Time Traveler

Please be announced that Keiko and I have an illustration show, Time Traveler, at graphite. on January 8-16, 2011.

Opening Reception is on January 8th, 7-10 PM.

http://www.graphiteny.com/

Please visit and say hello to us!

Happy holidays and Happy New Year!

Holiday Card

Before I came to the U.S., I never doubted that cats of all countries love fish and don't like meat. It was one of my shocking moments of entire my life when I saw a cat ate meat on TV. But, I can't accept the fact still now and I decide to stick to my old knowledge about a cat. My beloved cat, named Yuki (Yuki means Snow), in Japan loves Tuna fish very much. When I go back to Japan, I buy Sashimi for her and we eat together! I used to keep one more cat, named Chiko. He was a connoisseur of Sashimi. He was discriminating when it came to Sashimi. When I was a high-school student, I bought a pack of Sashimi for him with my money. But he rejected it, because the sashimi wasn't fresh enough. Then, I ate the Sashimi alone...

Anyway if I were Santa, I would put this into her sock.

It could be an ornament?!

Happy Holidays and Best wishes!

Tea Party

This image is 30x22 inches with Gouache.

As Gouache lover knows, it took me a week to finish this big piece (for me). Good thing is that I can paint details of each part.

I gonna try two more till the end of the year.

Letter Press

This is a illustration for a wedding invitation card for my special friend in Washington. It is hard to tell with this photo, but this cards were printed by letter press! I love printmaking.

I took a silkscreen class and etching classes at SVA, but I didn't take a letterpress class. Finally, the chance of doing letterpress came to me. This is a collaboration work with a graphic designer who has a expert knowledge and a long experience of typeface and design.

We visited a printmaking studio in Bedford, Brooklyn one Friday night and printed! People working in the studio are all kind and nice, and two dogs living in the studio are very cute, too.

The pressed letter and image came out very beautiful more than I thought, and my friend and her fiance are happy with the card. The cards were sent to invited guests last week.

Gordon Ramsay

I like to draw a portrait of a celebrity in whom I am interested.

This guy is very interesting for me.

Yesterday, I talked about him and his TV show, Hell's kitchen, with my co-worker,

and she suggested me to draw this guy's portrait!

So I did today.

It was quickly finished more than I expected, and it was so fun!

Second Story - Dual show

I have a dual show with Keiko Tokushima, an illustrator, at Grumpy cafe in Chelsea by the courtesy of the owner of the cafe. When you get a chance, please visit and enjoy a cup of coffee and our works!

Grumpy Cafe

224 West 20th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue) New York NY10010

http://www.cafegrumpy.com/2010/11/second-story-illustrations-by-shigeko-okada-keiko-tokushima-chelsea/

Snuggle

Suddenly Autumn visited. I drank a glass of cold tropical ice tea last week, but I love to sip a cup of hot green tea now.

Last time, I tried to make illustration by digital and I was back to Gouache this time. I got used to use a vertical 11x13inch paper, but I tried a new weird size, 3 1/4 x 17 inch plus margin. It was fun to think a composition of a work.

I realized that I haven't make any final illustration in past two-months, though I drew many idea sketches. Then, this work is not from those idea sketches. What a waste of time!

One of my close friends in Japan sent me this weird fish image. Actually, I didn't know what this is! After I read her e-mail I knew it.

She has a beautiful daughter. Whenever I visited her home, I played clay and drew something on paper with the daughter. This weird fish was drawn by me! It was more than 6 years ago that I draw this and the daughter was about 3 or 4 years old at that time. Surprisingly, her daughter still keeps this weird fish drawing as one of her favorite things. I was so moved about that and I regret that I should have drawn more beautiful fish for a child. Here is another story that I made the daughter cry with my scared lip monster made by cray one day. When she saw what I was making, she ran away from me. Then, I chased her with the cray monster and I even said " I am gonna eat you~!". How Bad I am! I miss the daughter a lot and I want to show her my recent work. I want to get her critique on my work!

tote bag

I made this tote bag last night, but I realize that it's time to kiss Summer good-bye.

Summer Memory

The heat of Summer starts leaving and Autumn is just around the corner.

I was supposed to finish this image at the beginning of August as a summer greeting, but eventually I finished this today. So the title for this image is summer memory.

This is my first attempt digital coloring officially and it took me longer time to finish it than gouache with which I usually work. I am happy with the final image and I may try more digital works later!

Sketch

Tight Schetch

Final

Portrait

One of my favorite TV shows in the U.S. is Take Over by Tabatha Coffee. Why I like her? I guess I like her personality and her perfect confidence in her ability, and she is cool.

I felt like making a portrait, and then I chose her without a moment's hesitation.

When I was a child, I heard a story about what happens to my friends' mom. When she was on her way home from grocery shopping by bicycle, a crow sit on the rear sheet of her bicycle and suddenly cried "croak, croak". She was so surprised to hear the voice from just behind her and had no idea how long the crow sit there. The story made me excite, and I expected a crow to sit on my bicycle whenever I rode on my bike. I was a weird kid.

There is a crow in the first sketch, but the composition was boring. And I put 3 more crows t and changed the story a little bit. Then, my roommate asked me " is this your trauma?".

I decide to give the title to this "trauma".

Since I graduated, I have been busy with many things. Finally I start working on illustration.

Rob

Since the senior portfolio review was finished, I haven't made any illustration.  I have to keep making works for my portfolio and I have a couple of ideas for new pieces, but I am sleepy all day.    

This is my first attempt at a portrait picture. Does he look like a frog? 

Breakfast at Tiffany's

This is a monkey version of Breakfast at Tiffany's for animal and creature class.  My mom is a big fun of Audrey Hepburn and I may not show this to my mom. 

Typewriter and Goats.

I thought Spring has come finally, and I feel Summer has come at the same time. 

I am afraid that Autumn will arrive next week, too. 

Do you know that a white apron is a kind of trend fashion specially for kids in Taisho era of Japan.  I love Taisho tast from fashion to furniture.  It is so interesting for me to see the fusion of western and eastern cultures.  I believe that Art Deco and a little bit of Art Nouveau delivered to Japan in Taisho era.  When I was in Japan, I liked to visit " Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum".  The museum was housed in an Art Deco building that was previously Prince Asaka's residence.  

A man and ducks

I heard the story that a first TV came to my grandparents' house when my mom was a child. Their neighbors gathered to my grandparents' house and waited for the first TV show broadcasting.  I found myself how I love old staffs and nostalgic scene as I am getting old. 

Now I am addicted to watch "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" in 1974, written by Johanna Spyri, directed by Isao Takahata and Hayao Mizayazaki, on youtube. I could say that I was grown up with such a beautiful Japanese animations by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. 

I can't concentrate on writing an essay at my desk. I should not stay at home in such a beautiful day. 

Blowfish captain （フグ隊長）

Spring break starts! 

Taisho roman

I did this piece again and messed up at the stage of painting ;-( 

This is the sketch before I messed up.

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Unagi

うなぎ

Tokyo Office Worker's Diary

by Silkscreen

A Happy New Year! 

I wish 2010 brings happiness and success in your life.