Illustration

Goggle Cloth Design

| Inspire by Kim

Fall-Line magazine have created a goggle wipe using my ‘Get The Right Kit’ design.

Following the success of the t-shirt design that I created for the magazine, the publishers have licensed the design for a goggle cloth for skiers and snowboarders.

The cloth has my ‘Get The Right Kit’ ski/snowsports icons design on one side and has a handy check list on the reverse side. The cloth looks and feels great with a slight hombre in the blue fabric. It’s designed for ski and snowsports goggles but I am finding that also works for sunglasses, glasses and even tech screens.

The cloth is going out as a gift to the magazine subscribers with the February magazine, those buying the February magazine will also receive the cloth. To order the magazine head here.

See the goggle cloth in this Tik Tok filmed high up on the glacier in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. See the ice in the background. It was -24 so gloves stayed on!

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYjgxqFt/

If you’re in the UK it is also possible to order the goggle wipes in the Fall-Line magazine shop at this link. Those ordering, do let me know how you get on and please share any pics with the tags @inspirebykim and @falllinemag

The wipe is made by Wipeout who also offer ski piste maps on wipes, and even underwear – which could get chilly if you were trying to check a ski route on a cold day!

If you don’t already have the t-shirt, I highly recommend the product, its organic cotton and plastic free packaging, and the service from Teemill is swift, you can order this here in men’s cut, women’s cut in a range of sizes and colours. Ideal for Apres-ski, keeping up the ski vibe, or connecting with other skiers as it’s such a talking point.

Check out my ski wear concepts at these links, these designs are available for licensing at the time of writing.

ski jacket designs

mid and base layer designs

neck warmer designs

Latest Posts

SHOP

Head to my shop for more ski and snowsports themed gifts.

Ski Stars – Tell Your Stories

| Inspire by Kim

I’m keen to hear your stories about the people that have made all the difference to your skiing and snowsports. Those gems who took, or take, the time to help you, and have really contributed to your enjoyment of the sport.

I’m hoping to collect stories to inspire a body of work for exhibition later in the year.

Friendly, lovable yeti with skier and snowboarder
This illustration was sketched for a commission that didn’t come off, but it felt important to complete this illustration.

Whether it be an instructor, coach, teacher of relative if you are happy to share your story please either comment, or alternatively email your story to inspirebykim@outlook.com

Thanks for each story, watch this space for how the stories will be illustrated and/ or inform my work.

How The Work Was Made

I’ve been sketching a lot recently so I chose which from the pencil sketches. I picked the star character, which I originally created as a Christmas sketch, whilst trying to get ahead for Christmas 2023.

Once happy with the pencil sketches, characters and proportions I got set up for a painting session.

Painted skier with star and pencil sketch
The painting in progress along with the original sketch and fingers to show the scale of the piece.

These fresh new illustrations were painted yesterday and today in my favourite Kuretaki watercolour paints, then finished with Duller coloured pencils and Uni-ball eye gel pens to finish.

The paints and gel pens are the key materials that I used to create the illustrations for Ski A to Z. I’m exploring some of the colours not used for the book art, and am enjoying the different hues whilst still hoping to communicate the joy and emotion of skiing.

Many thanks for your support. Please follow or subscribe to see my work as it is created. If you like Ski A to Z please share a review where you bought it, or review it on Google Books as this helps more people to know about, and be helped by the book.

Thanks in advance for any stories that you are happy to share.

Kim

My Latest Posts

Snowsports/ Winter Neckwarmer Designs

| Inspire by Kim

Keen for my fabric designs to be used on ski apparel I am mocking up how the designs look on different items, in order to suggest my designs for ski companies.

I have applied 8 of my 20+ fabric designs onto mock-ups to show the fabrics patterns and how these would look on the skier or snowboarder. All of my 20+ designs can be seen at my Spoonflower Inspire by Kim print on demand shop.

The first clothing application of my designs is for neck buffs/ neck warmers for skiing. These would be on stretchy fleece for cold days or on lighter fabrics for use on days that aren’t quite as cold.

Neck buffs are important for staying cosy and comfortable on the mountain and they are a relatively straightforward product to create and so this felt like a good place to start. As they come up around the face to protect from the elements, whether that be snow or sun they are a key item. As they are breathed through skiers may have more than one buff with them on a trip.

The fabric designs use ski and snowsport icons to create colourful, bold, modern prints. Some of the art used in the designs can also be seen in Ski A to Z – An Illustrated Introduction To Skiing. More information about Ski A to Z is here.

If you have a particular favourite, please let me know in the comments. Contact me on email to discuss licensing of designs inspirebykim@outlook.com

Click on the swinging sign to visit my shop.

Thanks so much for being here.

Happy New Year!

Kim

Inspire by Kim designs on fabrics.

RELATED Posts

Snowsport Hotel Room Concept

Snowsport Fabric and Wallpaper Designs

Snowsport Themed Rabbit in Fabrics

Latest Posts

Ski A to Z Now Stocked At Ski Paradise In Mottaret

| Inspire by Kim

I’m delighted that Ski A to Z is now on sale in the beautiful Ski Paradise Shop in Les 3 Vallees, in the Savoie region of the French Alps.

The shop in Meribel Mottaret has a limited number of signed first editions of Ski A to Z, so those in the area can get them in time for Christmas. Just five minutes walk from the piste its possible to pop in whilst navigating through the ski area.

Ski A to Z at Ski Paradise

Les 3 Vallees is where the first painting of Ski A to Z were created. So its fitting that the book is now for sale where it first began.

These were paintings of ski equipment which were used for the ‘K is or Kit’, and ‘S for Skis’ pages of the book. I did not have the intention or plan for the book at that stage, I just decided to paint something that I know a lot about.

I decided to use a warm colour palette to contrast with the icy blue colours of the mountain environment. A colour range that was used throughout the book project.

Photo Caption: Painting whilst icing my knee after skiing in January 2020.

After following Ski Paradise on Instagram and loving their product range, I went to the store in March to show Ski A to Z, so I’m delighted that they are stocking the book. I was skiing between Courchevel and Val Thorens with my Dad that day.

The shop has the best range of ski themed gifts and ski art that I have seen anywhere, so it feels like a lovely fit with my work and its a dream come true to have my book stocked there. The shop also has a great range of clothing and offers ski equipment hire.

Thank you to Dorothee at Ski Paradise for the enthusiasm for my work. Dorothee is a talented artist who also has her artwork in the shop. Thank you to Andrea for getting the books on their way.

Ski A to Z is published by Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) see more about the book, and links to buy, here.

If you are a retailer and are interested in stocking Ski A to Z, my art prints, fabrics and greeting cards please email inspirebykim@outlook.com, it will be great to talk about opportunities.

Please subscribe to my blog to see the updates, news and fresh ski art as it is posted.

Best wishes

Kim x

Latest Posts

Reflecting on 2022

| Inspire by Kim

Here’s my collage of favourite work from 2022 for the annual #artvsartist – This is a post created for Instagram.

It’s been a busy year of promotion and live events.

Developing my fabrics range and interior schemes has been a key area of work development this year. I look forward to more time sewing in 2023 working with my fabrics.

It’s been wonderful going out and meeting so many people at my book signing and stall holding events, seeing the reactions to my work in UK and US has been a magic that I wish I could bottle. Watching people’s faces as they turn the pages of my book, making them laugh, or as they stand taking in my art prints is life enriching.

The Snow Show, Boston @snowboundexpo, Pendle Ski Club, Renishaw Hall, Ski Rossendale, the double page spread in @nssa_uk magazine are just some of the many highlights.

Thank you to Tim and my parents for their support and assistance, thank you my publisher @meyer_meyer_sport, to Dan Egan for support and encouragement Stateside. And thank you to everyone who this year has taken the time to stop, look, comment, share ideas of what they might make with the fabrics, review, and ‘like’. ♥️

Excited for the future.

Kim x

Hang Gliding On Skis – New Painting

| Inspire by Kim

As a special birthday gift I painted this artwork for my best friend Katy, hang gliding in the mountains.

When we had this experience in the French Alps as youngsters my friend’s photo never arrived. So now she has a painting to remember the experience by.

I used online research, my black and white photo of the experience, and photos of Katy around that age, to create the sketches for the piece.

The hang glider’s camera was mounted on the wing and during the flight the pilot took the shot by remote control. The photos were then developed and (in theory) posted.

My Hang Gliding Picture

Setting off with skis pointed straight down the slope until the wing took flight and gliding over the resort below was exhilarating. I remember that it was chilly and I felt the elements as I was wearing my race suit as I had raced giant slalom earlier that day.

Each member of Katy’s family took the hang glider and all four pictures went missing, so the experience has always had the disappointment of the photos not arriving, associated with it.

The hang gliding on skis experience was in Alpe d’Huez, France when we were there for the English Championship Easter races.

Painted in Kuretaki watercolours on 100% cotton paper.

I framed the painted and surprised Katy with it for her birthday.

National Snow Show: It was lovely to see Katy reunited with Chammy Alcott at my stand at the National Snow Show in Birmingham last month. Chemmy and Katy room shared for a time during their ski racing careers.

This new artwork is for this darling human. Loved by so many of us. Thanks Katy for all your love and support, and for being you.

Commissioned Paintings

If you would like a bespoke artwork created just for you email inspirebykim@outlook.com

Related Posts

Best of 2021

Ski Racer Girl Print

Gallery Space At National Snow Show

Latest Posts

New Work – These Boots Are Made For…

| Inspire by Kim

I’m excited to reveal my latest artwork, These Boots Are Made For…

Copyright Kim Walking Book, Watercolour Artwork, Inspired by biking, hiking, dog walking, selfies, summits, exploring, potholing, bird watching and cycling.
These Boots Are Made For… Copyright Kim

My newest artwork is all about getting boots on and exploring the awesome outdoors. Using a walking boot concept the illustration is to evoke memories of time in the hills. The painting can represent whichever hills you most like to roam. Here I see the Pennines, Peaks, Lake District and Scottish Highlands.

The walking boot is a landscape for miniature silhouetted people to be experiencing, exploring and enjoying.

Watercolour painting, summit selfie, dog walking and climbing/ abseiling. Copyright Kim
These Boots Are Made For… Summit selfie, abseiling and getting out with the dog detail –
Copyright Kim

This piece which is now available as a medium or large art print in my shop. The print makes a great Christmas gift or treat for yourself.

Medium and large art prints and greeting cards in the Inspire by Kim shop
The medium art prints, large art print and greeting card – available in the Inspire by Kim shop.

Making The Artwork

As the colour palette needed is very different from my ski art I headed to the Peak District National Park to study the colours, rock forms, folk and foliage.

It’s lovely to get outside and paint and observe. Painting from life is wonderful and I always have at least one interesting conversation when someone comes by to take a look at the work.

Padley Gorge painting a plein air in the Peak District
Location painting in the Peak District National Park
Moorland, heather and ferns, watercolour painting outdoors.
Capturing Foliage at Padley Gorge

After painting on location I brought the colour and form insights home and worked on painting the boot feature, for the characters to explore. The boot is a Hanwag Boot with Vibram sole from fitted for me at Outside in Hathersage.

Work in progress at the painting session. Han Wag walking boot and Kuretaki watercolour paints. Inspire by Kim

The earlier study at the back of this picture was painted before the location painting. The location painting really helped to capture the more muted colour palette and how the grasses and other foliage are.

Own The Work

The high quality giclee archival prints are professionally printed and mounted. The artworks are printed on 300 gsm 100% cotton paper and expertly displayed in a stunning conservation grade glacier white mount. Order soon to have it in time for Christmas.

These Boots Are Made For… Cooyright Kim
The mounted prints are ready to frame and fit standard frame sizes.

These Boots Are Made For… was the completed ready for the Renishaw Hall and Gardens Food and Craft Fair.

Here are closeups of the detail of the work.

Biking and submitting the hill. Waterolour painting in the Peak District.
Biking and summiting with boot lancing features.
These Boots Are Made For… detail
The old way of navigating is best when the phone signal is weak!
These Boots Are Made For… detail

Fancy A Drink?

A good walk always has a pub somewhere along the way. A spin off piece of this work is this The Queen Pub painting in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who had a great love of the outdoors.

Watercolour pub painting in memory of Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen Pub – Copyright Kim

More about the Peak District National Park here. If you like the boot check out Han Wag and for boot fitting head to Outside. The pub is in Hathersage, but the real pub is not called the The Queen. Full marks to anyone who can name it.

This waking boot concept evolved from the popular Apres-Ski – Party In Your Ski Boots illustration which was published in Ski A to Z.

Apres-ski walking boot being painted for the Ski A to Z book

To see all the artworks available as prints visit my shop…

Art shop, gif
Selection of ski and snowsports themed wall art prints

Thanks so much for being here. Please subscribe to my blog to see new work as it emerges.

Best wishes

Kim

Latest Posts

Ski Resort Marketing

| Inspire by Kim

If you’re looking for snowsports themed visuals for your marketing materials check out my project portfolio or email inspirebykim@outlook.com.

I have heaps of snowsports themed art available for licensing. Alternatively I can create bespoke art for your brief.

Snowsports visuals applied to marketing and customer materials for a fictional ski resort, Snow Dreams. Mock up of a magazine advertisement, neckwarmer example of merchandise, ski lift decals, map and lift pass. All using my ‘Ski Goggle Reflections’ design.

I have a background in PR so I bring this experience to my client work.

Thanks for popping by, email inspirebykim@outlook.com to connect.

My latest posts:

#skimarketing #snowsports #skiresort #ski