Artist Karen Kimmel
As creative as she is altruistic, artist Karen Kimmel leads stencil workshops geared for children that she calls Art of Exchange.
The L.A.-based artist has been stressing the importance of creating art and helping kids make "some sick stuff" from California to New York, setting up workshops at Creative Growth in Oakland and Arizona's Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in addition to partnering with Andy Spade on The Avant Garde Preschool project.
Due out soon, the Exchange Collection laser-cut stencil set (pictured right) contains six original designs inspired by nature and made of flexible plastic. Also included is a grommet-bound coloring book packed with six pages of neon cardstock for cutting along with 12 templates.
If you can't wait, check out Kimmel's wood veneer and colored acrylic ornaments, available for purchase from the A+R Store, or her hook rugs, both lovely additions to any home.
For a full spectrum of her artwork and upcoming projects, or to download her 172-page portfolio full of past projects like the Baguette bag for Fendi and the Make Your Mark shoes for Nike, check out Karen Kimmel's website.
For those in L.A. this weekend, Kimmel will be hosting an artists workshop with New Editions, open to parents and kids alike at the J.Crew store in Malibu on 20 September 2009. Check out the Lipstick Tracez blog for more information.
