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{{Infobox book
| italic title = Interview with Dai Tamura<!--(Article title goes here and in the 'name' field below.)-->
| name = Interview with Dai Tamura
| image = <!--(If no good single image is suitable, use a screenshot of the first page of the article)-->
| image_size = 260px
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = [[Dai Tamura]]<!--(If the infobox photo needs a caption, that can be put in this field.)-->
| author = [[Debbie "debbo" Burmeister]]<!--(use {{unbulleted list|Author One|Author Two|Author Three}} to list multiple authors or subjects)-->
| illustrator =
| translator = Hitomi Ohtsuba
| subject = <!--(who or what is this wiki entry about?)-->
| genre = <!--(acceptable genres include: Editorial, Op/Ed, Article, Interview, How-To, Member Spotlight, etc. Multiple subjects see multiple authors above)-->
| published = [[EF Issue 2017.1]]
| pub_date = Winter 2017<!--(Should match EF Issue Published date)-->
| media_type = {{unbulleted list|Print|Digital}}<!--(Digital or otherwise both {{unbulleted list|Print|Digital}} )-->
| pages = 18-21<!--(Page number(s) of the issue the article appears on)-->
| preceded_by = <!--(Previous article in the issue)-->
| followed_by = <!--(Next article in the issue)-->
| notes =
| website = {{unbulleted list|[http://wiki.caricature.org/wiki/EF_PDFS/EF201?.?.pdf Full Issue PDF],|courtesy of {{URL|caricature.org}}}}
}}
Article Description. Should include author, brief description, issue number and page number(s).
==Article Transcript==
[[File:EF2017.1_Page_11.jpg|266px|thumb|right|]]
[[File:EF2017.1_Page_12.jpg|266px|thumb|right|]]
'''After seeing Dai’s wall at this year’s
convention, it is no surprise that he
was voted the top caricature artist
among his peers at the 2016 Annual
Convention. This was Dai’s second
convention, and he took notes of
everything he learned from the previous
year to come back in winning
form. His hard work and dedication
seemed to have paid off!'''
'''EF:''' First of all, I’d like to congratulate
you on being the latest Golden Nosey
winner.
'''Dai Tamura:''' Thank you.
'''EF:''' Tell us a little bit about your personal
background. Where are you from?
(where is your hometown?) Do you
have any pets? Any hobbies?
'''Dai:''' I’m from Hachioji, Tokyo. Commuting
time from there is 2 hours. Hachioji
is surrounded by mountains and
one of the mountains has been awarded
three stars by the Michelin Guide. I
used to have a cat and basketball is my
hobby. During my high-school years,
my team went to the all-Japan championship
games.
'''EF:''' What is your artistic background?
When did you know or decide
that you would focus on caricatures for
your career?
'''Dai:''' I’ve been an artist for 6 years.
Before Caricature Japan, I worked as a
designer for a basketball maker where
I mainly did graphic design. I designed several things such as T-shirts, uniforms,
flyers and websites.
I had an opportunity to design official
goods for a Japanese professional basketball
league. I was designing T-shirts
for the champion team and that is when I
was strongly drawn to caricature. I started
attending caricature classes that Caricature
Japan offered and really dived in. It
was then that I knew that caricature is a
field that I wanted to focus on. I was 27
then and now I’m 33, turning 34 next year.
'''EF:''' How long have you been drawing
caricatures? Where did you first learn to
draw caricatures?
'''Dai:''' I’ve been drawing caricatures all my
life as an artist, so 6 years. Even before
drawing caricature, I use to draw people.
I especially loved drawing basketball
players and most of the time I drew
them playing, which means I wasn’t
focusing only on their faces.
I first learned to draw caricatures in the
professional training course of Caricature
Japan. There I met Kage for the first time.
What made me decide to draw caricatures
is how strong their message is. A
caricature is targeted to a particular
person while design needs to be targeted
to many people.
I once heard of a mother who made a
picture book for her child and it became a
best seller. That story inspired me to draw
pictures that have a strong message. Caricatures
fit that requirement perfectly.
'''EF:''' Who are some of your caricature
influences?
'''Dai:''' Kage, of course, is the one who has
influenced me the most. Besides him,
I know many great artists whom I’ve
learned so much from. ISCA members
and my coworkers at Caricature Japan
have taught me a lot as well.
'''EF:''' Where do you work as a caricature
artist?
'''Dai:''' I work as the Area Manager of
Asakusa at Caricature Japan.
'''EF:''' Do you work everyday? What is your
work schedule like? What is your typical
workday like?
'''Dai:''' Yes, I work almost every day. We
have caricature shops in several areas of
Japan. Each shop has its own schedule
but the shop I work at opens at 11am.
There are three break times a day and
each break time is 30 minutes long. It
is considered literally “break time.” No
time for left-over work. I personally
spend time eating, sleeping or watching
SNS (social network services). Closing
time is 9pm. What’s done at the shop is
mainly live-sketch. We draw people from
photos, too.
'''EF:''' What types of caricature art do you
do?
'''Dai:''' Most of my artwork is hand-drawn.
The media I mainly use are Holbein Artists’
Colored Pencils and Copic Markers. I
like to heavily exaggerate and use heavy
colors.
In this context, the best Japanese word
to describe the word “heavy ” is 重い
(omoi).
'''EF:''' What is your favorite thing/person
to draw?
'''Dai:''' I like drawing NBA athletes. Kobe
Bryant is the one I’ve drawn the most.
My favorite athlete is Michael Jordan but
his face is not the easiest to draw, so I
hardly draw him.
'''EF:''' What were your goals for this year?
I know that you told me in October that
you would win the Golden Nosey. Did
you think it would really happen or were
you just hoping it would happen?
'''Dai:''' My goal for this year was to indeed
win the Golden Nosey and I had made
that goal public, too. However, Golden
Nosey was the result of my making a
better wall than last year’s. My biggest
goal was to break my best record. I
thought, “If I do better than last year, the
result will take care of itself.”
'''EF:''' Do you think that taking the bootcamp
at the Watts Atelier in San Diego
helped you win? If so why? How did it
prepare you? What did you study there?
'''Dai:''' Yes, it became one of the reasons
why I could win because I learned there
how the bones and muscles are built together,
which is basic knowledge when it
comes to drawing faces. Jeff (Watts), who
taught me, was a great guy. Being the
only Japanese in the classroom stretched
me more than any other reasons. Practicing
oil painting was helpful too, although I
did not use it the convention.
'''EF:''' Did you do anything else to prepare
yourself physically, mentally, emotionally?
'''Dai:''' Since the last day of 2015 Convention
in Ohio, I had been preparing myself every
day. There was not a day that I did not
draw.
'''EF:''' The Japanese artists always seem to
work the hardest at every convention,
often times with very little or maybe no
sleep. Did you get any sleep at the convention?
What is your secret to staying
awake, maybe a magical potion?
'''Dai:''' Haha yes, I think the members of
Caricature Japan are especially sleepless
folks. Kage advises us to get some sleep
though.
In total, I slept four hours this convention.
One and a half hours in bed each night
and whenever I got drowsy, I napped a
little at my desk. Taking a shower after
you sleep will freshen you up. If you
constantly snack, you won’t get sleepy.
Chocolates are recommended.
'''EF:''' What media/technique did you use
for your wall at the convention? Was it
different than what you did last year?
'''Dai:''' I used the very same media as last
year, Copic Markers, Holbein Artists’ Colored
Pencils and illustration boards.
What I did differently from last year is
I took photos of my models under the
sunlight, which clearly brought out the
shadows and made the coloring easier.
'''EF:''' Is there any new media that you
would like to try?
'''Dai:''' Digital art is what I am interested
in investing my strength in, because the
quality looks higher on screen than on
paper.
'''EF:''' What other artwork do you do
besides caricature?
'''Dai:''' I used to study design, so I’ve done
graphic art using computers. I’m also
good at making logos that combine
letters and illustrations.
'''EF:''' What do you think made people
vote for your work over that of other
artists?
'''Dai:''' I think it’s because I basically
studied the past conventions. It’s very
important to study excellent artworks of
the past.
'''EF:''' Now that you have finally achieved
the Golden Nosey, will you continue to
go to the conventions? If so, how will
your participation change?
'''Dai:''' If I’m continually attending the
conventions, I would like to contribute to
improving the level of ISCA. And if I were
to attend, I will be serious about winning.
I’d be glad if my artwork brings inspiration
to everyone who sees it.
'''EF:''' What does the future hold? As
an artist, what are your plans for the
future? What do you see yourself doing
5 years from now?
'''Dai:''' There’s no telling what the future
holds. That’s why it’s so interesting. One
thing I would like to do someday is to
draw a caricature of Michael Jordan and
give it to him.
'''EF:''' Do you have any projects coming
up?
'''Dai:''' I want to broaden the range of what
I can express by using Copic Markers
and Artstix. I also want to try drawing on
many different textures of paper.
'''EF:''' If you could not draw, what would
you do for work?
'''Dai:''' A designer. I’d want to make the
world a more convenient place to live in.
'''EF:''' What advice would you give to
others hoping to win the Golden Nosey
in the future?
'''Dai:''' You cannot choose whether you
become the Golden Nosey winner or not,
so the important thing is to keep beating
your best record and to keep studying.
'''EF:''' Anything else you would like to
share?
I’m “Dai Tamura”, not “Die Tomorrow” :)
==See Also==
* [[Dai Tamura]]
* [[Golden Nosey Award]]
==External Links==
* [http://caricature.org/join-us External Link if needed]
<!--(check the issue number in the navbox template below)-->
{{2017.1Navbox}}
| italic title = Interview with Dai Tamura<!--(Article title goes here and in the 'name' field below.)-->
| name = Interview with Dai Tamura
| image = <!--(If no good single image is suitable, use a screenshot of the first page of the article)-->
| image_size = 260px
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = [[Dai Tamura]]<!--(If the infobox photo needs a caption, that can be put in this field.)-->
| author = [[Debbie "debbo" Burmeister]]<!--(use {{unbulleted list|Author One|Author Two|Author Three}} to list multiple authors or subjects)-->
| illustrator =
| translator = Hitomi Ohtsuba
| subject = <!--(who or what is this wiki entry about?)-->
| genre = <!--(acceptable genres include: Editorial, Op/Ed, Article, Interview, How-To, Member Spotlight, etc. Multiple subjects see multiple authors above)-->
| published = [[EF Issue 2017.1]]
| pub_date = Winter 2017<!--(Should match EF Issue Published date)-->
| media_type = {{unbulleted list|Print|Digital}}<!--(Digital or otherwise both {{unbulleted list|Print|Digital}} )-->
| pages = 18-21<!--(Page number(s) of the issue the article appears on)-->
| preceded_by = <!--(Previous article in the issue)-->
| followed_by = <!--(Next article in the issue)-->
| notes =
| website = {{unbulleted list|[http://wiki.caricature.org/wiki/EF_PDFS/EF201?.?.pdf Full Issue PDF],|courtesy of {{URL|caricature.org}}}}
}}
Article Description. Should include author, brief description, issue number and page number(s).
==Article Transcript==
[[File:EF2017.1_Page_11.jpg|266px|thumb|right|]]
[[File:EF2017.1_Page_12.jpg|266px|thumb|right|]]
'''After seeing Dai’s wall at this year’s
convention, it is no surprise that he
was voted the top caricature artist
among his peers at the 2016 Annual
Convention. This was Dai’s second
convention, and he took notes of
everything he learned from the previous
year to come back in winning
form. His hard work and dedication
seemed to have paid off!'''
'''EF:''' First of all, I’d like to congratulate
you on being the latest Golden Nosey
winner.
'''Dai Tamura:''' Thank you.
'''EF:''' Tell us a little bit about your personal
background. Where are you from?
(where is your hometown?) Do you
have any pets? Any hobbies?
'''Dai:''' I’m from Hachioji, Tokyo. Commuting
time from there is 2 hours. Hachioji
is surrounded by mountains and
one of the mountains has been awarded
three stars by the Michelin Guide. I
used to have a cat and basketball is my
hobby. During my high-school years,
my team went to the all-Japan championship
games.
'''EF:''' What is your artistic background?
When did you know or decide
that you would focus on caricatures for
your career?
'''Dai:''' I’ve been an artist for 6 years.
Before Caricature Japan, I worked as a
designer for a basketball maker where
I mainly did graphic design. I designed several things such as T-shirts, uniforms,
flyers and websites.
I had an opportunity to design official
goods for a Japanese professional basketball
league. I was designing T-shirts
for the champion team and that is when I
was strongly drawn to caricature. I started
attending caricature classes that Caricature
Japan offered and really dived in. It
was then that I knew that caricature is a
field that I wanted to focus on. I was 27
then and now I’m 33, turning 34 next year.
'''EF:''' How long have you been drawing
caricatures? Where did you first learn to
draw caricatures?
'''Dai:''' I’ve been drawing caricatures all my
life as an artist, so 6 years. Even before
drawing caricature, I use to draw people.
I especially loved drawing basketball
players and most of the time I drew
them playing, which means I wasn’t
focusing only on their faces.
I first learned to draw caricatures in the
professional training course of Caricature
Japan. There I met Kage for the first time.
What made me decide to draw caricatures
is how strong their message is. A
caricature is targeted to a particular
person while design needs to be targeted
to many people.
I once heard of a mother who made a
picture book for her child and it became a
best seller. That story inspired me to draw
pictures that have a strong message. Caricatures
fit that requirement perfectly.
'''EF:''' Who are some of your caricature
influences?
'''Dai:''' Kage, of course, is the one who has
influenced me the most. Besides him,
I know many great artists whom I’ve
learned so much from. ISCA members
and my coworkers at Caricature Japan
have taught me a lot as well.
'''EF:''' Where do you work as a caricature
artist?
'''Dai:''' I work as the Area Manager of
Asakusa at Caricature Japan.
'''EF:''' Do you work everyday? What is your
work schedule like? What is your typical
workday like?
'''Dai:''' Yes, I work almost every day. We
have caricature shops in several areas of
Japan. Each shop has its own schedule
but the shop I work at opens at 11am.
There are three break times a day and
each break time is 30 minutes long. It
is considered literally “break time.” No
time for left-over work. I personally
spend time eating, sleeping or watching
SNS (social network services). Closing
time is 9pm. What’s done at the shop is
mainly live-sketch. We draw people from
photos, too.
'''EF:''' What types of caricature art do you
do?
'''Dai:''' Most of my artwork is hand-drawn.
The media I mainly use are Holbein Artists’
Colored Pencils and Copic Markers. I
like to heavily exaggerate and use heavy
colors.
In this context, the best Japanese word
to describe the word “heavy ” is 重い
(omoi).
'''EF:''' What is your favorite thing/person
to draw?
'''Dai:''' I like drawing NBA athletes. Kobe
Bryant is the one I’ve drawn the most.
My favorite athlete is Michael Jordan but
his face is not the easiest to draw, so I
hardly draw him.
'''EF:''' What were your goals for this year?
I know that you told me in October that
you would win the Golden Nosey. Did
you think it would really happen or were
you just hoping it would happen?
'''Dai:''' My goal for this year was to indeed
win the Golden Nosey and I had made
that goal public, too. However, Golden
Nosey was the result of my making a
better wall than last year’s. My biggest
goal was to break my best record. I
thought, “If I do better than last year, the
result will take care of itself.”
'''EF:''' Do you think that taking the bootcamp
at the Watts Atelier in San Diego
helped you win? If so why? How did it
prepare you? What did you study there?
'''Dai:''' Yes, it became one of the reasons
why I could win because I learned there
how the bones and muscles are built together,
which is basic knowledge when it
comes to drawing faces. Jeff (Watts), who
taught me, was a great guy. Being the
only Japanese in the classroom stretched
me more than any other reasons. Practicing
oil painting was helpful too, although I
did not use it the convention.
'''EF:''' Did you do anything else to prepare
yourself physically, mentally, emotionally?
'''Dai:''' Since the last day of 2015 Convention
in Ohio, I had been preparing myself every
day. There was not a day that I did not
draw.
'''EF:''' The Japanese artists always seem to
work the hardest at every convention,
often times with very little or maybe no
sleep. Did you get any sleep at the convention?
What is your secret to staying
awake, maybe a magical potion?
'''Dai:''' Haha yes, I think the members of
Caricature Japan are especially sleepless
folks. Kage advises us to get some sleep
though.
In total, I slept four hours this convention.
One and a half hours in bed each night
and whenever I got drowsy, I napped a
little at my desk. Taking a shower after
you sleep will freshen you up. If you
constantly snack, you won’t get sleepy.
Chocolates are recommended.
'''EF:''' What media/technique did you use
for your wall at the convention? Was it
different than what you did last year?
'''Dai:''' I used the very same media as last
year, Copic Markers, Holbein Artists’ Colored
Pencils and illustration boards.
What I did differently from last year is
I took photos of my models under the
sunlight, which clearly brought out the
shadows and made the coloring easier.
'''EF:''' Is there any new media that you
would like to try?
'''Dai:''' Digital art is what I am interested
in investing my strength in, because the
quality looks higher on screen than on
paper.
'''EF:''' What other artwork do you do
besides caricature?
'''Dai:''' I used to study design, so I’ve done
graphic art using computers. I’m also
good at making logos that combine
letters and illustrations.
'''EF:''' What do you think made people
vote for your work over that of other
artists?
'''Dai:''' I think it’s because I basically
studied the past conventions. It’s very
important to study excellent artworks of
the past.
'''EF:''' Now that you have finally achieved
the Golden Nosey, will you continue to
go to the conventions? If so, how will
your participation change?
'''Dai:''' If I’m continually attending the
conventions, I would like to contribute to
improving the level of ISCA. And if I were
to attend, I will be serious about winning.
I’d be glad if my artwork brings inspiration
to everyone who sees it.
'''EF:''' What does the future hold? As
an artist, what are your plans for the
future? What do you see yourself doing
5 years from now?
'''Dai:''' There’s no telling what the future
holds. That’s why it’s so interesting. One
thing I would like to do someday is to
draw a caricature of Michael Jordan and
give it to him.
'''EF:''' Do you have any projects coming
up?
'''Dai:''' I want to broaden the range of what
I can express by using Copic Markers
and Artstix. I also want to try drawing on
many different textures of paper.
'''EF:''' If you could not draw, what would
you do for work?
'''Dai:''' A designer. I’d want to make the
world a more convenient place to live in.
'''EF:''' What advice would you give to
others hoping to win the Golden Nosey
in the future?
'''Dai:''' You cannot choose whether you
become the Golden Nosey winner or not,
so the important thing is to keep beating
your best record and to keep studying.
'''EF:''' Anything else you would like to
share?
I’m “Dai Tamura”, not “Die Tomorrow” :)
==See Also==
* [[Dai Tamura]]
* [[Golden Nosey Award]]
==External Links==
* [http://caricature.org/join-us External Link if needed]
<!--(check the issue number in the navbox template below)-->
{{2017.1Navbox}}
