patokon blog

This year marks the 10th anniversary of my first exhibition which took place at the Setagaya Museum in 2004. In 2007, I held my first solo show, and though I sold most of my pieces, I wasn't quite happy with my level. I continued to learn, grow, and evolve as an artist, but it always felt like something was missing. Since I've moved to Kumamoto, so many things have changed! I've found the right tools and materials, I'm more confident in line and layout, I feel like I've finally found my direction. How did I go from having very little confidence to being consistently happy with my work? Here’s a list of things that helped me get where I am today and which will help me become the artist I want to be in the future: Studying the masters - by copying and not just looking, you will learn lots of new things. I do this with a friend and we discuss what we’ve learned. No longer drawing what I think others will like - you will be more honest to yourself about what r...

I stopped by Gallery U today, but first I got all spiffed up in a kimono.  Being the incredibly humble artist that I am, I made a beeline for my own work before even glancing at the other works.  I was glad to see my Kokeshi were in a good spot, but the overall level was so high, though proud to be in such esteemed company, I'm not sure how I measure up.  Let's look at some of the dolls I thought were extremely cool.  These dolls by Etsuko Kurimori really show off the beauty of the wood and incorporate a fresh, natural style.  I love the damaged schoolgirl motif and also the style used here, which while tackling popular manga/anime tropes uses a clean, original style. The animals held by the girls are great additions   Of the figures here by Masaya Miyashita, the Nature one really caught my eye, but I'm a sucker for moon motifs as well.  Speaking of moon motifs, these three moon dolls by Tomoko Miyakawa are just gorgeous. I love the deep blue and how t...

Suteki-Ja Night! @ Gallery Kopis 日本語 What : Suteki-Ja Night! - Movies, Music, Drink!! - group art exhibition with both Japanese and American artists (me) I'll be showing new original art based on movies I love! Also, my first canvas painting showing in Japan. When : Sun. June 2 to Sat. June. 8 (Gallery is closed Tuesdays) 11:00am to 7:00pm ( Opening day from 1pm, Closing day until 5pm ) *** Closing Party & Live Music : Sat. June 8 *** +++I'll be there  Sun, June 2 from 13:00 to 17:00 , and  Sat, June 8 from 13:00 to 17:00 (possibly also June 7 from 18:00 to 19:00) +++ Where : Gallery Kopis  http://www.g-kopis.com/  (Japanese) 1-2-12-1 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo  135-0021  ph: 03-5639-2381 How to get there : It's actually very easy and very close to the station. Gallery Kopis is less than a minute away from exit A3 of the Kiyosumi Shirakawa station. Kiyosumi Shirakawa is on both the Hanzomon line and the Oedo lin...

I've set up a blog for the collaboration between me and Yukitoshi Kono, a brilliant, dark, cute, and funny artist. The Sally & Sue blog. Also, the American Comics Exhibition site is updated (thanks Patrick G !) Also am trying to keep the " check this $#!% out! " blog as updated as possible! The character I created for this blog is now on display at Tokyo Big Site for the Tokyo Gift Show! I'll be there tomorrow all day, Thurs and Friday from about 5. Here's a load of $#!% just for you!

American Comics Exhibition 2009 ~Superheroes~ This is it! My first produced group show! If you're in Tokyo, please stop by! Dates: Sept. 27 (Sun) to Oct 3rd (Sat) 2009 (closed Tuesday the 29th) Times: 11am to 7pm Place: Gallery Kopis (http://www.g-kopis.com/) located less than a minute from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa St. exit A3. Address: 1-2-12 1F Shirakawa Etoh-ku Tokyo 135-0021 Phone: 03-5639-2381 Artists: Tom Clouseau Patrick Gannon Mulele Jarvis JOE Yukitoshi Kono Hiroyuki Maeda Hiromi Nagano Tomoko Oikawa Jim Reddy SONIC Namiko Sonobe Kazuyuki Tsuyuki Patrik Washburn Akira Yamaguchi Official HP: http://patokon.com/amecomi09.htm I'm working on a Spider Woman piece. Here are some sketches:

Hello to all my peeps out there! All seven of ya! From tomorrow I'll be in an another art show in Ginza. Doing group shows is always a good experience as I always learn something from other artists. It's also good to see your work among others'. It's humbling. I remember at one show where after I put up my work I was thinking, "hey, my junk is the best junk on the wall!" Then one last artist comes moseying in a bit late and throws this gorgeous detailed work on the wall blowing my work out of the water. Oh, well. You can't win 'em all. What's that you say? Art is about self expression and communication and touching something deeper in the soul and shouldn't be cheapened or made into some kind of contest? You're right. I'm letting my pride blind me to the true beauty of artistic expression. Each work has its own value and should be enjoyed in its own way. I've learned my lesson. I'll be good. (on a side note, that one amazing pie...

The Karate Kid changed my life. The movie, of course. Not the Legion of Superheroes comic character. I'm watching it right now as I type this blog and I was thinking about how many of my perceptions about karate were shaped by Mr. Miyagi. I was never big on "sports" movies, I never saw Rocky. But I knew what it was like to be the little guy. The new kid on the block. And I knew what it was like going up against an institutionalized system of separating the "winners" from the "losers". Luckily, I had friends in and out of school that liked me for who I was and not for who I desperately thought I wanted to be. It took me a little while and Karate Kid 2 to realize what I did want. The summer that KK2 was the summer where I decided to take control of my life and stopped worrying about what the @$$holes thought. It wasn't even a gradual thing. Once I had made that decision, suddenly things started changing around me. I had confidence and that made it ea...

Hello again. I'll be participating in group exhibition "Lovely Shimoneta" at the Gallery kopis in Kiyosumi Shirakawa (清澄白河) a station on both the Oedo line and Hanzomon line. Though the station is little-known, it is only about 20 minutes from either Shinjuku or Shibuya. Map Below "Shimoneta" translates directly as "lower gag" but basically means "dirty jokes". I'll be displaying pieces based on the pin-up humor of men's magazines from the 40's and 50's. Prints will be available for those who are interested. The show is from Sunday October 5th to Saturday October 11th. The hours are from 12 to 7pm EXCEPT for the first day which starts at 2pm and the last day which finishes at 5pm. Also the gallery is closed on Tuesdays. I'll be there all day on Sunday the 5th and Thursday the 9th. Hope to see you there!

I'm back in Japan after a whirlwind tour of the U.S. and I've already got a show to do. What : SPACE & NATURE - group art exhibition with both Japanese and American artists When : Sat. August 30 to Sat. Sept. 6 (Gallery is closed Tue. Sept. 2) 11:00am to 7:00pm (Opening day from 1pm, Closing day until 5pm) *** Opening Reception : Sat. August 30 from 6pm to 9pm (I'll be there from 7)*** +++I'll also be there Sun, Aug. 31 , and Thur. Sept. 4th +++ Where : Gallery Kopis http://www.g-kopis.com/ (Japanese) 1-2-12-1 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0021 ph:03-5639-2381 Who : SONIC (illustrator/animator/comic artist and a good friend of mine - this is his first gallery show), Tom Clouseau (artist/humorist - a very funny and irreverent artist, worth talking to), Patrick Gannon (papercut artist/illustrator - a brilliant talent and a good friend - this is his first show in Japan), Patrik Washburn (me - illustrator/animator/cuddly artist at large), Kyoko Fujiwara (felt artist - ...

My next exhibition is called "Fighting!" and is at the Bartok Gallery in Ginza. It is a group show where everyone has been involved in the martial arts. We have wrestlers, kendoists, judoists, karateka, aikidoists, and myself - - secret ninja master. I have produced all original pieces and digital prints will be sold. Details: Oct. 5 (Fri) to 11 (Thu) [closed Sunday] 11:30 - 18:00 (last day -17:00) @ Bartok Gallery 1st Floor Ginza Tahei Bldg (銀座太平ビル) 1-18-2 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Artists: aque ANAN Kashuu Kotaro Kozo Taya Tom Clouseau Patrik Washburn Sachie Watabe Access: *Tokyo Metro **Ginza Line: Ginza St. Exit A13 (8 min.) Kyobashi Exit 2 (6 min.) **Yurakucho Line: Ginza Icchome Exit 7 (4 min.) Shintomicho Exit 2 (4 min.) **Hibiya Line: Higashi Ginza (10 min.) Hacchobori Exit A3 (8 min.) *Toei Asakusa Line: Takaracho Exit A1 (1 min.) http://www.bartok-eye.com/map.html I'll be there on the 5th, 6th, and 11th so come one come all!

From Sunday, May 27th to Saturday, June 9th I will be participating in the "Dream 2007" exhibition at Gallery Kopis in Kiyosumi-shirakawa. #note: The gallery will be closed May 29th and June 5th# I will have one small piece (sample on the right)displayed throughout the whole exhibition and a large piece displayed from June 3rd to June 9th. I will be making appearances on May 27th and June 9th with more possible appearances on the 6th, 7th or 8th. Details in Japanese: http://www.g-kopis.com/2007/2007_05_27.htm Map (it's on the same block as exit A3, just go out the exit and follow around to the left): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=35.40.41.340&el=139.48.09.093&skey=%c5%ec%b5%fe%c5%d4%b9%be%c5%ec%b6%e8%c7%f2%b2%cf%a1%a1%a3%b1%a1%dd%a3%b2%a1%dd%a3%b1%a3%b2%a1%dd%a3%b1%a3%c6&pref=&kind = If you are in the area and have any trouble finding the place, gimme a ring or mail my phone.