Category Archives: Illustration

Tokyo Compression

Posted in Illustration by

TOKYO_COMPRESSION_TEXT

 

Here is my latest illustration for the blog Tokyo Roots. The blog post is about the photographer Micheal Wolf and his photobook, Tokyo Compression, which is photographs of people smooshed up against the doors in various Tokyo subway trains. I included a few of my own “Tokyo Compression” photos, the quality is bad however, since I had to capture them from video I had taken of the crowding of the Yamanote train.

I decided rather than using a crappy photo as my featured image, I would illustrate it instead! I have to admit, that I have been slacking when it comes to keeping up with design and illustration, and using my programs since graduating, so I haven’t been able to put much detail in to this. BUT!!! I think I like how it turned out.

Lately I have been inspired by illustrator Adrian Tomine, who has illustrated for the New Yorker. So, I was trying to go with that kind of a feeling, although I think I fall waaaay short of being able to compare this to any of his work. But, I think that I will continue doing this type of illustration, I really like it.

Now to brush up on my photoshop skillz. I really love doing the line work in illustrator, but I hate colouring in it. So, I’d rather take it in to photoshop to do the colour. Somehow I feel like that isn’t the right thing. I’m afraid if they were to go to print I’d mess it all up, and it will get all pixelated and stuff. I wish I had taken a design course that was a bit longer than just 10 months. There is so much I want to do, but I had so little time to learn it in! Oh well, I will do the best that I can, and I WILL learn as I go!

がんばります！

On turning 30

turning30

 

I’m not usually a dramatic person, but turning 30 was really hard for me. It still is and I’m not even 31 yet! But, as each day goes by, it gets better. It’s really not as bad as I thought. Although, I do wish for things like a house, or my own car, or a big ass flat screen tv. Because, in my mind, when you are 30, surely you have to have these things. In order to be a proper adult you must have the big career, and 2.5 kids etc etc etc….

But, I’m not going to let society dictate what I should and shouldn’t have at 30 (although it is really hard) I’m just going to focus on being happy. Right now, all I need is my partner Andrew, and our two cats Orion and Athena. 🙂

Oh, by the way, this conversation really did happen. In past comics you see him with long hair, but he had gotten it all cut off last spring. At this time his hair was growing back. BUT, as I was FINALLY making this comic (I had it sketched out since last summer) he asked to shave his head! I can draw him with long hair, and with medium hair, but….a shaved head? We will see how that works out in my sketchbook!

xoxox

eat_the_kimchi_kids

eat_the_kimchi_kids

I recently started to watch Eat Your Kimchi’s youtube videos and absolutely love it! While I am a big Japan geek, I also really love Korean dramas and music, and they cover all of that. My friend and I had travelled to Tokyo last May, and I hope to go back there again soon, but somehow I am becoming more and more drawn to South Korea. Maybe that will be our next destination? Maybe I will be able to meet the “Eat your Kimchi Kids” one day. 😉