Q: What is your work environment like?

Q: What is your work environment like?

This is probably the most commonly asked question that I receive. I can empathize with an interest on the behind-the-scenes of how a creative person immerses themselves and what and is conducive to working on creative projects.

I always find myself tweaking and add/subtracting elements in my space to keep my thoughts fresh and plentiful. I may cycle material or move all of the furniture around to achieve that different perspective. Most of my current work is done in my bedroom setup, but my larger and messier work is done out in my studio on my property.

When you walk into my room, you'll be greeted with a few selected pieces of artwork that inspires me, mostly from other artists I admire. I try not to have too much of my own stuff around, as I find myself constantly growing and I start to really critique my work, which isn't what I want for an environmental setting. I put a lot of emphasis and organization into my book library which I can always turn to for resources and helping break my stale mode of thought. I have a handful of my favorite vinyl toys scattered around to help keep it fun and light. Also framing prints or hanging canvases/sculptures adds some flavor to the walls.

However when I come up to my work station, I don't like to have any figurative, pre-done art/characters in my peripheral view. I like shapes and limited color, which I think helps me not be too influenced and is more of an association through the abstract. Behind my workstation, I open up my windows to allow for lots of natural light that overlooks my orchard where I get to take in lots of nature. Abrupt and manufactured noise (mostly cars/planes, but people talking too) can really stump my creative flow when in my home space. At work I love the creative energy and noise that's being created, it's a much different mindset than mindless chatter and machinery around the house.

A good resource to how to set up your work space to be a creative haven is The Common Desk. You won't regret watching!

 

 

  



I'll be answering questions that I've received on a weekly basis. If there's something ya care to know, Ask!

Intricadoodle Crazy

"On Safari" (click to enlarge!) - 3'x5' - Acrylic/Latex on canvas

Really want to thank Tim for commissioning my latest 5 foot canvas. I wish the detail on screen could convey the presence of this beast.. The under sketch is an iridescent silver that has a cool metallic sheen in the light, and there is definitely a little hidden riddle doodled. Twas fun and I'm now in full doodle mode with tons of blank canvas!

Here are some detail shots of some characters at actual size, as well as a relative size shot of the whole canvas. (Click to enlarge)


Also while I was down in California, I picked up a 2ft x 3ft canvas to doodle up for Danielle, as well as 2 5x7inch canvases that I was able to knock out.

Intricate Conception (click to enlarge) - 2'x3' - Acrylic/Latex on canvas




5"x7" - Acrylic on canvas

5"x7" - Acrylic on canvas

I have much more blank canvas just screaming at me... I'll update soon!

intriKaboom - PDX Show!

(Click to enlarge any of the photos below)

This last weekend was the Bridgetown Hustle at Nemo in Portland. It was an amazingly well curated show by Ben Guernsey and it was packed out! This project has by far been my largest production yet, and I somehow managed to crank it out in about 2 weeks. It included customizing a Globe 'Roll' fixie with tons in intricadoodling, along with fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark layers (imagine it riding a dark city street then getting lit up by a car's headlights! hah). I also did a 2-color cut vinyl lighted sign, a post-apocalyptic city scape background (which included painting with gasoline and lighting it on fire for mixed medias), handful of cut vinyl signage, a 6-color silkscreen poster with varnish and glow-in-the-dark overprint (printing by Ben Barry, project done about 2 years ago), 5 poster designs that got plastered all over the back wall, random installation elements and lighting, a spotlight projecting the bike theme's logo, an old WW2 500lb bomb (yes it's real, but is now emptied out, obviously)... oh yeah, and hiring a bum that I met at Plaid Pantry to hold my sign for 4hrs. I attempted to use dry ice and glow sticks to give it an ambient smoke-filled effect, however that was the only short-coming. Definitely learned some lessons!

Special thanks to Globe bikes and Nemo Design for making the show possible!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the intrikaboom posters or the bike itself (comes with a regular intrikaboom poster, and 1-of-a-kind test print of the poster), email me at iamintricate@gmail.com

Me 'n Piggy

So as if we didn't have enough of a petting zoo around here with 3 dogs, (down to 4 rats from 28), 3 snakes, a full sized iguana, an ornate nile monitor and 4 other roommates... my brother surprised us all with a mini-potbelly boar. The boar, which I call "Piggy", my brother calls Harley (hog) and my mom calls Hamlet is only about 10 weeks old. My brother made the awesome mistake of choosing his boar from the litter by the first one he could tackle and wrangle. It's been traumatized since.

Each day I go into his pen and spend a good hour or so just laying next to him, getting him used to being touched and socialized. He's made great improvements, but if you stand up, he's on his guard. He SHRIEKS bloody murder for minutes at a time if you try to hold him (see vid of shower shriek below!). I've been working on getting him to let me put his harness on so we could bring him outside into our yard. He's been locked up in the house for 2 weeks and his skin is getting really dry and he's tearing up his nose on the carpet. Today was quiiiite an undertaking. It took about an hour to get him outside, then once outside (rant for another time) he almost got killed by my cousin's pit.. lots more trauma, but as soon as everyone left and it was just him and I, he def took a liking to being outside and got real cuddly with me. When I'd get up to leave, he'd follow me around and would even plop up on my lap. Him and I are buds.

Day 1

 

Day 2

 

 ***Update***

Piggy has been getting friendlier w/ the dogs...

 

 

 

Zombie Henson/Muppets

(Click to enlarge)

(Click to enlarge)

 

Not sure why I never posted this, but for Halloween I was Zombie Jim Henson, my buddy Mike was Zombie Kermit and his gf Priya was Zombie Miss Piggy. We had a blast putting together the costumes (and latex!) and Mike, being the sexy awesome photographer he is, set up a little shoot. I just went to Mike's solo show last night to see my creepy mug larger than life, framed along the wall. It was awesome.

You can see more of Mike Folden's photography here.

Kyle Kesterman on Thrillest!

Yes, they spelled my name wrong.. haha

www.thrillist.com/seattle/deli-art-series

The DAS is a limited edition, staggered drop of shirts boasting original designs from the local artists whose paintings grace the walls of Pioneer Square's preeminent delicatessen-themed boutique. The plan's to drop one new tee per month, but for critical mass purposes, they're kicking off with four, including ... a cartoonish hand whose TV-encrusted gold ring broadcasts a mushroom cloud (from toy designer/illustrator Kyle Kesterman, who sometimes gives his stuff away for free if you can find the hidden words doodled therein);

www.deliseattle.com

 

 

 

Nodnik Release

As some of you know, I've been working on a project called the "Nodniks" for about a year here at Funko. This is some of what I've been up to. I worked on the character conception, toy illustration, packaging illustration and overall packaging for each of these. Click to enlarge

There are quite a few more on their way! I'll keep ya updated.