New Illustrations

I hope everyone is enjoying their Holiday Season. I have had the pleasure of going back to my hometown and just relaxing with the family. After my art show and getting lots of merchandise prepared, I really needed it. I'm really excited that two local shops are now carrying my work. I'm hoping that the online store will come soon as well. For anyone around the Oklahoma City area, check out DNA Galleries in the Plaza District, or Bohemian Spirit Vintage on West Britton Road (I had blogged about this shop before.)

I've really enjoyed a lot of the street fashion shots from RIDSNAP lately. I've noticed a lot of this early 00's look coming back. In Tokyo, it seems that once something is outdated, its cool again. The high platform Converse shoes were inspired by pictures I've seen online, and came into this illustration. I'm also really liking all of the unnaturally dyed hair on kids too. I hope you like these new illustrations. Someone had posted before that they were having trouble with comments. If anyone experiences this, it would be great if you could shoot me an email, and I will try to get it fixed.




*Also to note: I have decided to shut down my other two blogs to the public because I now have a TUMBLR. THIS BLOG will remain, it is the main source for my illustrations. I want a blog with original content though, and I felt like the other blogs were mostly just images, so I want to post them on my tumblr AS I'm inspired and as I go, connecting it all together. Check it out at http://lactoseintolerart.tumblr.com

Follow me!

KATAKANA CRAZY!

Recently, I've had so much going on getting ready for the art show. I'm so excited, and I have gotten so much stuff made. Its been super exciting getting to spend time just making tons of art. I really get a thrill out of it. I'm still working towards getting my degree though, so I can get over to Japan as soon as possible to live that "live there for at least one year" dream.

In the meantime, I sit in class. I sit in class and doodle. I just sit there and think about design concepts and stuff I can make later. I sketch thoughts, but everything comes out into an illustrated image.

So today during one of my really long classes, I just started thinking about how cool Katakana characters look. For those of you that don't know, Katakana is one of the 3 writing styles in Japanese writing. It is used for foreign or non native Japanese words. I've noticed a lot of the street style sites and conceptual clothing shops have started integrating a little more of Japanese culture and pop culture into things that they are wearing, specifically katakana on bags and on buttons.It could have easily been mistaken for awhile that most of the trends in Tokyo are taken from completely new brands, but more specifically vintage or used American clothing. It is interesting to see how things hit their peak, and then there seems to be a need to shift back to the culture they are part of...Which makes sense to be suddenly seeing anime and Japanese symbols into what many could say is remixed American fashion.

Wow. I didn't mean to go into all of that. I'm writing a research paper on something kind of similar to that, so that's probably why. The point is, with all of this art show/design/nothing in mind, I sketched tons of katakana. And here it is in my art. I hope you like it.


Oh, and I finally got my copy of the new FRUiTS magazine with my bag in it. I was super excited to see the picture of Tavuchi-san holding it...But it was kind of funny because it said in Japanese "Bag: Brandon's." Hahahaha. Too bad it didn't get "Lactose Intoler-Art." I can always hope for next time, right?

I'm Excited!

New Illustration!
So..I'm gonna have a show at my favorite vintage shop soon! I can't wait..More details later. I'm hoping to get her made onto a giant cut out! Online store hopefully opening within the next few months. Keep checking back!

Harajuku Lawson Girls + Fuzzy Bow

My favorite place in all of Tokyo to watch people is on Omotesando street in Harajuku. People pass by here every afternoon in order to get their picture taken. So many photographers from various magazines sit on the bicycle racks, hoping to get the the shots they need. My favorite spot to sit is right in front of the Lawson Convenience store. It is so fun to watch people hanging out, that are totally in tune with the epitome of street fashion culture. Kids dressing extremely expressive and creatively, hoping for someone to take their picture. The illustration I did of the girls sitting on the bicycle rack is inspired by those moments, as well as a snapshot I took when I was in Tokyo last. I hope you enjoy it! (Click to blow it up!)

From my blog "Street Snap Recap! http://streetsnaprecap.blogspot.com

The inspiration from this next illustration grew out one object. A big bow, that has some kind of old teddybear, stuffed animal type of texture. After that, I developed the whole character around that. I also wanted to include Katakana writing on her somewhere. I've noticed that a lot of the coolest kids in Tokyo are starting to incorporate Japanese characters, whether anime or just symbols, into their used clothing/high fashion style, etc. That's one thing that is so great about Tokyo fashion. Making the uncool cool again, and mixing stuff up like crazy.


Also..I am constantly updating two other blogs. This is my main blog, however. The other two are:

Lactose Intoler-Art Inspiration-

http://lactoseintolerartinspiration.blogspot.com

A blog with lots of images that inspire me creatively, and hopefully they can inspire you too!



Street Snap Recap-

http://streetsnaprecap.blogspot.com

A collection of my favorite street fashion photos from around the world! Mostly Tokyo, this blog is meant to support street fashion web sites, and link people to various sites!

Be sure and check out all 3 blogs to get your full street-fashion-inspiration-creativity-fix!