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| Subject | Toru Tanaka |
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| Genre |
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| Published | EF Issue 20??.? |
Publication date | Winter 2015 |
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| Pages | 16-17 |
| Website |
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Article Description. Should include author, brief description, issue number and page number(s).
Article Transcript
Q: First of all, congratulations on being the latest Golden Nosey winner. Tell us a little about your background.
A: Thank you ! I am very honored to have the prize. As I said in my speech, I really love the ISCA convention because it is one of a few places where I can compete in my favorite exaggeration style. I learned to draw for the first time at the age of 20. From 2006 until 2010 , I was working for Kage Nakanishi’s company, Caricature Japan, where I learned caricature from him. Then I worked for Taka Watanabe for 6 months. I currently work for an advertisement company as a caricature artist.
Q: How long have you been drawing caricatures?
A: For 9 years.
Q: Who are some of your caricature influences?
A: First, Mr. Kage. I came across his picture on the internet and it opened the door to my caricature life. I had never seen such an exaggerated caricature with a sense of humor before. It was very impressive to me. So, after just a few days, I resigned from the design company I worked for at the time and I apprenticed myself to him. And next it was Joe Bluhm. When he visited Japan in 2005 , he drew me. This was my first caricature picture. The quality and speed was startling to me. His live sketching influenced me very much. I also want to name Nate Kapnicky, Grigor Eftimov, Glenn Ferguson, Matt Zitman, Sean Gardner, Steve Brodner and Jan op de Beeck. The basis of my exaggerated style came from their creative masterpieces, which they shared on the Internet.
Q: Where do you work as a caricature artist?
A: I work in a suburb of Tokyo and customers order from Internet. On weekend, I go for events to draw at various places. Sometimes I lecture at art schools.
Q: What were your expectations and goals for this year’s convention in Reno? Did you do anything to prepare yourself, either physically or mentally?
A: I expected to see inspiring arts. I always work alone in the office and it is very inspiring to see other artists’ drawing processes and to meet them. My goal was to win the Golden Nosey. To participate in the ISCA convention in the U.S. from Japan, I had to impose time and a financial burden to my company and family. I committed to bring back the best result to those supporters. I prepared for it very hard for a year. I focused especially on time management. I woke up early and started work early. I tried to find the time to practice drawing between work time and family time.
Q: What media and technique did you use for your wall at the convention?
A: I used Copic markers and colored pencils on cream-colored paper. Copic markers are very beautiful but at times are too transparent, and tend to be too light. With cream colored paper, I was able to avoid that. I reduced the tone of the skin color and it gave more reality to the drawings.
Q: What media would you like to experiment with in the future?
A: In the future , I would like to paint in oil, which lasts for a long time even after I die. And I started watercolor painting after the convention and at this moment I am only interested in traditional works. But I expect in the future there will be another attractive digital art technology that I will like to try.
Q: What other artwork do you do besides caricature?
A: I also do non-exaggerated portraits, but most of my work is caricature.
Q: What do you think made people vote for your work over that of other artists?
A: I am not so sure about it . But I am very particular about the structurally consistent exaggeration and creative shapes. If they value these things most , I am very glad. I spent much time on studying anatomy of the human body to give reality in exaggeration.
Q: Toru, thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. Anything else you would like to share?
A: Thank you. Let me share my company’s website: http://nigaoe-seisaku.com/ In the near future, we will take drawing orders and event caricature requests from overseas. Thank you, ISCA. It was my fourth ISCA convention and three years since my last one. I treasure all of my experiences with ISCA. I would like ISCA to grow more and I pray for the happiness of you, my friends, the artists. Thank you!
See Also
External Links
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