hello there.
It’s me, it’s you! Here we are! My name is Kelly, but my pseudo name and what I go by online is Komakes. I’m a full-time multi-media artist who currently lives on the road doing freelance art, drawing caricatures, and painting murals across the US. I enjoy experiencing experiences and making connections with interesting beautiful souls around the world. I am putting my energy into creating colorful, intentional, and super dope murals in my style. I am inspired by people, animals, nature, and the strange and beautiful mystery of being alive.
Education
University of Florida, Bachelor of Fine Arts Drawing Degree 2014; Business minor and Art History minor
Study Abroad: Florence University of the Arts Summer 2013
2010-2014 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Dean’s List
Awards/Honors
2023 ISCA - Los Angeles, CA
1st place Likeness award
1st place best cartoon style
2nd place live event style
2nd place best color technique
2nd place live retail portfolio
7th place caricature artist of the year
2022 ISCA - Orlando, FL
1st place best color technique
1st place live event style
2nd place world’s fastest caricaturist
2nd place best likeness
2nd place live retail portfolio
3rd place monochromatic technique
2020 Guest speaker at the International Society of Caricature Artists annual convention
2016 ISCA Korea
2nd place Likeness award
2nd place Retail caricature award
2015 ISCA Japan Guest speaker
2014 ISCA
Guest of Honor Award; awarded by Sebastian Krueger
1st place Likeness award
Work History/Work as a guest artist
2016-Present Drawesome Faces (West coast, USA)
2018-Present Several events as line artist or manager with Quick Draw Caricatures
2017-2019 Sketched (Various comic cons around the U.S. and Canada and Universal Studios, Hollywood)
2017-2018 Caricature Japan (Tokyo, Japan)
2016-2022 Cali Caricature, artist and trainer (Santa Cruz, CA)
2015 Fun Caricature (Seoul, SK)
2014-2016 Creative Caricatures
2014 Two events with The California Boys
2014 Cartoon U (Fun Spot, Orlando, FL)
2010-2014 Kaman’s Art Shoppes (Seaworld, FL)
Elected Exhibitions
2020
Inktober drawings featured in Miley Cyrus’ NPR Tiny Desk performance
2018
The Ultimate Guide to Live Caricature (Published 2018)
2016
“Love Wins” featured in Love is Love Poetry Anthropology (Publishedo 2016)
2015
Kelly O’Brien, Solo Caricature Exhibition, Insa-dong, Seoul, South Korea
2014
Cloud 9, The Wooly, Gainesville, FL
Student Juried Show, Dialogue Space, Gainesville, FL
Teaser, Warphaus Gallery, Gainesville FL
2013 Unconventional Portraiture, Convergence Gallery, Gainesville, FL (curated by the Painting and Drawing Association, with catalog)
JUST CATS, University of Florida Reitz Union Gallery
2012 Allusions to Illusion University of Florida Reitz Union Gallery
Medical illustration works shown at Shands Hospital, Gainesville, FL