maker of things
A collection of illustrations of odd animals. Growing the collection to become a full alphabet, an Oddimal Alphabet if you will.
T is for Tapir. They are native to South and Central America and parts of Southeast Asia. They are herbivorous mammals and they’re freaking adorable.
Echidnas are quill-covered monotremes. Like a platypus, they are mammals but they lay eggs. They are native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea.
Cuttlefish are a type of marine mollusc in the same class as squid and octopuses. They can be found in tropical and temperate ocean water from East and Southeast Asia, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, all the way down to Africa and Australia. Like other cephalopods, their skin can change color to help keep them hidden from predators.
Narwhals are unique medium-sized whales. Their large tusk is actually one of their teeth that grows out long and is used to help them sense their world around them. They don’t use them for fighting, but instead they rub them against other narwhal tusks to help clean them. Narwhals can be found in Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia.
Born out of a newfound passion for knitting and it’s ability to soothe the soul.
A fun tattoo style illustration that encompasses how I feel about my favorite hobby.
I loved the texture achieved here. It makes me think of the deep texture and nubbles of the fabric created when knitting.
The flowers are stylized peonies, one of my favorites.
Over the years, I’d been asked to design tattoo and these are a few of the designs I’ve explored.
Had a blast playing around with this tattoo idea for a friend. Mickey in an EOD suit. Really enjoyed pushing how far this idea could go, and I’m pretty happy with the result.
The original design was inspired by tattoo design, so it feels natural to see it all the way through.
Water lilies represent hope, wellness, and peace, so it felt natural to capture it within a cathedral style frame.
A commissioned painting onto the surface of a Bible. The client requested a lakeview at sunset with silhouettes of the family members. They intended to make this a custom heirloom family Bible.
The client wanted to create an heirloom gift for this family. Her idea was to integrate their love of the lake and the importance of faith in their lives.
One of my favorite parts of this project was designing the landscape to wrap around the spine, yet maintain balanced compositions when looking at only the front or back.
The final detail was hand-lettering their favorite verse on the back.
You’re probably wondering, “What the heck does ‘Kimeikeo’ even mean?”.
Fair question.
My name is Kim. I’m a maker of things.
I’m also Korean-American.
’Meikeo’, 메이커, may-ee-koh, means ‘maker’ or person who makes things in Korean.
Thus, Kimeikeo was born.
I call myself a maker of things because over the years I have found that I just like to make things. I have fallen in love with the act of creation and exploration of materials be it digital or analog. I love to tinker with anything I find and see what can be made, Maker of Things.
Current logo mark and color palette of 2022. Derived from my own handwriting.
Colors reflect a collection of colors I tend to reach for when creating.
Wallpapers created monthly for download by Patreon subscribers.
Monthly themed illustration for download. This month’s theme was Lavender.
Part of communicating to my Patreon subscribers is creating ways of letting them know when new content is available for download.
I love designing for mobile wallpapers because I can make the kind of wallpapers I love to have.
These little guys just hopped into my mind one day and I had to capture their carefree nature. I imagine these friends gather in the same forest clearing every morning to share the current goings-on around the wood.
I wonder what the latest news would be that crisp fall morning.
What a sweet little card!
Homes are places where comfort is found, families are built, and memories are made. Home portraits are simple and beautiful ways to remember those meaning-full walls when life deems it necessary to move on. Whether it is a new home that holds the promise of what’s ahead, or an old home that bears witness to an incredible legacy, the importance of what it represents is not lost on every stroke of my brush.
A home portrait for a client who just recently moved in to the forever home of their dreams.
The lighting on the day of the reference photo was perfect. I particularly love how the shadows fall across the roof.
My favorite thing about painting this house was adding the awning over the garage windows. Such a lovely architectural detail.
Persimmons are a special seasonal treat. When correctly chosen and prepared they are uniquely sweet and delicious. However, if you choose one that is not ready to be eaten it will meet you with the most astringent taste and texture imaginable.
This pattern captures my favorite thing about persimmon season, their beautiful vermillion hue.
Presented in a collection of 3 colorways.
