Merry Christmas - 2011

Merry Christmas to all friends, clients and casual visitors to kenrinkel.blogspot.com. This is my christmas card that I am sending to clients, friends and family this year. it features Santa Claus as a happy man revelling in his time spent underneath the mistletoe. Internet surfers around the world may be familiar with Christmas and Santa Claus but maybe not so much mistletoe. 
Mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration, and according to custom, the mistletoe must not touch the ground between its cutting and its removal as the last of Christmas greens at the winter equinox; it may remain hanging through the year, often to preserve the house from lightning or fire, until it was replaced the following Christmas Eve. In cultures across pre-Christian Europe, mistletoe was seen as a representation of divine male essence. Whoohoo!
It was described in 1820 by American author Washington Irving in his "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon": "The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases."
I think these days it would be prudent to ask first.
Joyeux Noël 
Ken Rinkel

Separation - Train Ride of Scattered Thoughts

Newly separated from his partner, Dylan rides the train and ponders the situation.
This is an artwork mainly about the mindscape of an individual at a certain point in time.
'The Train Ride of Scattered Thoughts' is from the Snakeskin Sketchbook series.

A Shadow of My Former Self - Stars & Stripes

From the Snakeskin Sketchbook series a metaphorical comment on the current economic state of the USA and returning veterans of conflict zones.

Print available at my shop at Artflakes who are now newly printing in America so there are now reduced shipping prices.

Broom Brigade

The twins of the broom brigade share the work, share the effort and share the rewards of hard work, a clear place to breathe. 'Broom Brigade' is from the Snakeskin Sketchbook series.

Shower Me With Kisses

A whole load of round shapes that together remind me of this great song that was written in 1935. I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter. Music by Fred E Ahlert and lyrics by Joe Young.
A lotta kisses on the bottom, I'll be glad I got em'. Too good!
From the Snakeskin Sketchbook.

Here's a Youtube link to the Fats Waller version
and here's the lyrics:

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you

I'm gonna write words oh so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
A lotta kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I got 'em

I'm gonna smile and say
I hope you're feeling better
I'll close with love the way you do
I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And I'm gonna make believe it came from you

Oh yeah

I'm gonna write words oh so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
A lotta kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I got 'em

Oh yeah

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And I'm make believe it came from you
Oh yeah
I'm gonna make believe it came from you

Oh yeah

Vanity, On Display

Purely a character study of attitude. 'Vanity, on Display' is another from the Snakeskin Sketchbook series of drawing. Vanity was inspired by a bull I had seen recently at the 'Mudgee Small Field Farm Days'. The bull had a sign on it's pen which said, 'keep back, bull hates small children'.

Violence-Silence

Often the natural response to violence or the threat of violence is to stay silent. Silence in the hope of not attracting further violence. This character is hollowed out by the experience and the silence.

Stripes_ Pippa Jogging, Hyde Park

On illustration friday, Pippa was spotted jogging in Hyde Park, London,
Wearing tight lycra jogging pants and a striped top, Pippa caught the eye and apparently the heart of Terry as he walked the adorable Winston on a long lead.

I'm Not Scared - IF

 

The first thing that came to mind when Illustration Friday's suggested topic word of 'Scary' was remembering all the dressing up and anticipation for the North American festival of Halloween. Which as an occasion is catching on in my Aussie neighbourhood more and more each year. 'The harvesting of the lollies' night is one candy companies, retailers and and (lets not forget the kids) are loving. A bag of free candy from the neighbours just for dressing up! Wow! Kids aren't stupid.

The second thing that came to mind was a book I illustrated in 2005 for Blake Education. The images here are just some from 'I'm Not Scared'. This was for their Gigglers series and was aimed at reluctant primary school readers. Above is a page where an Ogre appears and below is the printed spread where the Bunyip is appearing.













The story was about a father and daughter ghost talking about what they found most scary.
Each scary 'monster' mentioned manifested. Then, as each monster mentions what scares them it then manifested. And so on. It was a great little book written by author Wendy Blaxland and was great fun to create and play around with scary fun characters, including the father and daughter ghosts, an ogre, a giant and Australia's own billabong frightener the Bunyip.

The illustrations were created digitally from scans of the roughs and was the first book that I extensively used photoshop filters for texture. Below, is the cover image showing some of the character faces.

Fiona Fuels Her Fire

'Fiona Fuels Her Fire' is a simple portrait of a simple girl, with simple fuel requirements for simple fun.
A simple illustration today from me, a simple man, to keep things simple.

'Scattered Cloud Chance of Showers' IF

'Scattered Cloud, Chance of Showers' is from the Snakeskin Sketchbook series of drawings.
Ah, cleansing water, wash away the accumulations from the day.

IA 9X5 exhibition - Opening Night

Illustrators Australia 9X5 opening night tonight. If you happen to be flying into Melbourne tonight I am sure it is the thing to do. All works for sale with a starting price of $195. Bidding occurs if more than one person really really really wants it too.

Meanwhile all the images are displayed on the web so if Melbourne is not in the itinerary you can have a good look at this groups entries for this years theme. You can vote on a peoples choice award and rate the images on a page that looks like this with my mine on it below.  Others I am liking right now are from: Adam Carruthers, Jill Brailsford, Emma Kidd, Louise Kyrakou, Matt Clare, Tracie Grimwood, Kim Fleming, and Warren Crossett.

Moose Contraption near Waterfall Landscape

'Moose Contraption Near Waterfall Landscape' is from the Snakeskin Sketchbook series. This nature piece harkens back to my days of hiking and exploring the rich topography, flora and fauna of the Rocky Mountains west of Calgary, Canada.

9X5 - Illustrators Australia's 16th annual exhibition

As the poster here says It's time for the Illustrators Australia 9X5 annual exhibition.
this years theme is the word 'Rapture'. You can comment and rate the images there.
Opening Friday 14th October 2011, at Space 39, level 2, 39 Little Collins Street, Melbourne Victoria, Australia.
My artwork which will be exhibited is below, and this definition should explain things a little bit:
a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of devine things.
The original concept was explored in the Snakeskin Sketchbook series.

Heibernate-IF _ Not Sleeping, Dying

'Not Sleeping, Dying', is from the Snakeskin Sketchbook Series.
It is really an illustrated response to a dream I had the other night in which death (my own) played a prominent part.
It reminded me of the Tears for Fears song 'Mad World'
and the lyric;
'I find it kind of funny,
I find it kind of sad,
The dreams in which I'm dyin'
are the best I've had,'
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
                                         ...Mad world'