Howl

The gray wolf signs (written by Payal Ravani, designed by me) at Potter Park Zoo are now hanging.Why not support the best little zoo in the world with your attendance and check them out in person!

Oh, and tell the wolves I said 'Howl.'  They'll know what that means...

Kid-friendly Art: Masking Tape Forrest

Masking tape gently applied in shape (don't press too hard so you can peel it off later)

Add your favorite child.

Drown it in color, especially along the edges of the shape.

CAREFULLY peel off the tape (extending tape off the page helps.)

FINISHED!  We cut them into 3 and framed them each.

Happy Ugly Sweater Season!

A festive penguin encounter
Putting the final tweaks on this year's holiday card for Potter Park Zoo

And those penguins are a judgmental group...

Wishing you a festive sweatery hot cocoa-ish holiday season!

New Book Alert

Gather 'Round has completed publication of the 'My Bible Storybook' and other materials that I illustrated for them.  It was pretty exciting to receive my hardcopy samples in the mail last week! Your copy is now available for purchase on their web site.

I'm also so happy to announce that I'm currently working on a second book project for them right now; it will be available sometime next summer.

Art Show Almost Hare

"The Hare"

Please join me for an arty opening reception on Sunday, November 4th from 1 to 4:30 ish at Gallery 1212 in Old Town . Free refreshments will be served; exhibition is family-friendly.

For those that cannot attend the kickoff, my 'fun art' will be exhibiting for the entire month of November, so you have plenty of time to stop by!

**Gallery: 1212 Turner St., Lansing , 48906

Christmas Card for Early Birds

I've decided to release a few new designs for Christmas & holiday cards this year.  The first one is now available for those early birds that like to get a jump on their greetings.  So pick up one or a pack of several 'Mini Nativity' right now!

~Peace

New Art for November

Pumping out more art for my upcoming holiday shows.  If you are unable to see them live, many will be available for print online as soon as RIGHT NOW!

Happy Plaidurday!

Today is The International Celebration of Plaid... Are you getting plaidy with it?!

REACH for the Rhino

I played a very very tiny role in this amazing new rhino sculpture now living at Potter Park Zoo. It was created by a group of dedicated teenagers and a couple professional creatives through the organization called REACH.

Hopefully you will be able to visit the zoo and see it with your own eyeballs; the kids & their mentors did such an incredible job.

Can I Keep Him? Yes You Can!

"Can I Keep Him?" a brand-spanking-new piece is now available as a print.  OR Michigan friends can see the original at Gallery 1212 this November.  More details to come!

Crocogator

The horrible Crocogator will be slithering around my November show.  But if you can't wait until then to invite him back to your place, pick up a print from my online store today!

New Print Alert

Visit my 'fun art' portfolio to check out the new prints now released for purchase.

"Camping with Foxes" is one of the new reproductions that you can take home today! Or today-ish... Since it takes the Internet fairies a few days to print, frame and ship...

ACEO of the Week: The Groupie

"The Groupie" It's not a real band unless you have the undying love of at least one fan... Bid now!

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals a highly addictive form of miniature art..

Copyright: All rites reserved 2012.

More from the graphic side of life

Fun DIY Project: Prayer Flags

 My daughter and I have been a little crankypants this summer.  I decided we should work on a fun art project to snap us out of it.  That's when I ran across this DIY prayer flags project.

I've been aware of Buddhist prayer flags, hippie dwellings on college campuses commonly fly them...  But I didn't really understand their significance. Until I found this explanation: "Prayer flags are not just pretty pieces of colored cloth with funny writing on them. The ancient Buddhist prayers, mantras and powerful symbols displayed on them produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the countryside. All beings that are touched by the wind are uplifted and a little happier."

I thought it was such a beautiful concept, and just the project we were looking for! I am planning to eventually move our prayer flags out into the backyard, but decided to spend some time with them in the living room first.  Maybe a breeze from an open window can shake a little positivity loose inside our house.

Iphone covers, notebooks, tote bags, oh MY!

My merchandise store has been updated with tons of new K8 Art designs and products!   From Ipad cases to laptop skins; Iphone covers to notebooks.  If you have to protect your Kindle or your Nook, why not do it in the artiest way possible?!  


Then you can toss all your newly decorated electronics into a cute, earth-friendly K8 Art tote bag...  

Earth Art: My Very 1st Veggies

I've always grown flowers, but this year I decided to forgo the pretty and try my green(ish) thumbs at edibles. Here are my first tomatoes and second harvest of jalapenos.

In other pots:
basil, cilantro, zucchini, strawberries, bell peppers, habanero peppers, spearmint, cucumber, lavandar and lettuce.

The heat made my spinach bolt and my green beans shrivel... But everything else is holding strong!

ACEO of the Week: Animal Calisthenics

This week's ACEO:

Animal calisthenics

Keep your girlish figure with vigorous exercise.

Bid now!

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals a highly addictive form of miniature art..

Copyright: All rites reserved 2012.

ACEO of the Week: U, Me & Everyone We Know

This week's ACEO:

You, Me, and Everyone We Know

We are all uniquely strange.  

Bid now!

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals a highly addictive form of miniature art..

Copyright: All rites reserved 2012.

Nursery Art: So Raven

Black Birds don't always sing in the dead of night... Sometimes they ride Vespas in the sunshine.  5 x 7 nursery commission.

This piece has also been released as a print, so you can take home your own raven too!

Tea Party

High school student Sydney Gardella made this incredible tea pot with her own bare hands for a school project.


The assignment was to create a design inspired by another artist.  It sort of made my year to find out that the elephant & owl were inspired by my art on the k8 art & illustr8 web site. 


I am so impressed with what a beautiful job Sydney did on her project, and I hope that she continues to explore art making!  And while she's at it, she should probably just go to art school, graduate and work as a professional artist... 

Garden Art: DIY Succulent Planters

Like many internet geeks, I've been obsessing over Pinterest and all the delicious ideas it shares.  One of my favorites so far has to be DIY concrete planters.  It's been the perfect spring hobby for me, although I've been neglecting my drawing, and leaving a trail of concrete dust everywhere I go...

Here are pix of my favorites.

So go ahead and make your own!  The only tips I would offer: 1. don't forget to poke a hole in the bottom of your planter to avoid root rot.  2. Stick to molding with cardboard boxes and flexible plastics, I attempted to make a couple in a rigid metal box & hard plastic box, neither of which survived.  Good luck!!

The Giving Tree continues to grow

My tree is second from the left.  

I was one of the artists who painted a tree for Isy Mekler's Reach Out and Read fundraiser.  

The trees are now being displayed at the Danforth Museum in Framingham until August 17th.

For more info: danforthmuseum.org/givingtreeproject

If you are in the Boston area, please stop by for a visit! 

History Repeats Itself

Putting together some historical illustrations for my agent & subsequently my portfolio.  Here's George...  I think he has flava.

Monkeys & Billboards

My Potter Park zoo monkeys will be invading electronic billboards across the capital city of Michigan...
They prefer adult beverages to bananas; and want you to come hang out at the upcoming Wine & Stein! Visit Potter Park Zoo's website for more info... Must be 21+ to attend this event.

More from K8 Illustr8

Another peek at an up-coming project... It's graphically delicious.

Fine Art Show: THIS SUNDAY

A rare exhibit of K8 Cosgrove collage fine art will be hanging at Okemos Public Library. Please join us for an opening reception THIS SUNDAY from 2-4 in the back exhibition room. *Refreshments will be served.

Okemos Public Library

4321 Okemos Road
Okemos, Michigan 48864

Raised by Raccoons

Otter Peak

Here's a preview of the new otter signs I'm designing for Potter Park. I hope Mike & Jilly Otter approve of them. Although, I'm guessing that they can't read...

ACEO of the Week: American Owl in Paris

This week's ACEO:

American Owl in Paris

It's that time of year when I'm itching for travel. Since I have no travel plans on the horizon, I have to let my little owl explore the world for me.

Bid now!

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals a highly addictive form of miniature art..

Copyright: All rites reserved 2012.

A is for Artist

My cousin chose me to be the subject for her school project. She came over to my house for a live interview about what it's like to be an artist. Then she made a timeline of my life (fortunately the 'death' spot was left blank...), along with a poster board & beautiful hand-drawn portrait of me.

It was a huge honor! I think I'm still blushing...

Billboards on TV

The local news channel featured a story about our art billboards! Check it out.

K8 Art: BillBoard Baggin'... Yes that was a stupid Hobbit pun

It's always been a sort of narcissistic dream of mine to have my artwork take over a billboard... Today the Arts Council helped make me a very happy narcissist.

ACGL employee Chad & I were there for the unveiling of my sign, and it was SO exciting to watch it unfold. Literally. It also made me grateful that I'm not the guy who has to climb up that high and hang it - YIKES!

Thanks Arts Council and Adams Outdoor Advertising!!

My sweet mom hurried over after her dentist appointment to take a few snapshots too.

ACEO of the Week: Foxes in Soxes

This week's ACEO:
Foxes in Soxes

Inspired by all the wonderful socks for sale at 'Little Mismatched Socks.' Because their socks put the fun in funky. Yeah, I just said that...

Bid now!

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals a highly addictive form of miniature art..

Copyright: All rites reserved 2012.

{P}Otter Park: New Otter Sign

The zoo is having me do a few more signs for the animal exhibitions. Here is one of my faves about otters and their swimming patterns. It's not editted/complete, so think of this as a sneak peek. To learn more about my favorite zoo, visit the Potter Park web site now!

Camel Connection

My friend Cedella turned 2 yesterday. To mark the special occasion, I drew a camel for her to hang in her bedroom. Part of Cedella's family is from Lebanon, a magical land of delicious food and adorable camels, so it seemed appropriate. Happy Birthday!!

All camel enthusiast are encouraged to pick up a print of their own from my online store right now!

Great Escape

A rare opportunity to bid on an original 5x7 in my eBay store. "Great Escape" whenever things get heavy, I wish I had a sweet Vespa to run away on.

Bid Now!

Happy Gotcha Day!

A year ago today, in a cold hotel in China, my little family came together for the first time through the magic of adoption. Happy Gotcha Day to the 2 loves of my life!

Boston Globe & The Giving Tree

Very exciting to see the Boston Globe giving young Isy Mekler's Giving Tree project some love. I was one of the illustrators who was able to paint on a Mekler tree for the fundraiser. Check out the article now!