Hi.
Mustard Buffalo Studio* was founded in 2012, by me, April Lauren Kelly, illustrator and graphic designer, living in Richmond, Va. I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007, with the original intent of studying Interior Design (I was one of those drama geeks in high school who also enjoyed set design). After the exploratory initial program of Art Foundation, I shifted and fell in love with illustration, design, painting and printmaking. I started off with a semester of Painting and Printmaking where I learned the most vital technical skills. I was able to apply these techniques when I transferred to illustration, Communication Arts. Experimentation was one of my favorite facets of illustration. I played with textures, materials, dabbled with 3-D illustration, and learned how to efficiently ideate concepts. My artistic voice is constantly growing and adapting with current technologies.
When I illustrate:
Watercolor and ink, building up textures with both. Sometimes, throwing in Prismacolor or Copic markers. I love working on editorial and childrens' illustration. I’ve been practicing with my ipad and apple pencil, working with procreate to practice lettering and illustrating digitally.
When I design:
I predominately design with the big three-Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop; sometimes collaborating with both platforms simultaneously. I enjoy incorporating textures and hand drawn elements when possible. Designing posters, logos, print and web advertisements.
Where I work:
I am interested in:
Learning something new everyday
The way people think - Process videos
Environmental issues
Sea creatures
Color Palettes
Cardigans (all of the colors, all of the kinds)
Creative workspaces
Screen printing silly prints, shirts, and totes for fun
Playing with sculpey
Interesting packaging
Typography! Hand lettering
Gig posters
Podcasts: Radiolab, My Favorite Murder, 30 for 30, Drunk on Lettering, Happier, True Crime Garage, Mortified, The Moth, Saw Bones, Up and Vanished, Sleep with Me, Snap Judgement, Serial, Fresh Air....pretty much all of NPR. I have so many favorites it’s hard to catch up! Would love to share my full podcast library here.
What I am learning:
Currently, expanding my skill set mastering the Apple Pencil with procreate and illustrated gifs. As well as tackling the magical world of After Effects and Animate.
*Frequently Asked Questions:
So, what's up with the name Mustard Buffalo Studio?
Mustard was the color of my first official studio so with proper homage, I included it in my business name. My current studio is actually now rust color. As far as how "Buffalo" came into play, my appreciation for this pensive majestic creature developed through a drawing class field trip to Richmond's own Maymont Park when I was studying Painting and Printmaking. I was immediately drawn to the three buffalo, and had drawn them for hours. They've become one of my many little obsessions.
Were you born in April?
No, both my parents were born in April, but I was named after a producer named April Kelly. My name was originally going to be Lauren, but was a little too close to my cousin’s name on my mother’s side, so in proper fashion, while my mom was watching a soap opera she gazed apon the name April Kelly. She thought how pretty that sounded— and here I am: April Lauren Kelly
