Maina!

One of the biggest forms of flattery for me when it comes to my illustration work is when the same people that I am inspired by like what I do. Since I have started this blog years ago, I have met so many people that I consider a huge blessing to have come in contact with. Thanks to the internet, the world can connect people with unique interests that would not likely normally be able to meet. I know this is kind of stating the obvious, but just to think that common internet access has not been around for an EXTREMELY long time is a bit crazy.

A great example of someone liking my work that I am also inspired by was when Tavuchi featured me on her blog. Through it, a reader, the lovely Maina-chan saw my work, and found me on facebook. She sent me the sweetest email message and told me she had found me through Tavuchi's blog. Maina's style is really cool, its like the epitome of the type of Tokyo street fashion that I love. After sending several messages in mixed Japanese and English, I am honored to call her a friend!

She sent me a picture that she had taken for some of her friends, and I decided to draw her. I can't wait to go to Tokyo later this summer and meet her in person.




*And to all the readers who may have felt too shy to add me on facebook, send a message, or post a comment..I just want to thank you for following and looking at my art. Feel free to shoot me a message, I have met some close friends because of the internet over the years, so to me its totally awesome! :) Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

Araschwa Blog+ JapanLA pics

I just wanted to thank everyone who went to JapanLA and attended the Kittens and Ice Cream event. I was glad that my friend Ara was able to go and take pics and report about it. Ara is a friend I met online back in the myspace days through mutual friends and an interest in Tokyo street fashion and culture. She particularly likes vintage fashion and antique clothing, and even told me of some great stores I had missed in Tokyo such as Birthdeath that I had never been to before. She is from Seoul and is an all around talented girl, she can draw, design, speak Korean, Japanese, and English well, and has had experience doing make up for some models in Seoul as well. She is currently studying in the LA area, and I know she has a huge future ahead of her. Be sure and check out her blog Here: "Araschwa." (http://araschwa.blogspot.com/)Thanks again Ara-chan for the pictures and attending the show when I was unable to be there!













And my friend Ara Herself!

My Left Hand Hurts!

Today was a free day for me! Right now, I'm preparing to go back to Tokyo as soon as possible..With Tokyo in mind, I've been spending a lot of my free time connecting with friends in Japan and figuring out plans, as well as constantly looking at street fashion images and any kind of art related to Tokyo.. Last night I had the itch to create some new work around 3AM, and spent much of today working as well, because I was so inspired! I don't know if any of you can relate, but sometimes creativity can come in bursts, where you want to just keep drawing/designing/singing/writing, etc without stopping!

So that's why my left hand hurts. Ha.

I plan to go to Tokyo by at least August. One of my plans is to work with a volunteer organization that is directly connected to helping people that were affected by the earthquake and tsunami which recently happened. I also can't wait to see my friends, and hopefully make new friends and conections as well! Here are some of the new illustrations I've came up with within the past few days.

Double Post+New Art, inspiration

I'm doing a double post today, so be sure and check out my other about "Art Drive Japan", a project that serves to raise money for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

Current Inspiration:
Tabi Boots
Platform Shoes
Highlighter Yellow
Grainy 90's illustrations
Art School Style
Japanese "Remake" fashion
Koenji
Tokyo Bopper
1950's cat eye glasses

Be sure and check out my tumblr for images of inspiration, and my etsy shop as well!
Also, my OFFICIAL online store is in the works! You can currently purchase some necklaces there. More details on the official launch soon.

http://lactoseintolerart.tumblr.com -Inspiration/images blog
http://lactoseintolerart.bigcartel.com-Official Online shop
http://lactoseintolerart.etsy.com -Etsy ShopArt+Vintage for sale

Art Drive Japan | You and Artists Helping Japan-LOOKING FOR DONATIONS

Art Drive Japan | You and Artists Helping Japan

As some of you may know Lactose Intoler-Art is participating in "Art Drive Japan", an online art auction. Art Drive Japan is a charitable project in which the money earned goes towards Japan relief. Right now, I currently have some prints up for bids, and there are many other artists chipping in from around the world including Japan. More work will continue to be posted, so check it out by clicking the link above or going www.artdrivejapan.com

YOU CAN HELP! Art Drive Japan is still accepting donations at the time of posting, so if you are interested in donating your artwork or fashion items toward the cause, please contact them by clicking the "DONATE ART HERE" link.



-Art Drive Japan is ran by the same people as "Made With Japan", an online arts project supporting unique and creative individuals, brands, and companies that are influenced by Japanese culture.

Pray for Japan+Give to Japan! **UPDATE!

As many of you I’m sure are already aware of the earthquake in Japan, please continue to pray and support Japan in this hard time. It has been a challenging past few days for me, but it cannot compare to those most personally impacted by it IN Japan. I know it will continue to be a struggle for the people all over Japan, but especially in the areas hardest hit. I personally have friends and people I love and am very close to in Japan after spending time there. I was just in Sendai last summer. I couldn't contact one of my friends who lived in one of the northeastern areas for over 24 hours, and neither could his girlfriend. It was incredibly terrifying. Fortunately everyone I know is safe now, and I did hear that friend's family is safe, but I have a friend who lost someone.

I am wanting to do my part and I am hoping you can too. Please continue to keep Japan in your prayers, and donate to charity as well.
**EDIT-I posted before that I would be offering some artwork for Japan that I'm going to sell to donate towards relief efforts. If you do not feel like personally trusting me with a purchase, I am going to provide a couple of links of great places to donate through, that I know are trustworthy from my experience. However, you can buy my artwork as well as some vintage items from my online shop at http://lactoseintolerart.etsy.com. Be sure that if you are wanting to donate to Japan, that the item you buy specifies it is for "JAPAN RELIEF" (It will say it in the title)

Here are the other links of how to help:

http://www.worldvision.org-A non profit organization that has always helped in various ways to people in need from around the world. As soon as the situatino in Japan happened, World Vision was sure to respond right away, and they often stay and help after other organizations have left. All of the profits recieved from my "JAPAN RELIEF ART" items will go to World Vision.

http://www.madewithjapan.com -As many of you know I am currently working with Made With Japan through blogging and some other potentially exiting projects soon. Right now the owner is making sure to do his part in providing ways people can give, including purchasing t-shirts from the artists featured on the web site.

http://www.hannaproject.com/-A fairly new organization that has had involvement helping other countries, and has decided to help Japan as well. I personally know the man who is directing the Japan relief division, and I am sure that this will also go to a great cause.

Just remember that healing and recovery in Japan is going to be a long process...So just because things might be "okay" in Tokyo, don't forget about how shook up the nation is, and especially those in the northeastern regions.

This specific illustration was created right before the earthquake, and I had emailed it to one of the people behind www.japanesestreets.com because it was an illustration of a girl from their site. I got an almost immediate response because the earthquake had just happened, and he told me he was heading straight to northern Japan to report on it. Anyway, this is very serious and many people are hurting. Please do not take this issue lightly, and continue to lift up those in Japan and those affected by the situation. JAPAN, we love you.

*For the illustration at the very top of this page, please feel free to use it and spread it around. This was work that I did for Japanese Streets (www.japanesestreets.com) as an image that will go up on their site while they can't update due to the earthquake.

アートスタイル+Lime Green Lips

This morning at about 4:30AM I suddenly had creative juices flowing through my brain, and I made a couple of new illustrations. They are both kind of inspired by the idea of "Aato-kei", or "Artistic style" as I've mentioned a bit before. Its kind of a concept that I think could do well in Tokyo. I've seen some people with similar style in TUNE magazine, but its very rare. Elements of paint splatters, overalls, late 80's, early 90's, and geometric shapes. Lots of oversized proportions and big glasses, miss-matched, and colorful. Think previous art movements like the early Bauhaus movement and those unique styles you see kids wear that go to art school. These two illustrations do not necessarily match that concept, but they still contain elements of "Artistic Style." Who knows, maybe it will be the next Japanese fashion subculture tribe.

Tavuchi in Oklahoma!

As I announced before, my friend Tavuchi who owns the "Spank!" shops in Tokyo, came to Oklahoma City for a visit. It was a really good and crazy trip...

It was crazy because we had the biggest snow storm we've probably had in years. In Oklahoma, we're not usually prepared for snow storms like this, there's not enough snow plows, machinery, etc. With that said, everything shuts down. So when Tavuchi first got here, a lot of the thrift shops closed early, due to the weather. So she came over to my apartment, and my sister cooked her biscuits and gravy (Oklahoma style)..She loved it!

This is Tavuchi and I sliding into my apartment! So crazy! +Biscuits and gravy

Another reason Tavuchi came here was to practice her driving, so we drove all around the city in the snow, very slowly!楽しかった!

The next few days we went to many antique stores, thrift stores, and vintage shops. Tavuchi found some great deals...! Including a Unicorn toy, and a huge green teddy bear!



But I think her favorite, for her "personal collection" of treasures, was this crocheted pastel sweater, probably made by a great-grannie Okie.

I was also sure to take her to a great BBQ restaurant!バーベキューを食べた



Crazy snow for Oklahoma!すごい雪!

One of my closest friends also joined us a couple of times. She has a cute etsy store and blog! She has vintage items, and handmade. She will ship internationally too!
http://kimberlydanielle.blogspot.com/-Her blog

The top right is the shape of Oklahoma! 右はオクラホマのshapeです
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimberlydanielle-Her cute online shop! 私の友達のオンラインストアDanielle and Furby=Great sense of humor. Same face! ダニエルは面白いです.同じ顔!
I really look forward to going back to Tavuchi's shops and seeing some of the things she bought in Oklahoma. Tavuchi is not only extremely influential in the underground street fashion scene in Tokyo, but she is genuinely a super kind and awesome person. I really enjoyed our time together.
And last but not least, Tavuchi is wearing the Lactose Intoler-Art badge I made for her. Thank you so much! Tavuchiは私のピンバッジを着用しています どうもありがとう

Some great links to remember and check out!
http://lactoseintolerart.etsy.com -Here is my online etsy store! I ship international! 私のオンラインストア
http://yaplog.jp/spank-tab/ -Tavuchi's personal online blog!
http://kimberlydanielle.blogspot.com/-Danielle's blog
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimberlydanielle -Danielle's etsy shop.

-Also, be sure and add my facebook page. I love adding new friends that are interested in my work, street fashion, Tokyo, etc!
http://www.facebook.com/brandonreierson

The Virgin Mary Vintage Shop+Illustration

Today I did an inspiration of one of my favorite personal style icons of underground Japanese street fashion. Her name is Ari-san, and she is the owner of "The Virgin Mary" in Tokyo, Japan. "The Virgin Mary" is a vintage clothing store in Shibuya. Ari-san is the same girl who was a part of "Cult Party" in Koenji. The new shop has gained a lot of popularity with the underground Tokyo street fashion scene. In my opinion, Ari-san is one of the most influential people in Japanese fashion right now, as far as subcultural relevance. Many people may be familiar with "dolly-kei" or "mori-gal." However, Ari-san apparently likes her style to be called "Cult Party-Kei," and she has ever right to coin her own name for this style. It is very original, mixing antique vintage, frills, and random sheer homemade elements into fashion.


I was able to go to both "Cult Party" (when it was open), and "The Virgin Mary." Ari-san wasn't there this time, but one of her great shop staff girls was. Here is a picture of me and her. It was actually the same day I met with Tavuchi-san from Spank!.



I think one of the favorite things I like about her concept that also seems to reign subconciously with philosophy behind Japanese fashion is that some things that are not perfect are still pretty. Damaged, stained, and dirty is sometimes okay when its actually done right. I appreciate Japanese fashion for taking things that many in the west may consider wasting, and appreciating it because it has a story. Not only do they appreciate it, but they wear it in some of the most unique and interesting ways ever.

I hope that Ari-san continues to be successful in her career. She also has her own blog on DROPTOKYO's web site. Its http://ariari.droptokyo.com/blogs/ . I applaud the Tokyo street fashion scene for always staying useful, innovative, and ahead of the game. If only I could see some of these kids running around the west. Cult Party-Kei USA anyone? I'm down!

Salamander Girl

What does she make you think?

Skater Kid!

Inspired by those cool skater kids in Koenji, Shimokitazawa, and Harajuku. Both black and white versions!

Tavuchi-San

Today I decided to do a newer illustration of one of my favorite and most inspiring people. I had drawn her before, but it was a long time ago. Tavuchi-san is famous for her shops across Tokyo, such as "Spank!," "Ticket to Darling," and a few more. She has been innovative in her own sense of mixing late 1980's fashion into something that is relevant to the fashionable neighborhoods of Tokyo today. One of her shop staff members in the Shibuya store told me that they are also very inspired by Full House. How cool! Tavuchi-san is also a closer friend of a friend known as "Fashion Hayley", a stylish girl from Melbourne who is also very interested in Tokyo street fashion and culture. She was actually the one who got me started blooging. Arigatou Hayley-chan! haha

I was fortunate to meet Tavuchi-san when I went to Japan once. She seemed very sweet and shy! I woud love to meet her again someday...

Tavuchi-san, if you are reading this, I hope you like the new illustration! :)