Thomas Kirkeberg Illustrator

Illustrator - Designer

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So I went through my old college artwork the other day and found an assignment I did. It was to create a stamp design featuring a celebrity from the state/country of your origin. Back then I was still figuring out painting in photoshop and I remember liking the the assignment and my design, but could not get the execution right. Looking at it now, I felt I could improve on it, not just in the rendering, but the total design, so I decided to do some homework voluntarily and made a new version. I really enjoyed it, reimagining this stamp design with new colors and new composition. I still kept the same subject matter, that being Thor Heyerdahl, as his life was filled with adventure and exploration. I’ve also included the original version so you can be the judge if things got better or not.

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Some old wolf sketches I did for an illustration way back when.

[thomas-kirkeberg-illustrator]

Alan Jones became the second Australian to win the world driver’s championship and it was the first for Williams, a new and upcoming team that soon would become one of the big juggernauts in the sport for the next couple of decades. 

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Sketch of a rhino.

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[thomas-kirkeberg-illustrator]

"Leave one wolf alive and the sheep are never safe."

Water soluble oils on canvas board.

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Sketch of a medieval soldier.

[thomas-kirkeberg-illustrator]

For 80 years the monk had sat guard in the shrine in solitude, like generations of monks before him in hopes of hearing the divine voices of the gods, like the scriptures foretells. 80 years in solitude, forsaking all material goods, but for the necessary items needed as a monk. 80 years with the bare minimum of sustenance. However, after 80 years of complete physical sacrifice and spiritual devotion, the gods had spoken to him. When they had spoken, an immense euphoria grabbed him. He could not believe it. They spoke to him, to him! And, as they said, they were coming, to live amongst men and rule over them, like in the beginning of time.

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A quick, little sketch of a skull knight. Or something.

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Old sketch of some noir/detective character.

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In 1979 Jody Scheckter became the first, and so far only, African world driver’s champion in Formula 1. He did perhaps not have the fastest car, but it was very reliable and very consistent. Much like Lauda had done in the same car a couple of years later. In fact, the 312T was the most successful car in F1, racking up 3 driver’s and 4 constructor’s title between 1975 and 1980. This particular version was adapted as a wing car, utilizing the so called ground effect under the car, sucking it to the ground, pioneered by Lotus a couple of years earlier. However, Ferrari would be in for a long drought of titles, not winning another driver’s until a certain german got in the saddle of the prancing horse and ended the winless streak 21 years later.

[thomas-kirkeberg-illustrator]

For many years she had served dutifully as part of the king's guard, though not a day had gone by without her thinking about her son, looking forward to the day she would see him again. She had so many questions to ask. How was he? Was he treated well? What profession did he have? The king's guard was formally known as "Mother's Wing" and consisted entirely of mothers with a single child. It was believed that no one is more protective than a mother of her child. Therefore, the king would would always keep 12 children in his custody, forcing their mothers to serve as his personal guard, thus linking the king's well being to that of the children's. Should something happen to the king, well then something would happen to the children. Understandably, Mother's Wing were some of the most fearsome warriors across the entire continent. The fathers were expected to remarry and start a new family, as his old now was part of the king's family. Not to be confused with the royal family, which of course was the king's family by blood and the only rightful heirs of the throne.

Despite the children being taken hostage, it was often seen as good thing. In return of their servitude, the king would ensure the children had good care, got educated at the Royal Academy and placed in important positions as adults. For a peasant family, this was the only way for the family to climb the ranks of society. 

The promise of a bright future for their children would be all the fuel these mothers would need to go through a whole life as a guard. However, they would recieve some compensation for their servitude. At the age of 60, a guard could retire with a state pension and finally be with her child again. If she lived to be 60, anyway...

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Punk rocker stuck in traffic. Litte character sketch dug up from the archive.

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"This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will."

Oil sketchbook painting.

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Velociraptor from "Prehistoric Planet". Acrylic sketchbook painting.

[thomas-kirkeberg-illustrator]

In 1969 Jackie Stewart rose to the top in his Matra MS80. He dominated the championship, winning 6 of the 11 rounds. He is the oldest living F1 champion and the last of the 60’s champions still alive. Well into his 80’s the «Flying Scot» can still be seen at F1 races in his signature Royal Stewart Tartan sixpence and pants.

[thomas-kirkeberg-illustrator]

1957 would bring about Fangio’s 5th and final WDC. He would remain the most winning champion for 46 years, until Michael Schumacher would dethrone him. Still, Fangio remains the driver with the highest win rate of 46% and the only driver to have won with 4 different teams when he won in 1957 for Maserati. That was despite being kidnapped at the un-official Cuban Grand Prix. Impressive. #norwegianillustrator #norskillustratør #illustrator #instaart #instart #instagood #instartist #artistsoninstagram #artistoninstagram #art #doodle #illustration #Illustrasjon #drawing #sketch #portrait #sketching #digitalart #formula1 #f1 #f1drivers #juanmanuelfangio #maserati #maserati250f #racing #f1worrlddriverschampionship #libertymedia #wtf1 https://www.instagram.com/p/CeI-xO2o0m5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=