iTunes Best Children's Album 2013

The Verve Pipe album that I illustrated & art directed is on the iTunes Best Children's Album of 2013 list! Check out the complete list now.

It is a wonderful collection of fun kid-friendly rock songs for ears of all ages, so you should probably go ahead and get your own copy while you're at it...

Amazing 100 Years of My Grandma

My beautiful and sassy Grandma turns 100 on December 18th.  She is the most resourceful, hilarious, wise, vain, exasperating and loving person I know.  To help honor her, my family brainstormed her favorite sayings (which are many) and had me design it.  I chose to use some of her old photos and incorporated cardinals (her favorite bird) and a Christmas cactus, that she can make bloom all year round like she has magic green thumbs.  Happy Birthday Grandma, I love you so much.

International magazine cover: Mennonite Brethren Herald

My mini nativity was chosen to grace the cover (front AND back) of 'Mennonite Brethren Herald' out of Canada. A big thank you to them for featuring my artwork this holiday season!

Zoo News: penguins for you

I had so much fun illustrating this coloring activity sheet for Potter Park Zoo 's newsletter.  

The Magellanic Penguins are some of my favorite creatures. Did you know that older penguins of over ten years usually have solid black feet? 

But don't let that fact affect your creativity if you color them. Maybe your penguins are only 2 years old or they have plaid feet. I won't judge you or your artistic madness....

New Zoo Ad: Zookambi Gift Certificates

Had a blast designing this advertisement for Potter Park Zoo's summer camp Zookambi.  I REALLY wish I was still kid-enough to be able to enroll, it sounds like so much fun!

First Steps Press Launches

First Steps Press has had their official launch as a publishing house.  They are re-releasing the book 'Ah Mu Weaves a Story' illustrated by me (written by Sara Gilliam.)

This bilingual book for young readers is in English and also the native tongue of the Karen Tribe refugees, who are making new lives in the United States.

For more info about First Steps Press, or to order your own copy of 'Ah Mu' you can visit their web site.

Pre-season's Greetings

It's that not-quite-the-holidays time of year where I get to put together holiday greetings that will hopefully end up in your mailbox this December.  This year, Storybook Arts, Inc used a piece of my penguin art for their upcoming holiday note.  And Potter Park Zoo will soon be sending out it's Moose-ee well wishes for the New Year.

Sketch of the Week

Working on a new project and this sketch was a result of some character design brainstorming. Even though it's just a quick doodle, it's my favorite art from this week... They are just SO bossy.

Lady Beard Bees featured in Capital Gains

Me & bees, photo by Dave Trumpie

Capital Gains wrote a great feature on urban beekeeping, and included Lady Beard Bees as part of the article.  Read it now.

And here are some additional photos by Dave Trumpie of his adventures while visiting all of our bee yards.

Join The Hive: Submit Your Self-bee

Loving the awesome Lady Beard Bees 'Bee Tee Selfies.'  Today we have beautiful Alexia & Izzie rocking their LBB t-shirts.  These two were lucky to nab a bottle of Lady Beard Bees honey before it sold out.  They know what's cool.

Want to join the beehive?  Get a tee and send me your selfie at k8cosgrove@gmail.com!

*Smooch*

New Print Alert: "Back To The Wild"

The paint is barely dry on this new piece "Back To The Wild" But you can buy yourself a print right now! Or check out the original next Tuesday at Gallery 1212 Old Town.

Copyright: All rites reserved 2013.

Tiny Show at Grove Gallery

These ten minis will be part of the Grove Gallery's holiday art show November-January.  This holiday season give the gift of art; tiny, adorable, original art!

Other locations that sell my art this holiday season:
Lansing Art Gallery
Gallery 1212 Old Town 
My online prints store

And The Moose Goes On...

'Wild One Mile' tee shirt design is nearing completion.  Which one would you choose?

New Fine Art: Sneak Peek

I'm spending some time each week creating a body of work for next year's large fine art exhibit.  Here's a sneak peek of my latest. This piece will be available August 2014 at Gallery 1212 Old Town.

"The Step Before Peace."

Color the BONGOS

I illustrated some Bongos for Potter Park Zoo's next newsletter.  Take a color break, you deserve it.

K8 Art 4 TVP @ Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL)

The Verve Pipe is taking their awesome kid-friendly music (both albums illustrated & art directed by K8 Art & Words) to Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) next weekend!

If you're unable to make it to the ACL, you can still treat your ear-holes to their kids albums via Barns & Noble right NOW!

New Fine Art: Once when you were small

"Once when you were small"
24 x 29 inches
Mixed media on glass
SOLD! 9/24/13 to private collector

And so they fell in love

New Print released today:
And So They Fell In Love
The original was sold this week as a wedding gift. I wonder if the newlyweds are human or raccoon...

Copyright: All rites reserved 2013.

Latest 'Lady Beard Bees' buzz

My first honey harvest is finally bottled, properly labeled and off to lucky mouths all over town.

Even though the honey is already sold out, you can still show your loyalty to the hive by rocking a Lady Beard Bees tee!  
Bee (haha) sure to send me a photo of you in your Lady Beard t-shirt so I can post it on my blog.

Honey, ah sugar sugar...

This weekend was Lady Beard Bee's first harvest EVER.  My amazing mother went along for the ride, showing me the proper way to sterilize everything and letting me turn her kitchen into a big sticky mess.

After hours of hard work, I ended the day feeling farmer-tired and really proud that I didn't screw it up.

Join the Lady Beard beehive:  http://ladybeardbees.spreadshirt.com/

Cat Collector

Nigel Hogan, natural born cat and distinguished art lover, has just added my illustration "The Vegetarian" to his extensive art collection.

His soon-to-be-wed humans claim the painting is an early wedding gift from the bride's mother... However, Nigel knows that the artwork actually now belongs to him.  As does everything else in the apartment.

Get ALL OF THE VERVE PIPE ALBUMS...illustrated by k8

If you are suuuuper sick of Old McDonald, you should probably check out The Verve Pipe family albums.  They are both available for sale via Barns & Noble and both illustrated by me!

Save your ears and fill your eyes with fun illustrated nonsense right NOW.

ACEO of the Week: #SharkWeek

"Shark Week" bid now on this mini original ACEO illustration. I have a DEEP fear of the deep... I can't even watch commercials about Shark Week, but it's still on my mind.

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals, a highly addictive form of miniature art...
Copyright: All rites reserved 2013.

Moat Makeover at Potter Park Zoo

Potter Park Zoo has added a couple animal moats and refreshed the meerkat moat. I was able to help out with the sign design.  Be sure to visit the zoo soon to make friends with the new bat-eared foxes and banded mongoose.  Last time I was there I'm pretty sure I heard a meerkat say 'hakuna matata.'

Wear the Beard

Only the coolest ladies are woman enough to wear the beard... This photo was sent to me from a new Lady Beard Bees fan showing off her new bee tees.

No honey yet, but you can get your tee right now! And be sure to send me a photo when you get it.

Lady Beard Bees Tees

The honey flow hasn't quite started... But you can still be the bees knees in these new Lady Beard Bees tees!  I decided to throw my logo on some shirts, bits and bobs.  Get yours now!

1st Song From The Verve Pipe's Latest

The Verve Pipe has a brand new family album (illustrated by me) coming out July 16th entitled 'Are We There Yet?'

Here's the first song from the album: 'Scavenger Hunt.' Enjoy!

New Art Alert: Exotic But Lazy

"Exotic But Lazy" 8x10. This piece is now available at Gallery 1212.

Shower those beautiful babies with art

The Dingo Stole My Baby

If you're anything like me, you probably have a lot of fertile friends popping out babies this summer.  Nothing goes better with a box of diapers than a snazzy art print for the little one's nursery.  Check out all the options here...

ACEO of the Week: The Farmers Market

It's that time of year... Farmers' Market season!  And who loves veggies more than rabbits?  Maybe my hippie vegan cousin...

Bid now on this charming original mini art!


*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals, a highly addictive form of miniature art...
Copyright: All rites reserved 2013.

New Art Alert: Wanderlust

New art original now available!
"Wanderlust" 8x10 $295
Gallery 1212, Lansing MI.

Or customize your own print from the comfort of your iPhone with the magic of the Internets.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2013, ART BY KATE, LLC.

The hive of Lady Beard Bees

Here are my beautiful bees!  I've named the Queen bee "Latifah." They are an Italian high-bred that my bee mentor and I rescued from a tree in the woods.  It involved a chainsaw and his brilliant brain.

I hope they enjoy living with me as much as I enjoy them.

http://ladybeardbees.spreadshirt.com/

It's happening... It happened.

Here's the sneak peek of the final! I'll be sure to post details soon to make cd purchase easy peasy... In the meantime, you better do your chores and save your allowance.

Guess what's on it's way...

Really excited about the latest illustration project for me. Music lovers everywhere, get your ears ready...

New Print Alert!

Just released: 'The Bird Tree' for print.  Customize this piece to fit the frame and size of your art loving desires.  Other available prints. 

A Permanent Collection

A couple years ago, my friend Anne who is very close to her niece and always calls her 'Hannah Banana,' hired me to illustrate a banana with a face for the two of them.

This spring, Anne decided to have the Banana permanently tattooed on her foot, while the real Hannah Banana and I stood by gawking the entire time.  (It looked super painful and I'm not sure how Anne made it through,) so here it is, the first official K8 Art tattoo. Arty compliments do not get any bigger than that!

Art Hole: COMPLETE

After a lot of hard work, mostly husband slave labor, the art-hole is now beautiful!  In fact it's currently the nicest room in the house, which is great for me, a little unfortunate for everyone else...
It's been an incredible 10 years of creative brain parties in this room, and I am looking forward to the next 50.

Springbreak Artventure

While you were probably jello-wrestling in Cancun during your springbreak, I was using my week to educate some local littles...

Lansing Art Gallery invited me to teach intro to gouache & collage.  My students were sweet, talented and worked extremely hard on their pieces for the final class exhibition.

If you missed out on this LAG art education, there will be more workshops this summer.  Find out more on their website.

Wine & Stein Art

Final poster art/layout for the upcoming Wine & Stein.  A tribute to the yak, owl & red panda. Hope to see you there!

For more info visit: Potter Park Zoo's website.

New Bio Doodle

It was time to refresh my face on Twitter, along with a few other places on the interwebs...  Here's the latest bio doodle.  

New Gallery Art

"I'm a Wolf Now."  5x7 inches 
This and a few other new pieces will soon be for sale at Gallery 1212 in Old Town.

Copyright: All rights reserved 2013.

Honeybees Please

After YEARS of over-thinking it, I am finally setting up my first beehive this spring!  And even though I have yet to finish reading my beekeeping book, set up the hive, make friends with a bee or harvest any honey, I have already created the logo for my honey jar labels.  
Naturally, the logo is the most important factor in keeping my bees alive...

Extreme Art-hole

My humble studio feels a lot less murder-roomee now that the floor is finished.  Walls and shelving are next on the list!  Followed by a quick exorcism and I'm good...

ACEO of the Week: The Albino Deer

We are a house of pigmentos plus one albino or 'person with Albinism' (the preferred nomenclature)... Because of this, I am always inspired by the beauty of Albinism in nature.  It's about time it started to show itself in my work.

Please enjoy this week's ACEO "The Albino Deer."  Bid now!

*ACEO: Art Collectibles Editions Originals, a highly addictive form of miniature art...
Copyright: All rites reserved 2013.

Ice Marbles & Snow Monsters

I live in beautiful Michigan where the winters can have some intense weather.  Lucky for me I like the cold, and winter is my second favorite time of year (Autumn winning first place in that contest.)  Ice cream cones, water balloons, food coloring & a cold day led to some really fun outdoor art play with my little one. Here are pics of our snow monster & some giant ice marbles.