Hello, Twitch team! Welcome to my vendor portfolio! I bring joy and color into everyday spaces through thoughtful character products. Here are 3 reasons why KLUIA is the perfect fit for your event!
In 2014, I mustered up the courage to compete at UCSD’s Winter GameFest for Street Fighter IV, and then I lost miserably. Little did I know that my opponent would become a lifelong friend who would introduce me to the San Diego fighting game community. In it were some of the most intelligent, motivated, and kind people I’ve ever met.
The games were incredible but the people playing the games, hosting the events, making the art — they were the ones who gave the games life. I played the games, I attended the events, and I decided I wanted to be part of the arts too, online and in person. The rest was history.
To me, fan art became a way of preserving and expressing the experiences I had with a game and the community. Custom work and accessories of my favorite characters became keepsakes. These are the feelings I hold onto when I’m creating new products and setting up shop at conventions.
I never try to copy those characters exactly as they are, but I try to add more to their stories. I ask, How can I draw them as my own? How can I make their worlds more interesting or impactful? Sometimes it means meshing different and similar games together.
Other times, it’s designing characters that would make sense in those worlds.
And then giving them full stories.
In general, what connects me to many video games isn’t just the aesthetic, but how they can turn moments into fond memories. Here are a few KLUIA products where I really try to capture that essence:
To encourage spending and boost event attendance, I created the Secret Shop! It’s comprised of over 20 unique designs that are only available in person and consistently rank as my best-sellers.
I do my part to maximize the show’s marketing efforts by launching new products, promoting major sales, and showcasing one-of-a-kind handmade ceramics exclusively at my table.
On special occasions, I sell hand-drawn portrait commissions during the first hours of the show. I believe custom art and handmade items help keep the magic of artist alleys alive, especially with the rise of AI images.
I do local events all the time, so I always try to give repeat customers a fresh experience. For special occasions, I like to switch up my setup to match the event’s theme, like video games, for example.
Over the years, I’ve brought smiles to thousands of customers online and offline! I aim to create characters that people can connect with and my customers let me know when I’ve achieved it:
My work has also attracted over 40k total followers across all social platforms (and counting). These are true fans, actively following my posts about my events and exclusive product drops.
I’m honored that major corporations and renowned organizations enjoy my work, too! Here are clients that have worked with me on illustrative projects or featured me in their events:
Thanks so much for considering my pop-up shop! If you would like to see more, you can visit my online shop here or email me at contracts@kluia.co. From our small team of artists and art enthusiasts, thank you!
🐾/ Karen + Team KLUIA