Creator Interview ：Kaitan

Kaitan

〜A continuously expanding story, deeper and deeper…〜

Honestly speaking, I wasn’t enjoying drawing when I was little. I felt like I was told to do so.

I went to the art school during my high school days but still then, I wasn’t enjoying it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to draw or not.

I enjoyed my college life, a lot. I guess that’s because I was released from the pressure of highschool.

But still then, I didn’t feel any passion for drawing.

I majored in Japanese painting where you draw by using a paint brush and a paper. Very few people were drawing digitally.

So, even if I wanted to hold a group exhibition of digital painting, there was almost no one to join me.

Even if I held a group exhibition and rented out the gallery, it was not an easy thing to make people visit inside.

Unfortunately, it just turns out to be a time for chatting with your friends.

I started to sincerely enjoy drawing from my heart –since I participated in the events such as Design Festa and COMITIA with my friends.

My friend encouraged me to present at the Design Festa. This was my first experience at a big sokubaikai (art sales and exhibition event). And it was amazing.

I can talk with people who see my works. I understood what it felt like to have how my works really viewed by people.

I got a lot of courage from people praising my work. I felt I wanted to do more. Much better.

However, these events also have a “realistic” side as well. Like when you see more people are visiting my neighbor’s booth… not mine.

As for design, colors, etc., I wait until inspiration come up.

And it suddenly strikes me! When watching movies, looking at an art or a photo book…

There is a time when it suddenly tells you, ‘This is it!’. But even though you get that inspiration, there are many times when you can’t stretch it to the finish line.

Once in three to five tries, I’ll be able to complete my drawing.

It won’t work if you think logically. What I meant by logically is, for instance, if you have a fuzzy idea of what you want to draw, and think,

“How should I draw to make it look more interesting.” The main character will be here, and the viewers’ eyes will move over there, etc. and… You will get tired.

Inspiration will come after. Contrast and order will follow your inspiration.

You come up with an idea what you want to draw. That moment decides what the rest of the drawing will look like.

It is much more efficient to wait till you get an inspiration than to think logically. You will end up with a much more satisfying result.

Sokubaikai and other events are what I live for. If there weren’t any, I don’t think I would be able to maintain my desire to draw any further.

If you post your work online, a lot of people will see it and give many comments. I appreciate this network connection very much.

But the problem is you can’t actually get to meet these people. At events, however, I’m able to see the faces of people who come to the event and buy my works.

Their happy faces makes me happy, too. I’m so excited to meet people who actually came to the events.

I am still wondering what I would like to try in the future. But for now, I simply feel joyful through drawing.

I guess I can draw a little bit more. I feel I can draw a little bit better. I can see how my figures are inexperienced and the colors are still ambiguous.

I will improve my skills and make people who buy my art happy.