiful stuff!

I produced this on a 6 yr old I-Mac with 4Gb Ram and Photoshop CS3.  I started with a sepia tone and built up Master Usui's image in layers.  Each layer a different color (e.g.: red, black, yellow, orange, etc).

And, it started to come together, looking a little more lifelike.

I wanted a little bit of Mount Kurama and sky in the background.  Very basic, but at this point all that I really wanted to have in the picture.

I then used some really cool textured brushes to build up a really nice texture around the portrait. (at least I like the texture - some may not, and that's ok).  In the end, I had over 20 layers....then I flatten it all down.  Now one key to working in the textures is working with a certain level of transparency in the brush itself and then I may or may not adjust the layer transparency.  Really adjusting to what I feel is right for the piece.

Finally, I add the Japanese Kanji symbols that spell Reiki, and put the finishing touches on it.  I'll be selling giclee canvas prints at 15"x15," or 18x18.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and artwork.  Also - call me if you would like a reiki session also...it's so good.
Take care and have a great week everyone.
Peace,
Tom

Food and Nutrition are Important to your Overall Health

Hi All,

About a year ago, while still in school, I was enrolled in a Holistic Nutrition class.  What an amazing class!  It was taught by a Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Mahdi Brown.  The class covered really, just about every aspect of nutrition, from an overview of food/diet, to what your body needs, how it processes food and nutrients.  It was a very comprehensive overview of nutrition from an holistic perspective.

One of the concepts Dr. Mahdi brought to the class was, "food as medicine."  Eating deliberately with knowledge of the food and eating it with intention, and how it can provide powerful results and result in good health and balance in the body.  Quality of food is essensial, yet if you can't afford organic it doesn't mean you can't eat healthy.  You do the best you can with what you have.  However - food that comes out of a box, generally is not usually good for you and packed with chemical preservatives.

There are many health benefits of eating healthy, and a healthy diet can vary greatly from person to person.  Some go gluten free, removing the wheat and other grain products from the diet and some remove all processed sugars.  Then there's a vegetarian diet, and that can take many different forms from just no meat, to a strict vegan, to a completely raw diet.  The raw diet can be very healing, but can be a lifestyle not suited to all.  People eating a raw diet eat fruit and vegetable based foods that have not been prepared at more than 116 degrees F.  They use food dehydrators a lot and it takes planning and preparation in advance, but it can be a very healing diet.

My wife and I are setting out to change our diet and lifestyle to a gluten free diet.  It's amazing, but gluten is in just about everything so we'll have to really put effort into learning about this lifestyle.  Basically, all bakery products have gluten - it's in your standard flour.  It's also used as a filler in most processed foods, or as a friend of mine says (who's a chef), to me it's not an ingredient - it's a process I use to bind the food together.  

The good news is that more and more, in most places, gluten free foods are available.  Also, fresh fruit and vegetables are still gluten free.  Rice, potatoes, sweet potato, quinoa, and more are great for making hot dishes.  Some of the stores carry really good gluten free bread.  We noticed while in Target recently they carried several gluten free pastas and red sauce, at comparable prices to standard.

What are some of the benefits of eating a gluten free diet?  It's essential for people who suffer from Celiacs Disease and beneficial for people with other gastrointestinal issues.  Also, it can provide relief for people who suffer from chronic pain and fatigue.  It's typically provides relief from fibromyalgia pain.  Basically, it's just good for the body.

So it's going to be an interesting journey.  It'll be a whole new lifestyle and a good one.  More to come on this one.

Take care All and have a great week.

Tom

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