Kelsey Oseid, aka kelzuki, is a freelance illustrator and artist living and working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is well-known for her animal-a-day project which she started in January 2016. Kelzuki’s Animal Kingdom now encompasses over 500 creatures from 18 different taxonomic groups. (more…)
A hijab is not an accessory. It is an essential article of clothing, like a shirt. It is not ok to forcibly remove a hijab off a woman. If you see this happen, please protect the victim. (more…)
This is the final installment in my series celebrating Important Black Female Artists. If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 and Part 2. The above portait is out first featured artist today…
Last month I started a series of 15 Important Black Female Artists. Today I would like to share with you the second installment in this series, with 4 new portraits of these amazing women. To start us off is the above portrait… (more…)
This year for Black History Month I wanted to paint a handful of important black female artists. I thought I would maybe do one or two portraits, but the more I researched, the more I fell in love with these amazing women. I picked out 15 important artists overall, and today I’d like to share my first 6 portraits with you. (more…)
For my latest series of Affectionate Animals, I wanted my paintings to feel classic and timeless. That’s why I used vintage photographs as the source images for the paintings! Aside from the scene from I Love Lucy, which turned into the Bear Hug portrait, each of these photogrphs is from relative unknown photographers, images I simply found off the internet. (more…)
The moment I learned that Melissa’s two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, I wanted to bury her in the biggest hug. But, since they live 1,000 miles away, I painted her a picture instead.
I’ve never met the Wilsons in person, but we’ve known each other online for years. The more I talked with my friend about the struggles her family was facing, the more I wanted to do something to help. The Wilson family has health insurance, but it barely covers their expenses, and they quickly blew through their savings in order to get the appropriate medications and treatments for their little girl.
Just because we are part of an online community, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a Real one. So I created the Love Little Violet fundraiser. A swell of encouragement rose up to support the Wilsons, and a few donations trickled in. Online community can be amazing and full of love.
But it still wasn’t enough. So I decided: it was time to do more. (more…)
Elune and I are discussing artwork and the creative process. She asks me: “Have you ever used art to paint your way out of your hardest times in life or your inner struggles?”
This past year, I addressed some painful issues: depression, financial insecurity, old wounds, and disillusionment with church leadership. These topics probably seem even heavier when juxtaposed against the lighthearted and fanciful style of my artwork. How does my life experience inform my artwork? How can someone who thinks about such dark things create such whimsical pieces?
I’m not sure I have an answer. (more…)
Marianne is fighting the fight of her life. Her sweet baby boy has cancer.
Hugo was diagnosed with cancer just days after his first birthday, and a tumor was found on his kidney. There is a lot of hope in Hugo’s story, but his ongoing battle remains a difficult trial for his family to endure.
I knew I had to do something.
So I asked Marianne for a few photos, and I used one of them to create this painting. (more…)
My hands are in the sink. I am washing dishes. My family is off playing Nintendo. I am blissfully alone, and my mind is open. Radio Lab is on NPR.
The interview is with David Cope, a composer. When faced with musical writer’s block, Cope built an analytical computer program, named EMI (Experiments in Musical Intelligence). EMI is able to ascertain patterns unique to each composer run through its system. After analyzing scores of music, Cope applied algorithms from these composers to other works of music, giving them new and amazing life. (more…)
