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.

Happy Holidays

Here's to a colorful, festive holiday season!

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This little bird is 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 (who, as a kid in the midwest, loved to spot cardinals in the wintertime...)

Holiday Greeting Cards to Benefit Breast Cancer Foundation

I'm honored and pleased to mention that a trio of greeting cards featuring my playful winter designs and the familiar pink breast cancer awareness ribbon will be produced for next year's Christmas and winter holidays. 

Best of all, in the spirit of the season, ten percent of the proceeds from the card's sales will be contributed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Montreal-based fine stationery distributor Groupe Pierre Belvédère is behind this effort.

Holiday Horns, featuring a tuba-playing snowman, and Winter Warm Up, pictured here, along with my Skating artwork (also seen on chocolate tins) were licensed for the cards, which are being handsomely produced with metallic foil and embossing and include the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation logo on the back. 

The cards will be available at card shops and larger retailers in North America and Europe and in Essence du Papier stores beginning in late 2010. I will mention specific outlets and links for purchasing the cards as they become known. 

It's always exciting to be part of the holiday gift-giving tradition and even more satisfying knowing the efforts of the Breast Cancer Foundation will benefit, even in a small way, from my designs! 

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

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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.

Holiday Sweetness, Again

Thrilled to announce that a couple of my designs are once again atop tins of delicious chocolates this holiday season!

After a successful first year, Canada's Rogers' Chocolates has re-released Skating and Dove gift tins and ornaments, just in time for gift giving.

More about this licensing project (including links to purchase the decoratively wrapped confections!) can be found here, where I mentioned it last year.

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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.

Streamy: A Nature-inspired Design Pattern

Time to reveal another design with licensed products in its sights.

I've dubbed this one Streamy, a nature-inspired whimsical pattern that's ready for action on everything from stationery items and journals, to funky fabrics and playful plates for next summer's table, and more.

The green version as a tableware prototype— perhaps in ceramic or melamine, bundled as a picnic set or place settings for the patio...

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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.

Annual Report Illustrations for Japanese Pharmacy Company

Lots of excitement in the studio when I got my first glimpse of the completed Annual Report for Japan's QOL Co. Ltd. earlier this month. I've created illustrations for magazines in Japan, but this is the first time my work is being used for a corporate piece there, which is very satisfying.


The client, which operates pharmacies in Japan, wanted to include and modify existing images of mine along with new artwork to help tell the story about the company's philosophy, their business focus, and their people.

I had the good fortune to work with Japan-based corporate and editorial design specialists KF Design. (And they're bilingual, so my rusty, tourist-level language skills weren't needed.)


I believe this is QOL's first Annual Report, so hats off (and thanks) to them for choosing illustration to help connect with shareholders in a unique way. I hope it's a big success for them.

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Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com.
Annual Report Copyright QOL Co Ltd. Illustrations Copyright 2009 Sean Kane.
(QOL's line art logo was created by another artist.)

Lots of Dots: Design Pattern Rollout

Introducing Dots, a colorful design that rounds up a mix of little gems into a festive everyday pattern.


With botanical bits and references to the seasons, Dots could hit the spot for a number of products, from outdoor gear to gift wrap, eco-friendly lines, and more.


I'm envisioning fun in foul weather and gifts that get noticed.


I'd welcome any thoughts about turning this theme into goods that will shine on store shelves. Other designs for product licensing can be seen at my portfolio here.


This illustration is available for print, web, and licensing uses and as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Bicycles, Fixies, and 2-Wheelin': Bike Artwork

There's nothing quite like hopping on a bicycle and getting out for a ride. And no better time for biking than summer, which got my creative wheels turning recently:


My "Fixie" design collection. (For those who don't know, fixies is a term used to describe fixed-gear, single speed bicycles.) Striking in their simplicity and stripped-down elegance, the basic bicycle is a thing of beauty.



I've put my spin on it, and these bike patterns have some fun product possibilities, including as a bedroom ensemble for a little Lance, greeting cards for young and old, cycling gear, and more.


If you've got some ideas for putting this collection to use, I'd be happy to discuss how we could get them rolling! Other designs for product licensing can be seen at my portfolio here.


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

SURTEX SHOW SUCCESS

Thanks to everyone — all the art buyers, manufacturers, and fellow creatives who stopped by my booth at SURTEX in New York City this week.


It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to say hello in person, to hand out a bunch of these fun pins, and to share my latest collections of artwork available for licensing on products with so many.

Stay tuned here for product news that results from the exhibition!


A glimpse of some designs available for licensing can be seen here. Let me know what you're looking for (seasonal, everyday, patterns, product mock-ups, etc.) and I will put together a custom sample kit for you.
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Inquiries: Please contact sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Jazz Fest Poster Artwork

Here's my illustration and design for Victoria, BC's 2009 JazzFest.

The bright, festive design seeks to convey a celebratory tone for the event's 25th anniversary, a sense of the textures and layers of the music, and a reference to Victoria and its "English" reputation among visitors with a tea cup in place of the jazz trumpeter's usual mute or plunger. The work is a bit of a variation on my Ensemble Style.

Update: Unfortunately, another direction was chosen for the poster and this artwork was not used.


This illustration is available and can be customized for your Jazz event and for print, web, and other licensing uses. Also available as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

My Winter Artwork + Chocolates = Sweet!

Just in time for the gift giving season, Holiday tins featuring two of my illustrations (and filled with assorted chocolates, creams, and caramels!) have been unveiled by Rogers' Chocolates.

The historic Victoria, BC chocolatier has licensed my Dove and Skating artworks for three collectible products: the Dove tin, a Skating tin, and Dove ornament. (P.S. They ship them everywhere.)

Definitely a tasty project. Thanks to the creative team at Rogers' Chocolates.

Habitat for Humanity Jazz Concert Artwork

I'm proud to be involved with Habitat for Humanity for the second year in a row, creating artwork for the "Jazz for Habitat" benefit concert event to take place in January 2009.

Building houses and raising the roof with some great music are what this event (and artwork) are all about— The concert is a fundraiser for construction of a house in Kankakee County, in outlying Chicagoland.


This illustration is available and can be customized for your Jazz event and for print, web, and other licensing uses. Also available as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Bursting Peapod

This piece was created in my Ensemble Style to accompany a poem entitled Five Little Peas.
Expertly directed by Dinardo Design, to be published by Houghton Mifflin.

Happy Holidays - Snowman Artwork

This fun and festive snowman image is available as a card for those last minute Seasons Greetings through CafePress at http://www.cafepress.com/seankanesnowman.

This illustration is available for print, web, and other licensing uses and as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Good Vibrations. Sound waves become energy (thermoacoustics).

New green technologies will turn heat into a sound wave which triggers an electric element to become voltage, a process known as thermoacoustics. Sounds complicated! Look for the artwork in the latest issue of the eco-awareness magazine called Checkerspot. (Subscriptions are free in Canada, by the way).

Thanks to the Canadian Wildlife Federation and their excellent designer for art direction on this one.

This illustration is available for print, web, and other licensing uses and as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Halloween Bats

One from my archives commemorating the annual autumn convergence of baseball's World Series and things that go Boo! in the night.

Silent Signals

Interpreting how actions and body language translate. Thanks to Hanley Wood Magazines for commissioning this Ensemble Style piece.

This illustration is available for print, web, and other licensing uses and as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Something New - Bollywood Elephant Artwork

Balancing between the decorative and whimsical, Bollywood and Indian matchbox designs influence this festive tightrope-walking elephant. Ideal as a home decor print and as the cornerstone for a fun, festive product collection.

Fine art prints are available of this artwork by clicking here. Largest print size is 24 x 14 images. (It looks excellent on Somerset Velvet, a heavyweight, acid-free, 100% cotton paper. Custom framing available.)

This illustration is available for print, web, and other licensing uses and as individual art prints.
Inquiries please contact: sean@seankane.com. All rights reserved. Copyright Sean Kane.

Nationwide Mortgage Campaign

More images, this time in my textural collage way of working (Ensemble Style), for a playful campaign promoting home ownership. Big thanks to the group at Graves Fowler Creative.

London Power Walking

Vibrations from foot traffic in London are being harnessed to create energy to light the city. Really! Commissioned by All Nippon Airways, Tokyo.

Praying Around the Water Cooler

A spot about the increase in prayer groups in the workplace. One in a series of six images commissioned by the nice folks at NavPress.

More Happy Babies

We're sure making this #2 business look pretty good. The latest in Playtex Baby's ad campaign using my Ensemble Style background artwork is out and here online. More from the Playtex Baby campaign can be seen in the Ensemble portfolio. Big thanks to the #1 team at Grey Worldwide, New York.

In-flight Heat Wave

Those buckled-in for a long flight to or from Japan on All Nippon Airways (ANA) this summer can check out the news on the world's hottest pepper in the airline's Wingspan magazine. Thanks to McDavis Associates, Tokyo.

Going Ga Ga, Again

Just received a copy of the Playtex Baby's Sipster ad with my background artwork. This ad and two others with textured collage backgrounds are popping up in parenting magazines this Spring. Thanks to the creative team at Grey Worldwide, New York.

It's a Circus

I've recently completed a couple of illustrations to be included in a new KLUTZ Chicken Socks activity book for kids called Magic Painting, set for publication next year (2006). All I can say about my pages is that a monkey steals the show.