misterkiji

Process: Night Owl.

2008-12-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

Its the end of the year. And as we say goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009 I wanted to get in one last process posting. Wish you the best in the New Year!

T magazine: Screen Tests

2008-12-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

If you get a chance T magazine has these great interviews which can range from goofy and nostalgic to poignant and surprising. Overall they're quite intimate. Rarely is Murakami seen quite candid like this. Just thought I'd share.

Aspen Peak Illustration

2008-12-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I finally have some time to do an end of year update on my site. I thought I'd share a recently published spot illustration as well as some of the process. The article focused on the activities of the Aspen Institute, where great minds go to better their ability to discuss "Big" issues in such fields as science and philosophy. Through a variety of seminars and programs the institute helps these big thinkers generate, exchange and challenge ideas more constructively.
One of several initial rough sketches.
Revised sketch. Based on a follow up conversation with the AD I added in some architectural elements which helped strengthen the overall composition.
Once routed and approved a quick session at the lightbox allowed me to tighten up the linework, angles and proportions. This extra step saves me some time revising things in illustrator.
Here's the final illustration. If you happen to be in the periodicals section this illustration is in the Winter 2008/2009 issue of Aspen Peak magazine.

MetroNorth: Southbound

2008-11-29T15:23:00.001-08:00

Just got back from a little thanksgiving trip. It was too packed to sketch in the bar car on the way up. But I managed to secure a little elbow room to sketch away for 2 hours. Just thought I'd share.

Sketching: Trying to stay loose

2008-11-13T14:36:00.000-08:00

So keeping with my exercises in sketching I tried drawing Spiderman from memory the other day. Overall, I didn't do too bad, although it does kind of look like I gave him underwear... I also tried my hand at Batman as well as Captain America, which I may have to try again. It's getting cold enough that I'm going to have to transition from ballpoint to either pencil or felt tip pen. The best time for ballpoint sketching is in the Summer when the ink has the best viscocity. Either way I always learn something new transitioning back to pencil. Hopefully I can start playing with some line weights as well. Tune in next week!

Permanent Vocation

2008-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I have just been busy working on a couple of projects. I'm hoping to finally have some off time in the next few weeks to focus on drawing and some creative things. Hopefully I can also update the site with some recently finished projects soon enough...In the meantime. I'm excited to say that I have been trying hard to draw more. I have been pretty diligent about sketching loosely, both for reference and from my imagination. It's always tough to get away from the computer..actually at times it seems daunting. Anyways I thought I'd share a few things. Enjoy!

14th Annual Artwalk: A tribute to Robert Rauschenberg

2008-10-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

The nice people over at Scenic invited me to participate in an amazing event benefiting "The Coalition for the Homeless" The list of contributing artists is huge, a total of 140+ artists...(check the flyer..)

Bonfire Snowboarding 08-09

2008-10-13T11:21:00.001-07:00

Bonfire just relaunched their site with the new winter 08/09 season. Last year I developed three repeat patterns for the line. To check out more or order one for yourself check the bonfire website

This is Process: Train Car Project

2008-10-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

A year or so back I got involved in this project. It's been so long I almost forgot about it. Anyways the opening is next week. I thought I would post it.

Train Car Show

Recent Commission Piece

2008-09-30T11:49:00.001-07:00

This commission seemingly started as a joke but grew into an actual project. It was definitely amusing. Gouache on Arches Watercolor paper.

Michigan Avenue Magazine: Premier Issue

2008-09-22T13:15:00.001-07:00

I did these two illustrations for the premier issue of Chicago's Michigan Avenue Magazine. The issue is out on newstands this week. I am proud to be in the companty of such talented contributing illustrators including Shane Jessup and Dalek.

Tree Island

2008-09-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

WeSC Bloomingdales NY Fall Winter 08

2008-09-07T23:32:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I've been in and out of town alot. I'm trying to be good about the whole blog thing but there's always so much circumstantial nonsense which keeps me from updating regularly. Anyways, I just got back from a great time out in the Bay Area installing a show for my friend Diet, who I showed with last year in Miami for Art Basel. I'm finally getting settled into work mode and I thought I'd share at least one recent thing. I'm pretty happy with this piece although it got some editing for the final flyer art. Either way I hope you like it as well. I plan to post the sketches on flickr as well as they better show the more interesting part of the process of making some of these illustrations.

Hope all of you are well.

Mr. Kiji @ Electric Windows via Coolhunting

2008-07-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Watch Daniel Weise, myself and a few other artists talk about the project

Funtime Party Team Flyer June 28th

2008-06-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

I decided to go less literal this week. and do this kind of origami pinwheel. Im working towards trying to do some firework related graphics for next week. come out if youre in the area. can't promise i will be around but I can promise that music and dancing will be in effect.

Hunter S. Thompson

2008-06-17T22:27:00.000-07:00

Bicycle Film Festival DVD

2008-05-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

I got final proofs last week for the Bicycle Film Festival FunBikeShorts DVD. Broadway Video did a great job with the colormatching and super speedy turnaround on a holiday weekend for this weeks NYC Bicycle Film Festival events. If you'd like to pick up a copy they're available at the festival or on the BFF website or your nearest bikeshop or bike friendly design store. Site

DIA:Beacon & Electric Windows @ PaperMag Blog.

2008-05-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

While I was up I was up in Beacon, my new friend Max and I went to the DIA. He happened to have press passes and I happened to have a camera. So he blogged the event and I took the photos. If you have a second. Check it out.
Paper Mag DIA B-DAY BLOG
*Imi Knoebel@DIA-Beacon

Juxtapoz Summary with photos

Back from Beacon

2008-05-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

This past weekend up in Beacon was a blast. Although it's left me a bit tired it was very worth it. If you ever get a chance to get up there its great. The train ride along the hudson is spectacular, the DIA:Beacon is great (I especially loved the Sol LeWitt exhibition with the Bruce Nauman neon work being a close second.) Plus you would get a chance to see the Electric Windows in person. *(which will be up for the next year)

Flickr Update

2008-05-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hello All,
Just updated my flickr stream with the MTV store window install photos along with a few caches of sketches, character renderings, various flyers and some painting closeups. I'm headed up to Beacon for the Electric Windows event. I will make sure to post photos next week! mr.kiji's flickr

Electric Windows: Beacon NY

2008-05-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Well looks like I will be upstate this month checking out the Dia Beacon 5th anniversary and also painting along with a slew of other artists at
Electric Windows Beacon. It will be happening May 16-18th so if you happen to be in the area as well feel free to stop by.

Tote Bag Show @ Openspace (pictures)

2008-04-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

hey folks! the wondeful people over at Thundercut just put up the site for the Tote Bag Show. I attached pictures of my bag too. All of the bags are for sale, and just to remind you the proceeds go to The Hudson River Sloop Clearwaterwhich helps to preserve and clean the Hudson River. What a great cause! Huzzah! please go check out the bags here Tote Bag show site.

Tote Bag Show @ Openspace

2008-04-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
Its finally spring and to kick off the good weather I wanted to let any of you who are in upstate new york to check out the OpenSpace gallery (510 Main Street Beacon NY) which is run by the wonderful people at Thundercut The show features tons of tote bags by a bunch of people you've probably heard of...or at least should now know of since I've told you. All of the bags are for sale and all proceeds go to the The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. who work to preserve and protect the waterways of the Hudson. Enjoy the wonderful weather folks!

It's official the new site is up!

2008-04-09T15:00:00.001-07:00

Horray after much time offline a new site is up and running. Special thanks to Andrei of massive computer for helping develop the new site. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have the site updated with content and as of the end of next week we shall have the preliminary shop setup to purchase works. well thanks for everyone's patience, I hope you enjoy!

-Mr. K

Hello!

2008-04-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

So the new site is finally about to be up! Horray! Also, I've gone ahead and set up this blog and a flickr account. mrkiji's flickr. Also the MTV Spring Store Windows I illustrated have been installed at the MTV Store in Times Square, so if you happen to be in the neighborhood go check it out!
(*install photos coming shortly)