Introducing "Sirena" limited edition letterpress

I've been in love with letterpress all my life and for years have been toying with the idea of creating a set of limited edition prints. Because this will be my first year at the Haleiwa Arts Festival, I wanted to create something special. I'm so happy to introduce "Sirena", limited edition of 100, signed by yours truly.

I teamed up with South Shore Paperie after searching dozens of printers nationwide. This lovely boutique, located in Kapahulu, carries unique stationary and paper products only found at this store.
The owners were so attentive and easy to work with. The print shop owner is a graphic designer herself so I knew my art would be in good hands.

The prints turned out fabulous. If you'd like to get yours, come to Haleiwa Arts Festival. They'll be gone fast!

A big mahalo again to South Shore Paperie for their amazing work.
Below is a bit of the process from sketch to press. Enjoy!

Photos courtesy South Shore Paperie. 

plates!

The finished product. So great to see an piece from start to finish. 

"Moana Ahe" is here!

I just had a final lunch meeting with the LeSportsac team and got to check out the finished samples. What can I say? I was just blown away by what LSS was able to do with my design. The level of detail they were able to capture is amazing. From the color, to the small details and distressing, the production team was able to achieve a pristine reproduction of my original work.

We have a media event coming up on the 20th (for media folks only) and a signing event on the 27th (open to the public). Can't wait to see the window displays and merchandise soon!

Kat Reeder for LeSportsac

I am incredibly excited to announce my collaboration with LeSportsac Hawaii! This has been an almost year-long project filled with great experiences and I just couldn't wait to share this news with you.

As of July 2012, the new product line, titled "Moana Ahe" will be available exclusively in stores across Hawaii and Guam.

I was first tapped by LeSportsac in 2011 after my collaboration with singer Raiatea Helm. Throughout this process, the LeSportsac team (both Hawaii and New York) have been incredibly encouraging, giving me complete creative freedom. For any illustrator/designer working with any major luxury brand such as LeSportsac, this is a dream come true!

Join me Friday, July 27th for a signing event at the LeSportsac flagship store in Waikiki (Royal Hawaiian Center-Kalakaua Ave), 6pm. I will be there signing bags and meeting the fans.

Hale'iwa Arts Festival this July!

Aloha friends! After missing out last year, I made it a priority to submit my work to this year's Hale'iwa Arts Festival. My acceptance packet has arrived in the mail this week and I'm super stoked! 

After working with art galleries for some time now, I must say I'm a bit spoiled. Having friends and a sales staff handling transactions for me has been the best. My only responsibilities have included creating new works and attending signing sessions. No biggie though, as I'll be putting together an "Art of Kat Reeder" team soon. :)

On hand will be some new releases, and of course, I will be there to meet fans and enjoy the beautiful Hawaii weather. The Hale'iwa Arts Festival will include a wide array of performance arts, cultural history tours, arts demonstrations and a host of activities for kids and families. 

I'm looking forward to being part of this annual gathering of local artists and performers. It'll be so much fun to see old friends and to connect with collectors and fans alike. 

Odaiba Hawaii Festival '12

I recently returned from an amazing trip to Japan for an appearance at the Odaiba Hawaii Festival 2012. A huge mahalo again to the organizers of this event, including the luxurious Venus Fort, Hawaiian Airlines, and of course Toyota, for displaying my art on their cool new Aqua Hybrid!

A special mahalo to Jun Yoshimura, the staff at the Heather Brown Gallery (including their friends and family who were kind enough to help out). There were long hours put into this event and I sure appreciate it!

The hospitality of the people of Japan is unmatched in the world. I'm always so overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness shown to me by friends and fans. I was greeted warmly by happy folks, many of whom offered gifts, photos, and warm embraces. I was giddy all weekend from all the love.

Odaiba Hawaii Festival was of course a fabulous event. Aside from the rainy weather on the first day (didn't seem to stop anyone from enjoying the performances inside the Toyota MegaWeb), everything went off without a hitch. There were lots of great dancers and performers, including the cast of the Polynesian Cultural Center's Ha: Breath of Life (making Japanese girls swoon with their braun and fire-twirling skills), local food (malasadas, steak plates and shave ice), and an array of hula dancers strolling about.

It was a great weekend for families and lovers of Hawaiian culture. There was so much aloha in the air it felt like home. My art found a place at the Hawaiian Festival as well, being instantly embraced by new art collectors. It was also nice to see established fans who kindly stopped by for a signed postcard or just to say hello.

By the way, if you ever find yourself in Tokyo and want to see a mall to end all malls, visit the Venus Fort. Seriously, this place is like the Venetian in Vegas and a Mall of America all rolled into one. The fashion is outstanding and the shoes....don't even get my started on shoes! There is a whole level dedicated to pets and their owners. Just a beautiful thing to see.

Well I hope this is my first of many appearances at the Odaiba Hawaii Festival. I look forward to returning again soon. I'm so happy for this experience. Mahalo to everyone!

Why I love Hawaiian Airlines

I remember the first time I ever saw a Hawaiian Airlines plane. I was visiting Hawaii for the first time. While standing quietly (but so excitedly) in line, I looked out the terminal window hoping to get a glimpse of Diamond Head. What caught my eye instead was a vision of purple and pink. The face of a beautiful woman blossoming from a flower. It was Pualani "Flower of the Sky", emblazoned on the tail of a shiny new jet.

Being a graphic designer I always pay attention to the small details of brand identity: colors, language, culture, etc. Every designer has that "I wish I'd thought of that" moment. I have this feeling EVERY SINGLE TIME I see an HAL plane...and living in Ewa Beach, that's pretty much every day.

Former Miss Hawaii Leinaala Teruya helped promote original Pualani logo in 1974.

The reason I am so inspired by this artwork is because you don't have to be a designer to be utterly stunned by it's elegance. She's an exotic beauty, gazing beyond the horizon. Wherever she may be going, you want to go with her. She is simple, iconic, and purely sublime.

I find the HAL logo more than inspiring--it is inspired--and that is something that touches me deeply. As an artist I yearn to capture this same spirit; to bestow upon the viewer a desire to get lost in place full of wonder and delight. The way people say my work makes them feel is the way this art makes ME feel.

As I prepare to take another trip with Hawaiian Airlines, I look forward to traveling with Pualani beyond that beautiful horizon.

Golden Week 2012!

Aloha!

I'm so excited to participate at this year's Hawaii Festival in Odaiba. I've been gearing up for a week of fun and making new friends in Japan. However, I could not forget that Golden Week is also a much anticipated holiday here in Hawaii!

Whether you're a local or visitor, there are many exciting things to see in do this time of year. The weather is spectacular, the mountains are lush, and the waves are crystal blue. Everyone is in a great mood. How could we not be? We're in Hawaii!

If you're in Waikiki, stop by Greenroom Hawaii Gallery to see my new prints and summer releases. If you're in the North Shore, make sure to visit Thomadro Gallery in Haleiwa!

Wish you all a happy visit to Hawaii and for those of you back in Japan, see you soon!