Sketching Adventures in Japan...part 1

 

June 15, 2016...

After  eleven hours of non-stop flight over the Pacific Ocean I arrived in the "Land of the Rising Sun".

After many email conversations and dialogue I meet Ki Innis in person for the first time. He and  Sanae Hiraya greeted me at the airport and drove me to the Richmond Hotel in the Asakusa section of Tokyo that would be home for the next two weeks.

The view (below) is looking west from my hotel window.
Little did I know that in the coming days the Senso-ji Temple area (center- red pointed roofs) would be my greatest resource for people watching, meeting new friends and sketching.

      

(View from the 7th floor)

This adventure was the brainchild of Ki, transplanted from the U.S. and now living in Japan, he is a martial arts instructor and fine artist. Several months ago he contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being a guest artist for his Master Drawing Japan (art students of all levels are exposed to lectures, drawing classes and hands on instruction). He orchestrates these events several times a year.
A big "yes" from me and he started working on the details for a date for me to come and conduct a drawing workshop.      

My book 'Quick Sketching with Ron Husband' in Japanese translation was to be released about the same time as my visit there. Ki made contact with Born Digital, the Japanese publisher who did the translation and they too were interested in having me conduct a workshop/lecture for them while I was in the country.

June 17, 2016...

On what was my second day in Tokyo I had the opportunity to get in a little sketching at the Senso-ji Temple area, a short walk from the hotel before Ki arrived.

      

(Standing in front of the entrance to the Senso-ji Temple)

Many women (and men) in traditional Kimono style dress, school children, tourists and locals caught my eye in the Senso-ji Temple area.

                                                  

     

                     

 

















While sketching I sit next to this gentleman (below). He is unaware that I drew his picture. I present it to him expecting him to say something in Japanese. He says "You speak English?" and we have this great conversation.
His name is Shig Kitauchi, living in Tokyo but born and raised in Visalia, California, about 175 miles from my home in California.

(Shig and me at Sensoji Temple area)

    After I took a short walk back to the hotel to meet Ki for a visit to the Born Digital office where the translation of Quick Sketching with Ron Husband was done.

{l to r Sanae Hiraya- supervised translation, Ki, myself, Yuko Sawa and Toshio Ishibashi, executive director at Born Digital)

                                                             

(Yuko Sawa-translator and Aki Nakae-cover designer who worked on the translation with Sanae)

                  

(QS on display)

A trip to Books Sanseido to see "Quick 
Sketching with Ron Husband" on display with other art books.

     

(Hiroshi Suzuki store employee and QS)

June 18, 2016...

The first workshop/lecture drew about 70 participants, some I was told from as far away as Osaka, a three hour ride on the Bullet Train.
Session began at noon.

( My point of view)

Without Russell Goodall (grey shirt), a professional Japanese interpreter, my workshops would have not have been a success.  Thank you Russell!

(Part lecture...)

(...power point...)

                                                                                              

(...drawing demonstration...)

                                                                                    

(...hands on instruction...)

Drawing session complete with female and male models (above).

  

   7 pm the session comes to an end followed by autograph signing (below)...

 an interview...

...results of the interview link (below)

http://cgworld.jp/feature/1606-ronhusband-seminar.html

then to dinner and back to the hotel at 10:30 pm :-)

June 19, 2016...

It will be another week before the next workshop and Ki has planned some sightseeing for me 

9:15 am...

 

Sitting on a bench outside the hotel waiting for Ki I spot two men (one dressed like Charlie Chaplin and beating a drum, the other dressed in Kimono and playing a flute) parading down the narrow street catching the attention of many onlookers.

 As the two men come closer to where I'm sitting, Charlie notices I'm sketching him. 
 The two man parade investigate what I am doing.
Gesturing, I ask if it is ok to draw them (8 1/2 x 11 in china marker).
"Yes" is what I read on their faces.

I present Charlie with his likeness and as I'm drawing the flute player, Charlie gives me a 1000 yen bill (approximately $10.00 in US currency).  I hand gesture "no" and continue to draw his partner.
He insist I take it, again I say no. This goes on a couple more times until I finish with the 'flute guy'.
In Japanese they thank me, prepare to walk away and Charlie hands me what appears to be a folded advertisement flyer.   They are down the street entertaining the onlookers as I unfold the flyer, in it is the yen bill.  "Charlie" got the last laugh.

                       

(Children earlier that morning and Charlie and friend)

        

                                                   

        

                        

Ki arrives and we take the subway to the Kaneji Temple in the Ueno section of Tokyo.

June 20, 2016...

Another exciting day to see the sights.
Ki and I take the subway to Meiji Jengu Shrine in the Shijuku section of town.

(In front of saki barrels)

Walking the long path to the shrine we pass saki barrels (wine) and enter the shrine beneath the Otorii (the Grand Shrine Gate). Built in 1920 it is the largest wooden 'Torii' of the Mojin style in Japan.

(Under torii entrance)

     





                               











                                             
     
Sketching a Monk bowing next to giant drum (right).

(Viewing wedding procession)

    

(Procession coming my way and leaving a short time later (right.)

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To the tailor's...

My wife LaVonne had been encouraging me to  get a tailor made suit while in Japan.
Walter Edwards another transplanted American and associate with Ki knew just the place.
 An added bonus, Walter speaks the language fluently and would navigate me through the measurements.

We catch the train to meet Walter at the tailor shop in Shibuya, the 'times square of Tokyo'.

This picture does not do justice to the crowds of people at this intersection:-)

(the 'Times Square of Tokyo')

Disembarking the train and as we are walking to our destination Ki wanted to stop at the Apple store to try out the new I Pad Pro. After he 'checks it out' Ki hands me the stylus and encouraged me to do some sketching on it.
 The staff and customers are quite 'amazed'...'a professional artist sketched on this pad!' A minor shake up in the store day ensued.

(Sketch which caused all the commotion)

 (Sketching...)

       

(Apple store employees Sara and Yukari)

(Yukari-"how do we save this sketch?"

(Store manager Janne gets into the picture)

On to The Dankan tailor shop by taxi to meet Walter.

The fitting...

Material chosen, measurements taken and every comment of Hidetoshi, the tailor, was interpreted by Walter. The suit will be ready and shipped in about a month.
Hidetoshi is pleased to know I worked on one of his favorite movies Fantasia 2000 and asked for an autograph. 
"Let me I draw your picture instead..."

This put a smile on his face and a great ending to this day.
     
more to come...

Steamboat School in stores today!

June 7, 2016...

Today Steamboat School, published by Disney-Jump at the Sun, authored by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by myself is available at Barnes & Noble and other fine bookstores and can be ordered through Amazon.com.

Steamboat School has a long history. It would take ten years from initial concept to it's release today.

After thirty years in Disney Feature Animation I landed at Disney Publishing Worldwide located in Glendale, CA.  The department publishes coloring books, activity and chapter books. For our department to attempt a book of this sort was a vast departure from the Disney themes and characters the department is known for and to utilize my pen and ink drawing style was a first for the department.

Barbara Nelson, one of the many talented artist in that department wrote the first treatment entitled 'Our Floating School'.

Tony Fejeran, one of the senior designers in the department put together artwork for a presentation to the head of the department, Ken Shue and dept. manager Brent Ford.  Since no artwork existed at the time, Tony used illustrations I had previously done, stock illustrations, chose type size, font, the unique book dimensions and suggested the aged paper background that is used.

With the ok from Ken and Brent, we got the green light to proceed.

The illustrations of Steamboat School are truly a labor of love. The early success of this book (see below) is due to the combination of words and art work.  Deborah Hopkinson's text is extremely moving. Many times I read over the text and played the words over and over in my mind as I sought the best way to visually communicate her words. It was not until I read the story to a group of children at my church that I felt the impact of the words. There were several times my voice broke as I read aloud this story. You 'could have heard a pin drop' which is saying a lot for an audience of four to twelve year old kids who listened in rapt attention.

The illustrations in Steamboat School are an offshoot of two things, my quick sketching technique (story telling drawings using body language) and the philosophy of storytelling I gleaned from my years in feature animation.

In animation you tell a story in a series of drawings, in illustration, a story is told in a single drawing with communication as the goal.

I first did small sketches on tracing paper.

(Pencil sketch done on tracing paper)

Then I enlarged the sketches to illustration board (2-ply Strathmore 500) to the full page size.

Next, mechanical pen and black India ink. Color was added in photoshop over an aged paper background to finish the illustrations.

There were many years from the start to the completion of this project and it was placed on "hold" for several years with changes in editor, designer, etc.

Finally, the name was changed to Steamboat School and the final go ahead to finish the book came through. It was my final assignment before I retired on September 20, 2013. A few weeks into retirement I was called back to the department to do some minor changes in the artwork and was told the summer of 2016 would be the date of publication. Now all I had to do is wait a couple of years.
The wait is finally over!

Steamboat School has been named a Junior Library Guild selection for 2016 and has been given a starred review by Kirkus (below).

I hope you enjoy it!
Ron

Workshop and lecture at Sam Houston State University

Wednesday April 6, 2016...

Willie Williams, Assistant Professor of Animation at Sam Houston State University located in Huntsville TX and I met a few years ago at Creative Talent Network.
CTN for short, is an international gathering of animators, illustrators, film makers, creatives etc.held in Burbank, CA each year.
 At our first meeting a few years ago Prof. Williams extended an invitation for me to visit his students at SHSU. Last week it finally happened.

This photo taken right before the animation students enter the classroom.

(Prof. Williams, second from left and Prof. Melissa Glasscock, flanked by student film crew.)



Rapt attention in the crowded room...

as I gave a drawing demonstration.

 The students and I pose after the demo and Q&A session.

I had the opportunity to sign a few books, VHS and CD covers, sketchbooks, scraps of paper and even a sun visor...

critiqued a sketchbook or two...

 passed on some helpful advice...

and encouraged a student who just the day before wanted to call it quits. Now she feels 'I can do this'.



Later that evening...
a lecture and power point presentation to an almost full auditorium of animation, art students, faculty and public. To my surprise many non art majors attended and commented I spoke meaningful words to them too.

There is always time to sign for those kind enough to hear what I have to say and wait in line for a signature. 

Thursday April 7th...

On the way to the airport we stopped off for lunch at the #1 Bar-B-Que restaurant in Houston, Corkscrew.

We got there early (10 am) first to place our order. The first 26 or so get a number, the rest form a line. All food prepared fresh that day, or should I say the morning before and as the sign says "11am to sold out".
One bite of brisket, sausage, ribs, beans or cobbler and you'll know why it is the best BBQ I've ever tasted.







Kamm, the manager of Corkscrew took this picture for us...

( l to r Professors Glasscock, Williams, teacher Shelby Tedder and myself.)

and I drew his.

(me with Kamm, who the owner Nicole Buckman calls the "best manager ever".)

Meeting at the George Bush Airport...

Nate 'Hawk' Hawkins met me at the airport. Hawk and I played football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas back in the 70's. He was on the first football team UNLV fielded in 1968.
He started as a receiver all four years and holds or held records for most yards receiving(173) in a game, touchdown passes caught (2) in a game and longest pass play (82 yds.) in a game.
He was one of the few football players to graduate. His determination, work ethic and friendship gave me the incentive to graduate the next year.

Nate was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and retired from the Houston Oilers after a few seasons. He is originally from the Houston TX area and resides in Pearland TX, supervising a crew that unload cargo ships that pull into the Houston Harbor.
We talk at least once a year as we were born on the same day and call to wish each other a 'happy birthday'. We hadn't seen each since Sept.19, 1997 in Las Vegas for a tribute to Bill Ireland, first coach and 'Father of UNLV Football'.
This was truly a special occasion for both of us.

(me and the Hawk)

Until next time...