Illustration Appearing in BIKE ART: Bicycles in Art Around the World

Carpe Diem is an Athens, Greece-based group promoting art in the urban landscape, creating outdoor murals, festivals and exhibitions. Their latest book, BIKE ART: Bicycles in Art Around the World, curated and edited by Kiriakos Iosifidis, pays homage to the wonderful bike -- and I'm honored to have my design Fixies Jam included in the collection. 

Evan B. Harris' Bike by Land, Boat by Sea on the left; my Fixies Jam on the right.

The book, published by Publikat, presents works created on walls, canvas, paper, bike frames, clothing and more by an international team of artists including Taliah Lempert, Kevin Cyr, Mona Caron, Boris Indrikov, Matt W. Moore, Olek, David Gerstein, Duane Flatmo, and so many more.  The book also includes some amazing original designs for new bicycle forms.

Thanks to Kiriakos Iosifidis for asking me to participate in this volume. Bicycling is a big part of my life and it's exciting to be a part of this collected snapshot of bicycles in the world today.

 

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This illustration is available for print, web, and product licensing uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Kids Stickers Illustrations for Highlights for Children

Here are a few of the 40 kid-friendly illustrations I recently completed for a big Highlights for Children sticker variety pack.

Among the artwork are rockets, silly snakes, dinosuars, a biking bird, owls, and about three dozen others playful designs.

These 'reward' stickers are part of the Highlights Teachers classroom gifts selection available to teachers placing orders for Highlights publications.

Such a blast getting to work with the creative team at Highlights. And what fun to know that kindergarten to 5th grade kids will be wearing, sharing, and playing with these stickers!

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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Calling all Illustration Buyers: It's "Take Your Client To Work Day"

It's "Take Your Client to Work Day", and you're invited to join me for a quick, fun tour:

See (in under a minute) how my clients get ALL the perks— including playful, on-target artwork.



If you can't see the video, click here.

(Includes a mini portfolio of successful illustration projects for Ceridian, Habitat for Humanity, ACHE, All Nippon Airways (Japan), Highlights for Children, and Southern Living Magazine.)
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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Farm Illustration: Summer Vacation Saw Painting

Hi, here's a quick, fun look at how a dull ol' saw became a sharp way to depict a family farm.  I transformed the rusty antique into a l-o-n-g, folksy illustration while visiting my in-laws in Indiana this summer.

Cattle, pigs, barns, tractors and corn might not figure into every vacation (or illustration), but it was good fun this summer.



(If you can't see the video, click here.)

FYI, The two-handled saw is 78 inches long x 15 inches high. Best guess, it's perhaps 80 years old.
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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Designs for Fun Personalized Email Stationery: MeebleMail

Happy to report that some of my playful designs are part of a new product called MeebleMail, which livens up ordinary looking email and turns it into stylish personalized email stationery.

My designs can be seen here among the offerings by a wide range of artists, fashion designers, home product brands, and charities. 

Big thanks to MeebleMail for carrying my designs. The MeebleMail Facebook page is a nice place to learn more about the product and how to put it to use with your email!

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These illustrations are available for print, web, and product licensing uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Creating Illustrations: From Starting Block to Ta-Da!

Join me for a quick, light-hearted glimpse into my approach for creating playful artwork for clients' projects.



(If you can't see the video, click here.)

Thanks to my great client MJSA for the project featured in the video, an article about getting out of your comfort zone. You know, that comfortable place where we keep on doing what's worked in the past, even when it's no longer working and we're stuck.

See more upbeat examples of my work over at the editorial portfolio and corporate portfolio.
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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Smoking in the Workplace Illustration

News today about New York City banning smoking in public spaces touched on the differences in smoking laws across the U.S. and reminded me of this smoking-related illustration I created a while back specific to the issue of workplace smoking.

Little did I realize the wide spectrum of smoking legislation that exists, extending from bans in public spaces in some jurisdictions all the way to states without any laws governing smoking in private workplaces.

This artwork originally accompanied an article discussing the issue of workplace smoking in Japan for the publication Asia-Pacific Perspectives: Japan+.

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This illustration is available for print and web uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Eating Disorders Illustration and Other Artwork with Helping Hands

I recently completed this illustration for a sensitive magazine story about helping and supporting those with eating conditions like anorexia and bulimia.

It reminded me that I've used the concept of open, welcoming hands as an element in previous visual solutions. 

A good pair of hands can work well as a representation of a humane, personal element without the specificity of showing a face, which in most cases would compete with the message or just confuse.

Here are some hands providing an alternative to going to court over a legal matter, representing mediators and arbitrators as neutral ground for arriving at dispute resolution. This was for a Black Enterprise article a few years ago.

And one more illustration with cupped hands that I've previously mentioned, also having a legal angle. This one relates to anti-truancy programs created by judges to assist and support young people who have walked away from the educational system.

So, a little round-up of welcoming pairs of hands at work in a few of my illustrations. I know I've painted fists and drawn confrontational, "don't come any closer" hands for projects over the years, but I'm partial to these hands that help.

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These illustrations are available for print, web, and other uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Book cover Illustration: Consumer-centric Healthcare

Recently completed book cover illustration for "Consumer-centric Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges for Providers".

The book deals with the rapidly transforming landscape of the U.S. health system, characterized by consumer demand for service based on price, quality, and ease of access.

Here are sketches that led to the final concept. The editor and art director at American College of Healthcare Executives wanted to see an airplane and globe in the final art to address the issue of people traveling abroad for care.

 

This is fairly typical of the way I approach coming up with solutions for projects. This one was a bit more involved as the illustration was going to end up dictating the cover design to a large degree.

Thanks to the team at ACHE's Health Administration Press.

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This illustration is available for other print, web, and product licensing uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Licensing News: Teapot Art bound for Greeting Cards

Soon you'll be able to get a pot of tea at your favorite card and gift shop!

My playful illustration of Asian-inspired Teapots is making its way to greeting cards available in the new year.

I'm thrilled to be partnering with Design Design Inc., a trend-setting manufacturer and distributor of gift and stationery goods.

Teapots will be part of their popular 'green' line; They've got quite a commitment to making their products as environmentally friendly as possible.

I'm planning to give away some of these cards once they are in stores, so please stay tuned.

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This illustration is available for print, web, and product licensing uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Three Years of Holiday Art Success for Rogers' Chocolates

It's a real pleasure hearing about my work playing a role in a product's success, and few are sweeter than the holiday gift tins for Rogers' Chocolates.

For the third year in a row my Dove and Skating illustrations are appearing on Rogers' Chocolates holiday gift boxes.

And, according to this flattering article published last week, my work helps the historic Canadian chocolatier sell 40,000 tins a year.

Fun to be featured this way and even more fun having my designs as part of tasty year-end gift-giving, again!

I'm also enjoying hearing how people are using the tins once the goodies are all gone —ranging from storing batteries and pencils to art supplies and Advil !

p.s. Thanks to Vivian at Black Press Media for visiting me in the studio.

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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Holiday Ornaments and Other Greeting Cards On the Way

Wrapping up a busy month in the studio for greeting cards, with four designs to appear on upcoming cards for two different companies.

At this point I can't spill the beans on much else, but I can give a glimpse of one of the card illustrations, "Hanging Around the Holidays".

As soon as these and the other greeting cards are available, I'll be posting more info on where they can be found.

(Now back to colorful autumn things and we'll set aside the Christmas/Holiday stuff for a couple more months...)
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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Sun Art Chosen for CBS 'Sunday Morning' Broadcasts - Prints Available

Rise and shine! My sun artwork Ray Play made its way to television as part of the CBS Sunday Morning program, first airing on October 10, 2010 at the end of a piece by Bill Geist.

Hosted by Charles Osgood, the broadcast is seen by a nationwide audience of nearly five million each week.  As you may know, the program is marked by its distinctive sun logo and, between some segments of the show, brief uses of various other sun face images -- like this one.

The design is part of the Sunday Morning art library and is slated to appear on future broadcasts of the show as well.

This Sun collage painting, full of texture and upbeat colors, is now available as a fine art print, framed print, and canvas print.

Inject a bit of playfulness and warmth into contemporary interiors, kids rooms, and any space in need of a bright smile!

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Click here to View CBS Sun Art "Ray Play" Print options

Prices starting at only $19.
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CBS Sunday Morning Sun Art "Ray Play"available as Canvas Wall Art, too!

Click here to see printing options and pricing. 

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Questions about ordering, prints, or shipping? Please contact me.

...

Sean Kane is a professional artist creating upbeat, conceptual illustrations and distinctive designs for publishers, products, and a range of clients worldwide including Amazon.com, The New York Times, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Volkswagen, All Nippon Airways, The Wall Street Journal, Target Stores and many more.  All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Uncorking a Wine Design

So many colorful brand names for wines these days.

Whether you're raising a glass of Mad Housewife or Mommy's Time Out, pouring an Arrogant Frog or Elephant on a Tightrope, or uncorking a Fat Bastard or Bitch Barossa Grenache, it seems fitting to have tasty artwork with a playful palette to help it go down smoothly.

Happy Weekend!
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This illustration is available for print, web, and product licensing uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Buttons to Share: Giving Away Tiny Art You Can Wear

Free buttons. I've got a small handful of these little animals and designs remaining after tradeshow season and it's about time they found a home.

If you'd like to add one to your wardrobe or to brighten up an inch of your workspace or home, just send me an email and I'll get one in the mail to you — just for asking!

Be sure to provide mailing address and a design preference — if I've got it, I'll send it.  I'll do this until I run out or 7/31/2010, whichever comes first.

Happy Summertime!
sean@seankane.com

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These illustrations are available for print, web, and other licensing uses. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Back from the Big Apple: Surtex Show

Back in the studio after an exciting time exhibiting at the Surtex Show in NYC. It was a real pleasure to meet and share my artwork with so many manufacturers and retailers this past week.

Thanks to all of those who stopped by my booth to say hello, including fellow artists, designers, agents, and press.

Naturally, there was lots of inspiration to be found outside of the show as well, from the overflowing creativity at the neighboring Stationery and Furniture shows, to baseball in the Bronx and boats off of Battery Park, to delicious Turkish and Cuban dining with friends.

Watch this space for fun products that'll be coming to market as a result of collaborations kicked-off at the show!

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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Print & Pattern Blog Surtex Preview

I'm thrilled to have the popular design blog Print & Pattern feature a couple of my quirkier designs on their site today.

It comes just as I put the finishing touches on a number of designs that will make their way to New York next week for the SURTEX show, linking up with manufacturers who are seeking a playful look for their paper products, textiles, and more (SWATCH watches, lamp shades, bike helmets, umbrellas....).

Hello to visitors who found me on Print & Pattern and thanks for taking a look!

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These illustrations are available for print, web, and other licensing uses and as individual art prints. Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

A little housecleaning: this blog has moved

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Bound for the Big Apple: See Designs at Surtex Show

I'll be exhibiting my playful, upbeat designs at the SURTEX Show in New York, May 16-18, at the Javits Convention Center.

Art collections include Christmas, birthday, everyday, and patterns ideal for stationery, gift, craft, home, textiles and more.

Stop by booth 642 or make an appointment to see my expanding catalog and to discuss new design ideas for your product lines. 


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Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Sneak Peek at Holiday Greeting Cards

Lots of excitement in the studio with the arrival of a big box of samples of the three holiday greeting cards I did with Groupe Pierre Belvédère (previously mentioned here). It's like Christmas in April around here!

Nice treat having silver foil and embossing on the front of the cards and having the design continue to the back side. Seen here is the "Skating" card.

The best part by far is that a portion of proceeds from cards sold in Canada go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation!

They'll begin popping up in stores across North American and European in October, in boxes of 12 and as single cards, blank inside for adding personalized holiday greetings.

Thanks again to Pierre Belvédère for their vision and willingness to team up on this project.

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This illustration is available for print, web, and other licensing uses.
Inquiries & Commissions: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.