Hello

I learned to make an e-book

2012-01-27T21:56:00.000-08:00

I SAY THAT like it is some major accomplishment. But heck I was sick in bed at the time. I took the book I illustrated and designed awhile back and converted for iBooks thru inDesign. Looks like the author will do the first publishing via kindle. I am on it, already have the plug-in for kindle export.

my fav panel from...

2012-01-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

LADIES OF LINEAGE - retelling of the story of Rehab.

Roughs...

2012-01-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

EXCUSE THE iPAD photos from my light desk. :D

Mary & Joe.

2012-01-24T12:33:00.000-08:00

THESE MAKE ME smile. The rough shows Mary lovingly looking down at unborn baby Jesus... but we took a different direction for the final...

Harvest Northwest

2012-01-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

I WAS COMMISSIONED to design campaign materials for an upcoming conference. Here is one of the postcard designs I did while life ran away from me.

See the facebook fan page I set up for them.

My fav pics from...

2012-01-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

THE RE-TELLING OF the biblical story of Mary and Joseph, Jane Austin style. You can see a snippet of a rough I did for this series. I like the rough more - at least for Mary's Sister. View here

Life is gonna get more normal...

2012-01-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

I JUST FINISHED catch up on work... now it is time to catch up on recovery. Here are some pieces I worked on over the past several weeks (here and there of course - it didn't take me weeks to actually produce these illustrations).

Here are two of my fav's of the western version of Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz.

...life got crazy

2012-01-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

I HAVEN'T STOPPED creating. Well not totally true. I did, but for reasons that were necessary at the time. The month of December was challenging emotionally, as I watch my last grandparent pass on on Christmas evening. I created this program in her honour... and may I heed a word of caution? I don't recommend doing a program for a loved one, it was harder then I could ever imagine. The past 3 weeks I been catching up on contract work and getting back into the groove at work. After I played catch up, it is time to focus on getting better. Doodle and draw more, work out again, eat more, and take on less side projects (most importantly).

When I am bored and have nothing to do I will post what I been up to. But really, I am taking time for me.

2/3 Magazine Ad

2011-12-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

SHOULD BE PUBLISHED in the Pentecostal Herald for February's edition.

What am I up to?

2011-12-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

ON DAY OF (well deserved time off that is too,) I am spending my time illustrating for some contract work I have. Yehaw!

Some more freelance projects...

2011-12-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

JUST NIBBLING AWAY at the large amount of work that came my way. A little each day. On free days I will dive in and take chunks out of the project. :D

Here is prop piece that will be used in one illustration panel.

hawaii...

2011-11-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

TOMORROW I AM off to Honolulu for a work conference... I hope to post some sketches if the mood takes me that route!

movember...

2011-11-29T21:40:00.001-08:00

MOVEMBER IS COMING to an end and I totally forgot to sport the tee that I designed for the ladies at work. Geesh. So I will wear it tonight... with my pjs, at home, alone, eating ice cream... best night ever? Almost.

drawing time.

2011-11-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

JUST LANDED ANOTHER low budget illustration contract. I love these jobs. Everyday after work (designing) I get to come home at sketch roughs. A perfect way to wind down from a non-stressful day at the office! Above is a sneak peak...

Just another mock-up

2011-11-20T16:11:00.001-08:00

Getting out of my comfort zone.

2011-11-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

WATCHING SCI-FI, YES. Illustrating the cosmo's not so much my style... but the pro-bono project I am working on it calls for it. This is the incomplete-work-in-progress-sneak peak.

How I figured out how to make a gradient follow a path (make a gradient ring) - Duh! :P

2011-11-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

SO I USE CS3 at home and as far as I know you can not apply a gradient to a stroke... but I found a way.

First create a square in illustrator... and apply a gradient to it.

Open gradient options and create 5 colour boxes, blue at position 0%, green at position 25%, yellow at position 50%, red at position 75% and blue again at position 100%. Then angle the gradient at 90 degrees.

Now with the square selected go to Object, Expand. Expand Fill.

Then with the squat selected go to Object, Clipping Mask, Release.

Then drag the square into the brushes palette. Open the Art Brushes options and set the Colorization Method to None and the direction arrow to UP.

Now create a circle (stroke only) and apply the art brush.

Notes: Setting the art brush direction arrow to left or right creates a rainbow ring.

something I'm working on...

2011-11-12T18:41:00.000-08:00

BEGGED TO TAKE on this pro-bonowork-on-it-as-I-can-project... had some down time so I was able to work on it finally.

it may had been simple, but

2011-11-11T12:45:00.001-08:00

I HAD THE hardest time, when I say that, 30 mins of struggling to figure out how to make a vector gradient ring that followed a path line! I looked for tutorials... finally I found one that helped me get the foundation - basically build an art brush! Duh!

Was it so simple I overlooked the solution? Maybe that is why no tutorials are online cause it is simpler then ABC?

Anyways I will take this as my personal learning victory! Boo-yah!

more on the fly...

2011-11-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

DESIGN ON THE fly... when you are given no notice.

updated pdf portfolio

2011-10-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

YEAH I DID - and about time no? Well it isn't finished... I have more projects to put in once finalized and made public. Maybe take some things out with better things that will come. It is always evolving. I also created a new concept to the design of my portfolio which matches my new resume and cover letter. Oh yeah I am on a roll. It will also serves me better when printed. Happy Happy Happy!

http://sincerely-kat.com/downloads/klm_portfolio.pdf

illustrations published...

2011-10-23T21:07:00.001-07:00

final touches... last minute stuff

2011-10-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

THE CONFERENCE IS coming up and I am creating last minute final touches... a week before...

footprints fall2011

2011-10-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

JUST SOME EDITORIALS designed by yours truly, and an illustration.

more pro bono

2011-09-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

I GAVE MYSELF 45 mins to make this promo banner advert for our church website. What else was there to do when stuck in bed with Netflix for days... I am getting cabin fever. Can't wait for the chiropractor appointment and some more massage therapy... whoot whoot. - Oh yeah for those that don't know, I had a bad fall.

just some more pro bono work...

2011-09-29T14:51:00.001-07:00

all done - like awhile back now.

2011-09-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

2 more to go...

2011-09-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

IT IS HARD working from home with a 15 month old terror is wanting the attention of her Auntie Kat... it is taking triple the amount of brain power to focus. Now I am burnt out from a simple task.

and I managed...

2011-09-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

JUST ONE FOR today. 3 more illustrations to go. Hopefully I will finish on Thursday.

that is enough for tonight...

2011-09-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

I AM BURNT out. So I fold. I am way ahead of the publishing schedule anyways.

2 stories down - let the weekend begin!

2011-09-11T09:42:00.001-07:00

One story down. :D

2011-09-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

NOW THAT THIS story is finished (pending final approval from the publisher) I will be starting the next story of the series. But I am torn between illustrating and wanting to enjoy the last summer days...

boo yah

2011-09-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

WITH-DEVOTION IS now back online. Check out my new and improved site.

14 more to goooo...

2011-09-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

AND UMMM IT is gorgeous outside, I may not get more done as I wanted, cause ahhh, have you seen the sun out there?

1 down 15 more to go...

2011-09-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

SPENDING EACH NIGHT completing 1 illustration at a time... wahoo.

no rest for the workaholic

2011-09-04T09:45:00.001-07:00

SUNDAY MORNING AND I am working on the revamp of my with-devotion website. Not to worry I am listening to some awesome sermon podcasts. It is the Lord's day after all. :D

Another illustration contract

2011-09-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

WHOA I LOVE having an animation desk set up again. Drawing roughs is so much faster. Loves it. So today I finished all 12 pages of illustration roughs to go on proof less then 1 work day. Normally I sit at the couch and draw in my sketch book, slowed down by neck pain. But nothing stopped me this time - good thing because this has a tight deadline, especially with all the other projects I have on the go.

Here are 2 sneak peaks at 2 different stories... More to come later maybe... but now I think I am gonna crash... and dream of getting back to my animation desk... maybe to animate something when all this crazy stuff is over with!

At the Sculpture Garden, Seattle.

2011-08-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

DRAWING WITH CRAYOLA twistables. Not as easy as I thought it would be. Yes that is me with an over expression for the camera - my sister would say "don't make that face you don't look pretty when you do that."

my site is up and I can seeeeee you!

2011-08-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

View greeting on-line

You haven't heard much
from me this summer,

but I have been ~~stalking~~
thinking of you!

See my brand new awesome portfolio site:
Sincerely-Kat.com

Sneak Peak at approved Conference graphic

2011-08-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

I WAS NERVOUS this would not get approved, so glad it did. This is the official graphic for Pentab's Annual Conference in October. Last year I had to design on a fly and was NOT NOT NOT happy with the outcome... but this time around I was given the time I need to think concept, and develop it. I don't want to give it all away I will show you a snippet of the poster... there will be a lot to show in the upcoming days... postcards, monthly calendar covers, e-blasts, web ad banners, press ads and more... busy days ahead. Yikes. All this work after my work day!

More design on the fly...

2011-08-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Aged but not Old

2011-08-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

I HAVE TO update the ad banner at some point this weekend for my church... so I picked an event coming up in Sept... I thought the Master Elite event (seniors group) should get special attention. It is another design on the fly.

artist bio

2011-08-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

I RE-WROTE MY bio... por fin!

My first and legal name is Kathy. My middle name is Lea, prounced Leah. But people started to call me Kat back in 1999 when I was too lazy to write my full name up on sign-up sheets at animation school. So it stuck.

My artist journey started with a VHS of Dumbo my uncle bought me when I was 2 years of age. Legend has it that I was obsessed with the film, I'd cry, I 'd watch in in slow-mo, I watched it so many times it had to be replaced. Then I pulled out the crayons... and kept trading up to the next medium and skill. I believe with the strongest of convictions the creativity comes from learning, and when you cease to learn so does creativity. I don't ever want to stifle the child-like wonder that God gave me. :D

Sneak Peak

2011-08-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

MY NEW SITE is ummm coming along! Wahoo... it has been keeping my free time fully occupied. Can not wait for the break.

REVAMP!

2011-08-12T09:30:00.001-07:00

I AM WORKING hard at revamping my website... making it simpler and cleaner. After this, I will have to do the same to my secondary site... but one thing at a time!

illustrated e-vite

2011-08-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

TODAY I ILLUSTRATED and designed a e-vite for our work social. Tis was fun. It was nice getting good feedback... nothing like a pat on the back when you got the blues huh?

on the fly

2011-08-06T09:40:00.001-07:00

MOST TIMES I have no choice to slap a design together, sometimes it works ok, other times it works bad against me, as in never tell anyone I did this. This one works ok.

Radonator Jersey Design

2011-08-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

ABOVE: This was the final design (they made their own tweaks after)

ABOVE: An early stage of design - features my favourite side panel with the man's arm raised.

Too bad that didn't pass, that would had looked cool.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY, when the client and designer say the same words but understand them to mean to be different can be a challenge! Especially when you are getting approvals on a panel review. I know now better how to communicate if I am ever privileged to design another garment. :D

Here are the final products - and a message about the importance of getting proofs and prototypes. The clients, although altered the colours of the design left with them, were happy with the over all design, but were very unpleased with the production of the jerseys. You can see for yourself of the poor quality. Despite unprofessionalism of assembly it was reported to me that the illustration on the jersey generated a lot of inquires. Cool. :D

(The rest of the story is the CEO of the production company personally came out to look at the final pieces and it replacing each one of them quality jerseys.)

Santa Jesus Final

2011-07-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

santa jesus on it's way...

2011-07-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

ALMOST DONE... burnt out for tonight...

Santa Jesus

2011-07-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

THIS IS THE latest illustration rough for a poster I am working... the subject matter / theme is what drew me to accept this job. We approach God as a gift giving factory rather then the almighty sovereign God that he is. We seek our will without consideration of His will.

been a busy day

2011-07-01T22:11:00.001-07:00

I HAD SO much to do in order to get ready to leave for my trip on the 15th... one more project down. Boo-yah.

Family Camp 2011

2011-07-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

Above: Web Advert

Above: Print Advert

Above: Schedule

Above: Flyer

HERE ARE SOME of the collatoral I designed for this years camp.

some more...

2011-06-25T08:24:00.001-07:00

more drawing!

2011-06-24T16:43:00.000-07:00

DID I TELL you that I love drawing? Even when I suck at it?

working on a saturday...

2011-06-18T20:41:00.001-07:00

BUT IT IS not so bad cause working is drawing.

Aunty Kat happy!

2011-06-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ZAC IS wearing the onsie I made him! I stole the foto of mommies fb account - how could I not! Look how cute he is!?

Surreal

2011-06-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

IF YOU HAD not seen the latest exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery, do!

Here is a bad sketch of one of them... I squished the face in too tight, but eh, whatever. :D

Old Caleb

2011-06-02T12:59:00.001-07:00

I LOVE THIS old guy. It is fun drawing him.

a few more...

2011-05-30T19:58:00.001-07:00

BEEN A BUSY week and a bit for me, working on illustrative pieces for christian publishing house. I could had finished it up this weekend, but I been tooo distracted with my shiny new Time Capsule! Go Apple!

the activity book cover...

2011-05-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

reception fun.

2011-05-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

I ALONE ASSEMBLED 248 custom crayon wrappers, tied a ribbon around each group of 3 crayons, scored, folded, hole punch x2 and tied a ribbon to 80 activity books for my friends wedding reception. My wrists still hurt... but it was worth the while to see everyone enjoy them.

last one from last night...

2011-05-20T07:12:00.001-07:00

I am on a roll today

2011-05-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

i love getting paid to draw.

2011-05-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

AND I CAN do it sick in bed...

the last pages of the story...

2011-05-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

another final...

2011-05-16T21:32:00.001-07:00

I'M HAVING FUN with this project.

for fathers...

2011-05-15T17:50:00.001-07:00

THIS WILL BE the church program cover for our fathers day service. Simple. Nothing over done, cause this girl is busy.

now that is a real rough

2011-05-14T20:42:00.001-07:00

HERE ARE 3 panels for one illustration... been taking advantage of a day sick in bed... as you can see, I got a fair amount done. Which is good cause yesterday I caught the blues and I was to down to draw. Yeah, too down to draw... normally drawing picks up my mood... but I guess it was a serious case of the blues. And now I have the flu, err I should say it came back full force. Yippie. :P

the finished panels

2011-05-14T16:12:00.001-07:00

illustrating... i love you...

2011-05-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

I AM WORKING on another commission for the sunday school division. Yeah me. I get to have fun and be paid too... here is a sneak peak of a panel... (well be a comic style).

Dogwood Valley Camp

2011-05-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

I WAS COMMISSIONED this year again to donate my time to design for the districts family camp. This time just a single sided postcard... I think this will get peoples attention. COLOUR!

Secret project

2011-05-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

SNEAK PEAK AT what will be revealed in 2 weeks time. :D

on the fly...

2011-05-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

SOMETIMES I AM asked to give of my time on the fly for small projects for friends... well these two were slapped together... can you see the reuse illustration? lol

updated my site this morning...

2011-05-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

TAKE A LOOK at some of the spreads from the book I designed... Next on the list is a photoshoot for my other site and print portfolio...

Just a unused piece...

2011-04-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

SOME ART WORK I did for a mock up never used...

progress...

2011-04-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

HERE IS THE black version, off for approval...

RADON GAS AWARENESS

2011-04-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

I WAS COMMISSIONED to work on a cycling jersey for a team in the Bay Area. This is what I got thus far... working on the vector right after I post this. Goal, to finish this sometime this week... approvals pending of course.

lovely day for sketching...

2011-04-23T18:35:00.001-07:00

THIS HAS TO be the first day of spring that has been so lovely that one would be crazy not to go outside and sit on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery and sketch...

Press AD for Pentab

2011-04-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

INSERTION DATE APRIL 22nd some paper in the Coquitlam...

Sneak Peak - iPhone photos of the book

2011-04-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

ALTHOUGH I AM disappointed with 2 error's on the printers end, over all I am happy the book... I just won't show the errors... cause well I am a bit emotional about it... I would be more forgiving it was ink spatters or registration issues... but this could had been 100% avoidable if the printers didn't assume and made changes to the given page and back cover without ever conversing with me... Well that is life. Mistakes like do happen. I must, I must accept that, and expect them make good on their error.

(oh yes the book is already destroyed - lesson DO NOT put left overs food in your purse....)

< photo credits in the printed book Sam Hassas, and Ulyana Kordyuk >

Virtuous Woman - sunday school

2011-04-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

HERE IS A sneak peak at the the 2nd and last poster illustration of this series...

Poster Illustration - Sunday School

2011-04-08T10:10:00.001-07:00

WOMEN OF PROVERBS illustration for poster 1 - sneak peak of a separate element.

Bridal Shower Invite

2011-04-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

A PINCH OF a deadline, add a re-use and re-arrange art from an old save the date pitch, made with love for my friend Lalaina... I also cut them out by hand for all the ladies in my church... ok not true, I found someone to help me...

Women of Proverbs

2011-03-28T20:20:00.001-07:00

JUST THE ROUGH proposal for one of the posters I will be designing.

book launch...

2011-03-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

THE PROPOSED INVITE for the book launch.

Actors of Acts

2011-03-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

HERE ARE THE finished pieces (to be put together with 2 more illustrations plus a re-use) of Peter and James. Tonight I shall finished Paul and the girl with the demon and Stephan's stoning... fun fun.

Pro Bono Book is... FINISHED!

2011-03-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

IT IS A great feeling to have this finished. Book cover and book is at the press... In a few weeks I'll have to convert the print book into a download-able pdf version for our church website, and do some book promo design. But other then that, it is a good feeling. I have a bottle of Cherry Coke that I wanna crack to celebrate, however, I want to wait to do that with company of friends - yet again I don't like sharing my Cherry Coke. Hmm.

Peter Preaching

2011-03-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

SO HERE IS one finished piece for my last of the Actors of Acts Season. I'll post em as the come in. I did this a few days ago, as my life was on hold working 48 hours straight up finalizing the pro-bono book project. Tomorrow life is on hold finalizing the book cover.

GOOD LUCK!

2011-03-16T23:53:00.000-07:00

GOOD LUCK TRYING to kiss me. I ain't even Irish! :P

Peter Preaching

2011-03-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

THE LAST PEICE that I am working on for the Sunday School Comic on the Actors of Acts. The last piece was requested to be looser (as it is in the imagination of a youth), the art will be repeated in the first piece. Here's a sneak peak of the line art.

Pro bono book near completion.

2011-03-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

HERE ARE SOME of the spreads I already put into my portfolio - as I am job hunting, hoping to put that to an end this week!

My Little Office Helper

2011-03-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

CAEYLYN, MY NIECE, helped me with office stuff as I was printing a mock up of the pro bono book I am working on. Well the printer kept jamming every second page... so I had to hold her so she wouldn't try to get her fingers in when I had to unjamm it all... She would make the most expressive face each time the printer would spit out a new page, and look to me with a big grin. It was lovely morning in the office with her... she even tidied up.

My hour a day project

2011-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

DUE TO UNSEEN circumstances I was not able to work on this illustration at all on the weekend, but I made up for it today by completing it. I shall reveal it in all it's glory (ha!) sometime next week. Be patient now.

Pro Bono Book

2011-03-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

SNEAK A PEAK at one of the topic's illustration...

Pro Bono Book

2011-03-05T22:32:00.000-08:00

I BEEN UP since 8am putting in volunteer hours on this book design. No worries I took a break, went to the mall to help my mom pick out a scanner printer, back within the hour. :) I also ate! Good meals thanks to a visit from my grandma. So even though I worked majority of the day I had a bit of a life.

Here is a sneak peak of my new fav page in the project.

My Hour a Day.

2011-03-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

AS I MENTIONED earlier, before I start on my volunteer projects and what-have-you's I am taking an hour to draw for myself. So here is a sneak peak at my semi-pet project (incomplete of course!)

My auntie made me this shirt.

2011-03-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

MELTS MY HEART when my sister dresses her in the graphic onsies I made her.

taking back an hour or so a day!

2011-03-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

I WANT TO try something different for my holiday greetings... so here a sneak peak - I'll work on it a little bit a day until it is time to reveal it to all.

Drawing for self

2011-03-02T20:25:00.001-08:00

AFTER A NICE nap and a hot bath I felt like drawing, just for fun, not for nobody... ah how nice... but only a few minutes and I am tuckered right out. Today is re-coup day... so I can be refreshed and dazzlingly for tomorrow!