def in Japan: a comic diary

[johnnyG]

or street view...?

 

[nahadef]

Silly question, but do you sketch them on-site or do you take pictures?

Not silly at all! I don't use photos, generally. These are me taking a walk, seeing something I like, and plopping down on a curb or step for 30 minutes. A drawing of a photo usually comes out looking a bit sterile to me.

I wishI could have done more this summer, but it's really been lousy windy verging on rain for much of the summer.

@johnnyG, hard to get good effect from that. Compare the middle pic to this:

Andersen Hair Salon · 〒065-0021 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Higashi Ward, 3, 北21条東17丁目3-9 2F

★★★☆☆ · Hair salon

goo.gl

 

[johnnyG]

Yeah, pretty different. Street view does put restrictions on--little spurts of movement that are impossible to adjust, and it's always from the road, obviously. (not from farther across the street, or closer OTOH).

 

[cocoichi]

Hi @nahadef , I have been away from this forum for a few years, and see that you are still making great images and comics. Are you making a living in Japan, drawing things or making artwork?

 

[nahadef]

Thanks, but no, it's just something I enjoy. It takes a lot of time and effort to turn a hobby into a job. But my current employment leaves me lots of free time to entertain myself.

 

[nahadef]

Doing the popular Inktober challenge this year. Tried a few days with brush only, tried out my nib yesterday.

 

[mdchachi]

Nice work as always. Do you have a left hand drive vehicle in Hokkaido or are you just taking artistic license?

 

[nahadef]

Artistic license, though it's definitely Hokkaido inspired. I'm still filtering a lot of Canada into my work

 

[nahadef]

days 5-8. Feeling good, enjoying coming up with an image each day, and trying out different tools, but it's going to get tiring soon. 我慢！

 

[nahadef]

The tiredness is setting in. I'm going to keep it going as long as I can though.

 

[thomas]

I really like your images, @nahadef! Does meditation still play a role in your life?

 

[mdchachi]

I really like your images, @nahadef! Does meditation still play a role in your life?

And, more importantly, why do you have to take your yukata off to do it?

 

[nahadef]

I haven't meditated in a few years, it's probably been two or three. There are a lot of solid meditation substitutes out there, drawing is one

 

[nahadef]

Halfway through October already! Days 13-16!

 

[nahadef]

Days 17-20. This is the point in the marathon you start to get energy back

 

[nahadef]

Keeping it going! Day 21-24

 

[nahadef]

25-28... three days left. This has been a satisfying month of work!

 

[nahadef]

Done! Now I am going to keep working. A lot of progress over however many years if you go back to the first page of this topic

 

[mdchachi]

Finally my kids were old enough this year to scoop the pumpkin goop out themselves.

 

[nahadef]

A new page unrelated to the other comics work I'm doing, very Japan focused.

 

[nahadef]

 

[Davey]

A new page unrelated to the other comics work I'm doing, very Japan focused.View attachment 41578

So true..

 

[thomas]

Start with onsen, next go for a walk and leave your cellphone at home. Then start turning it off at home and increase the intervals. It's soothing.

Love your story.

 

[nahadef]

I've been making a point of drawing daily for the past four months, and it has a really positive effect. The layouts become clearer, and the lines become tighter. For October, all over the world there is a daily draw challenge called Inktober. The Inktober list is fine, but I've never found it very fun. But there are a ton of homemade lists out there. I decided to try Jacktober, a month tribute to Jack King Kirby, America's greatest comic artist, or "America's Tezuka", as I use to explain him to people in Japan. He created the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and a thousand other characters that will eventually get made into movies. He's one of the most influential guys on American culture ever, and it's a crime he's not a household name there.

Anyway, it's been a pleasure studying his work, and these are my favorites from the first third of the month

The Forever People

Doctor Doom

Sersi of the Eternals

Nick Fury, agent of SHIELD

Supertown

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy

The Fantastic Four

 

[thomas]

Brilliant work; thank you for sharing! This brings back childhood memories. And I can recognise your style whatever subject matter you draw.