Illustrations
In addition to working as an animator and filmmaker, I've done considerable work as an illustrator! Here are many of the various projects and pieces I've created over the years, using anything I can get my hands on!
The Adventures of the 'Frigerator Family (2020)
Around the end of 2018, I was approached by Arthur Prisco, a first time author, if I had wanted to illustrate a story he had. For years, he told his children stories of a family, much like themselves, but with one difference - they were walking, talking refrigerators!
I took the job, and thus, began a year-long process of handling school, films and working on the book. Arthur wasn't used to electronic communication, so we talked via snail mail and occasional meet-ups to look over recent work.
Scroll here to look at the first few pages of the book!
The conceit of the book's design (as I designed the illustrations AND the book's layout) was that I wanted it each page to look like it came off a refrigerator. The point was to get that mix of elements - custom illustrations, found images, collaged-in photographs - that resembled not only how fridges look, but kinda how childhood itself is. I wanted every page to feel like an I, Spy sheet, where you could find something new on each read, yet still remain readable.
When it came to early concepts, much of what was initially pitched came to fruition, albeit with minor changes.
The book was first started in August 2018 and concluded about a year later, in August 2019. Arthur took the book to Xulon Press, and has been on sale since early 2020. With hope, it'll be the start of the Fridge Family saga, if not the FF Cinematic Universe.
While I'm not necessarily proud of the book as a whole - personally, the book loses steam towards the middle and the pages look so amateurish to me now - I'm proud that I can call myself a published illustrator, and that it served as an intriguing project to start with. A lot of my work does tend to revolve around familial structures, and The Adventures of the 'Frigerator Family surprisingly became an outlet for my evolving style - both stylistically and thematically.
Purchase the book here!
Comics (2017-Present)
Comics, comics, comics! Who doesn't love 'em? While not a professional, I've dabbled in making them for awhile now, usually as an incubator for ideas that are quicker to make than films or could work as films later on down the line.
For now, here are various comic strips I've made - simple joke ideas suited to the format.
In addition to strips, I've also created more long-form narratives, varying in tone for each one. These stories serves to pump out narratives on a quicker basis than my shorts, as well as serving as an incubator for potential film ideas and writing practice. Click each gallery to read a story in full!
Blood of An Englishman (2020) - Writer, Penciller, Inker, Colorist ~ Serialized over Instagram
Set in the Age of Black Death, Ignatius and Barnabus use some magic beans to score out of poverty.
Season of the Bad Guys Club 5 (2020)
In 2020, I partook in Craig Gleason's annual character design challenge, and managed to create a new illustration for every day of October. Craig himself re-shared day twelve's piece, The Vulture!
If you liked what you've seen so far, follow me on Instagram, for some more of that sweet Kimmell goodness.