Writing from Japan

Well, this past week has been quite the culture shock. Among many other things, using a internet cafe has been most interesting. They offer 24 hour web browsing while you can have your private room, countless selections of manga titles, and free beverage service. They also offer free shower, shampoo, and soap. Another place I went to has a 24 hour service kitchen and offers a free complimentary hard boiled egg (with a side of mayo.)

Digital Java

Well, as it turns out, I'm still in the US. I had a very painful ankle sprain which was just as mysterious as to how it all happened. I'm heading out to Japan this week now that things are much better. I was on crutches for the first time in my life for the past couple of weeks (nice to build up that weak upper body of mine!)

Here's one of my first attempts at trying to incorporate digital and traditional.

A transitional month

Ny Comicon was another spectacular event. The floor just gets large and larger each coming year. Wiley Singapore sent over a package of promo material which arrived in perfect timing.

I had a great productive meeting with Stephanie Tuesday. We're both very pleased and excited with our joint portfolio project we're putting together. A dedicated website which features our combined works is currently being designed and will launch shortly.

Rarely, do I post a personal note on my blog. However, I feel excited announce that I'm making a two week trip to Japan next month. It's been over ten years since my last visit and I'm very excited and at the same time a bit nervous. I look forward to visiting relatives. I'm also making some visits to colleagues that have worked with me on my recent projects. It will be nice to finally see them face to face as opposed to chatting over Skype.

On a transitional note, I have made the decision to move my Kearny Studio back into Jersey City. While my time at Kearny has been great and productive in many ways, I feel that bringing back the studio to Jersey City, will provide an opportunity to mentally organize and structure my work load as I am planning on working on a wide range of projects in various mixed media.

Well that's it for now. More to follow (sorry about the long delay.)

Snow vacation in Chicago

Yup - I'm in Chicago visiting my college best buddy. AND IT IS FREEZING!!!! There's about a foot of snow right now and powdery flakes continue to sprinkle from above. My friend's laptop says -25 degrees wind chill forecast for tomorrow when we're supposed to visit downtown. I sure know when to pick my days to go out midwest!

I'm on my last three pages for Deep Salvage. New York Comic Con in coming up fast. I'll be in the artists alley again for year three.

First post of the year!

Welcome to the New Year! I'm very excited about this year - it's going to be great! (Not to mention the new Apple MacBook Pro 17 inch machines that was just announced today. I've been waiting for this for almost a year!)

I found a recent review by a communication strategist, Lee Hopkins, in Australia for the Five Dysfunctions of a Team Manga that was released in October.

Here's the full link:
http://leehopkins.net/2008/12/29/the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-manga/

I’ve just read Patrick Lencioni’s brilliant book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, now out with Manga-style graphics. It is superb!

Kensuke Okabayashi adds value to an already great book with wonderful illustrations, making the book an absolute joy to read.

I strongly recommend you nip out and pick up a copy of this book. It will take you all of a couple of hours to read it, but the insights, coupled with the team exercises at the end, are MORE than worth your time!

Just got my author's copies

No illustrations this week - I need a little time taking care of finishing off some coloring work for Deep Salvage. UPS just delivered off a bunch of boxes of author's copies of Figure Drawing for Dummies (an unexpected surprise).

Have a great New Year everyone! 2009 is going to be awesome. I can't wait to get started.

Merry Christmas!!

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Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #8

Hello everyone! Another rainy day today. My father brought back some awesome Kuretake Pen brushes and more manga paper from Japan. I'm really excited to try them out for my next illustrations.

Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #7

Stay warm, everyone!

Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #6

Working from my home studio today after twisting my ankle during a work out. I'm about to work on a separate freelance project tonight which is due tomorrow, but I wanted to at least post another Okabayashi_Seliskar illustration project.

Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #5

I trust everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Coming back into the studio office after a long weekend. I'm getting ready to experiment with some painting textures into my digital artwork. I'll be posting samples by the end of this week. In the meantime, here's another Okabayashi_Seliskar Project illustration. Please click to see the entire view.

On a side note, I saw the 2002 Walt Disney animated movie called Treasure Planet. While the movie story lacks a bit "punch," I really liked the artwork which blends the traditional and digital realms quite nicely. I definitely would recommend watching it . . . for the art.

Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #4

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Here's a fourth Okabayashi_Seliskar illustration. Again, you'll need to click on the illustration to see the entire view. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Waaaaa (Trying to surf the Hokusai style)

Well it really is starting to get cold. I've posted another illustration. One of my reps has moved their office to a different location within the Big Apple region. I can't wait to visit their new location. I'm in the process of building up a business grant proposition this weekend. I'll fill in the details shortly.

Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #3

Happy "Monday Blues" everyone. I'm posting a third illustration I did with Stephanie Seliskar.

It's starting to chill down since yesterday. I think our "mild" days are officially over. I made a dash to the art store after realizing I've used up my last drawing pencil in the entire studio (actually I think I may have simply lost them all :))

Okabayashi_Seliskar Illustration #2

Here's a second illustration I just completed with Stephanie Seliskar. You can view her photo website works at www.stephanieseliskarphotography.com.

Amazon Japan

I was happy to learn that The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Manga Edition is recently spotted at the top of the Japan Amazon selling list in the business section.

Under the Tree

Here is another sample I did today. I imported a screen tone pattern using a manga software and set the layer above the image to "screen." Again, you'll need to click on the image see its entirety (I apologize - I'm trying to figure out how to get the entire image to appear without having to make the overall appearance too small.)

Teaming up with Stephanie Seliskar

I'm posting an illustration based on a collaborative project with one of my former client and colleague,Stephanie Seliskar, who is an amazing photographer. I love her sense of strong narrative and usage of light.

Sample

Here's a digital sample I just did today. You'll need to click on it to see the entire view.