Falling Cherry Blossoms

A random sketch I did while I went for a walk in the nearby forest. It was a nice moment. A little too pretty to take a photo of, but it was perfect to just stand there and do a quick sketch to feel the air.

Spring Morning

I went out the other day to take some photos as I went for a walk in the morning. Although all the cherry blossoms were ridiculously beautiful, none of the photos I took of them was I satisfied with. So here is a picture of some random baby leaves! Spring is here!

More samples

These are more samples I created recently for an advertising storyboard job.
I heard that there is a trend in an advertising industry for a more quick sketchy expressionistic style than a tight realistic style which was very popular when I started working in this business 10 years ago. It probably changed after the recession of 2008 when people lost lots of money and became in need of things in much less time with much less money.

SILA Illustration West 52

Great News!! These two pieces got accepted to the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles annual juried show!! 
There was an opening reception last Friday at Center Stage Gallery in Burbank. Sadly I couldn't make it because I'm here in Japan but it's nice that I get to show my pieces to different people remotely. SILA also launched a web page for these selections.

http://illustrationwest.org/52/artist/kazutabu/


One of them was in Japanese but I wrote about these pieces before if you want to know more about them.

Joyous Life Of Hippopotamus

Beauty and Sorrow

Loose Samples

I created some style samples for work.
It's been a little while since I worked something this freely.
I had forgotten how enjoyable it could be.
I really like working in this loose expressionistic style.
It's quick, fun, and playful.



　

Little Anger

It's been a while to post in English. Well, it's been a while to post anything.
I just thought I would start writing in English again. Maybe becauseI haven't done it much for a while since I moved to here and I miss it.

I've been doing well. Trying to find my comfortable pace in the new environment, working, creating art, climbing, sleeping, and most importantly breathing. I think I'm getting pretty damn close to what I had been aiming for.

The drawing above is a concept sketch I did for this picture book my friend and I had been long working on. It started over an year ago, but I couldn't do much last year. But finally able to get back on it recently. I'm really happy how it's coming out. I'm hoping to finish it by the end of this year. Can't wait!!

　

Photoshoot

今の街に引越して来てから、毎朝のように行っているウチから歩いて５分のところにある公園に、最近やっと修理から退院してきた一眼レフをもってふらっと行ってきた。その前夜すこし雨が降ってほんのり霧っぽくて気持ちのよい朝だった。

この公園は奥の方はいつもほとんど人がいなくて、いても老人がほとんど。この前ふと広場のところで外国人が英語で話していて、日本人はなぜもっと外に出ないのかしらとつぶやいていた。ヨーロッパでは冬でも皆もっと外に出ると。最近日本の人たちと仕事をするようになって改めて思うのだけれど、単純に皆いつも働いてるからなのかなぁとも思う。でもオフィス街や観光地や花見とか人が集まるところにはかわらず人が溢れている。真相はわからないが、ただその会話が妙に印象に残っている。

　

Happy 2014!!

 明けましておめでとうございます。
今年は馬！

去年はとにかく変化の年でした。
今年も変化はもちろん続くだろうけれど、その中で変わらず守りたいと思えるものを見極めてゆきたい。

抱負は食べる作法に気をつけるにします。
精神的にも肉体的にもまっとうに食べたいなと思う。

今年もよろしくお願いします。



　

Golgo

ずいぶん前に頼まれていたフレズノ時代の友達の車の絵を描きました。
VW Golf。でもゴルゴと少しいかつい名で呼ばれていた。
やっとすこしずつ日本での新しいリズムの取り方がわかって来たような気がする。
自分の描きたい絵にも少しずつ手がまわるようになってきた。

この絵を描きながら、フレズノ・アメリカにいた時のことを考える機会をもらい、自分にとっての思い出のあり方を考えた。自分にとって思い出とは今の自分を形成するのに欠かせない影のようなもの。影がないと地に足を付けることはできない。けれど、影はあくまで影。色や形は今の自分を投影しながら動いている。自分を知る大事な要素であるけれど、いつも真実を語るとは限らない。しかしそこに真実の影はうつる。


　

Yoshio Color

前回の義理の父の絵に色を入れました。
もっとこういうのを描く仕事なり時間なりがほしいなぁ。
まぁそれも自分次第か。とくに時間のほうは。