Tensai Tokyo Sketch Thread - Sept 28 Exhibition + Commissioned Work Tests!

[tensai]

Ok, as promised comments and a little update.

Bhanu - Cheers. I always have to laugh a bit when people on CA want to see more of this or that, often cause that’s where their current interest / topic of study is. But - here they are, figures...

Kasker - Thanks man, appreciate it and there’s some more coming in this post.

Krossj - Cheeers mate. Your new sketches are killing me. Great stuff.

Mattgamer - Well, don’t blame it on me when you’re studying for those mechanics exams. I’m sort of moving out as you can see. But yeah it’s fascinating and if you feel your love is there go for it. Ask me any question if you would have any.

Stalsby - That’s I think the best thing about art. To go to a museum or check somebody's sketchbook and you wanna go and make things. Thanks. I just went to see the UBS collection yesterday. Warhol, Richter, Chuck Close, a lot of big names there. Very exciting to see the real stuff.

Koppa - Cheers, what no asskisses? Like I said, your work has been stellar, and unique.

Ignominious - Thanks man.

PaperX - Yep that’s me. there were a couple of days of interviews and my wife took some pictures.. As for capturing people - I really wouldn’t focus on getting it down in as few strokes as possible. That can get kind of limiting. I would just focus on getting a drawing done. Nobody’s counting mate. Have fun.

italianhorsey - It’s really busy on the train here in Tokyo and a lot of people are in their own zone. Just observe somebody for a bit and only then start drawing. Then you don’t need to look as often when you do draw.

Odin 052 - thanks man. Glad you like.

Ham-e - I’m doing good, balls still there and functioning properly, thanks mate.

Osmus - word! Keep sketching man.

Ccsears - Chris, seriously, your work and learning process is a great inspiration. Do keep it up bro.

Brendan N - thanks for the comments man, they don’t have to be crits, just glad to hear what is on peoples minds. The big drawing was nice to do. Was great to splatter ink all around using my whole body. I’m trying to show a little video of what it actually looks like, but didn’t finish it yet. It gets coloured by neons that keep on changing colours, so the drawing is black on red, black on yellow, on blue, purple etc etc. I’ll try to put it up when I have time.

TroyWilkerson - ha, nice one. I do intent to sell the lightboxes but I’d have to find a more reliable way of having them produced.

Tokidokizenzen - thanks man. I’m a little torn to be honest to post here or to fully commit to a proper blog.. But who says I can’t do both.

Dannysketch - don’t kill yourself.
Madplanet - hey man, I’m doing good. Busy but good. Thanks for dropping in man.

Pennington - you were in shenzhen? What were you doing there man?
Line quality just gets better with milage I think. Just start again. Work yourself through it. Your life doesn’t depend on that one drawing so just do it and things will get good again.
How is that?

Ok as for update not so much but still ii felt like sharing these…
I didn’t get to visit the silkscreen studio yet cause they were closed. I’ll try to meet up with them next week.

I just photographed some figure drawings from the last figure drawing session. I have piles from all the other sessions that I attend almost every week but I will have to photograph them another time.

Getting ready for a new gig and preparing for the storm to come.



















Comments and crits as always greatly appreciated.

[dadushin]

hey sorry i missed this book!
awesome work, really intricate yet loose at the same time

[Mitchell]

Wow I wish I could have been at that show, looks amazing. Those lightboxes lend well to your work and the subject matter. Would be great to see some close ups though. And your line quality is always somethin to marvel at.

[killermachine]

hey tensai
ur so cool at times that ur scary.loved your exhibition display.looked iconic to me.its great to hav a style that not mainstream...keep up the great work and keep posting more of your goodies for us

[tensai]

Thanks peeps. Skeiff, you're right, forgot about that - I'll post some close-ups asap.
For now I just wanna upload this portrait of someone who I consider to be one of my bestest friends, hehe.
I know it's rushed and mad basic, just trying to squeeze some painting time in and have fun..



cheers

[Matsign]

hey tensai. way to live the dream, as always. the silkscreen looks slick. I'd buy one dude.

[phiq]

Whoa... just been through this whole thread; loving your work. I see the confidense in your linework. Helluva inspiring stuff...

[natethegrate]

wtf...the nudes with just a few lines are awesome, so much life in it. really good captured

[Camiam321]

Love that duct ship! The direction of the pipes conveys speed whilst standing still. I also like your line work. Simple and effective.

[guggemmaneuver]

wow... just... wow...

keep rolling the art steamroller ... it's magical what you are accomplishing, lok! cheers and thanks so much for sharing. this book always inspires me

g

[Mark Bot]

nice updates! digging on your linequality in those figure drawings.
paint + portrait + toned paper = win.

minor crit: some of your hands seem to get a little big, otherwise really nice control and definition with so few lines.
keep on rockin it!

[pbgse]

i alwayz loved your style
mm try some colour on one of your last life drawings

[MattGamer]

hehe looking good. now i must go make speedies of my friends. :p

[bhanu]

Nice sketches man....
Really dig the figurative stuff youve been churning out...

[pennington]

ya you're right milage and just get through it, gotta keep reminding myself that and keep drawing. thanks
shenzhen? I was visiting some people and we had some conversation partner stuff at an english center. the trip was really too short to do much. actually, I did a lot of drawing, I posted it already last year.

[algenpfleger]

killer line quality!

[koppa]

rocking dude when you coming to aus

[Farvus]

Hey. Great updates. I noticed you like to be minimalistic and economic with your art. Few line gestures and packing paper. You could create art for many years after landing on abandoned island with one ball point pen .

[mentler]

!Mega Bones!
Outstanding Contours

[sloppybunny]

Haven't been here for while. Sweet show you had there judging by the photos I love coming here!

[Ryan DeMita]

tensai! its been so long since i've checked out your book. congrats on the gallery, it really looks great. its awesome to see your work in a light box. i wish i could have seen it in real life. the gestures are, as always, very inspirational.

i like the piece you did with toned paper. i didn't know you could still get that stuff. i here its pretty expensive. you did a good job with it though even if the cutting isn't exactly perfect but it doesn't necessarily have to be.

great to see your work again
hope all is well
-ryan

[Call0ps]

名のどうり天才だね！ ^^ keep sharing man!

[Ian Mack]

I'm going to do contour sketches of people all today. OMG you've got me so jazzed up to draw now. Thank you so much Tensai. I admire you for the simple fact that you're a professional who updates all the time, manages to do personal art shows while keeping up with professional gigs(haha simple). Amazing!

[Reika]

What a unique style! I'm in love with the contours on your most recent figures! keep it up

[tensai]

Thanks all for the many comments.

Matsign - well it’s not a silkscreen yet, that’s hopefully going to happen sooner rather than later.

Phix - cheers man. I think lines will show how you feel. I can really see if I was overconfident or too timid. The best times I think are when they are confident but sensitive.

Natethegrate - vielen dank.

Camiam321 - thanks man, but, duct ship?

Goog - hey man, long time no see. Hope you are doing good too man.

Gustherobot, Pbgse, mattganer - cheerrrrrs.

Bhanu - got one just for you mate. Check her out below.

Pennington - cool man. Although the exhibition was in Shenzhen, I spend most of my time in Guangzhou. I love that city man. It had been 11 years since I’d been there but I still think its one of the cooler places to be at in China right now.

Apgenpfleger - vielen dank.

Koppa - shit, when you coming to japan? But yeah, would love to do a project in Melbourne and chill for a bit..

Farvus - ball point? Fuck, I’d just take some berry juice and a stick and I’d be set for life.

Mentler - why thank you bone doctor. I’m sure you could give me a really valid (and much appreciated) crit though? Thanks for dropping in.

Sloppybunny - thanks man. How are you doing up there? Still in Pusan?

Ryan de mita - that has been long man. About screentone - its funny cause Japan is very much about the future and new technology but also very much about tradition and older techniques. You’ll find all these little stores making tatami or tofu or whatever by hand, and film (for photography) for example is still pretty big over here. You can buy all sorts of film and have it processed really easily, which I think is great (I love to photograph on film, and I love that people get to have a choice). Same with screentone, you can find acres and acres of that stuff allover the place. I’m good man, hope you too.

Callops - haha, まだまだでしょうねー…

Ian Mack - well I certainly don’t see me as this big professional. But yes I do earn more than 50% of my money doing illustrations (the rest doing architectural design and some teaching) - that doesn’t mean there is not so so soo incredibly much to learn and share and things to get you down and other things to get back up etc.
But glad you got hyped and shared it, gives me energy again too - thanks!


Reika - cheers, glad you like those.

not much of an update but still enjoying myself some quick people sketches.

1 minute sketches from the train:












dedicated to bhanu - i don't know if you can see it at this small scale but i just love the pants..




quick lee morgan sketch



seymour hersh in marker, definitely somebody i really appreciate.


quick obama gouache sketch


and another one


comments and crits as always appreciated.

[Brendan N]

Man number 4 and those last two (yes, the coloured ones ) are terrific!
Just gotta love your approach to making pictures.
Stuff on the previous page also rock my socks - the simplicity in the figure sketches are startling.
Again, no crits. Just want to see more.
Thanks for dropping by my book, appreciate the crit (you're one of the few who still give 'em).

cheers!

[pennington]

yeah definitely one of the better places lots of stuff is going on there.
dang! one min? man I'm just too timid. gosh I love your stuff. hey I remember a while back you did some longer studies of facial features, it'd be cool to see you do some longer less stylized drawings. I mean it just seems like you've been going with this style for so long it might be beneficial to try something new or revisit something old. dunno. peace

[bhanu]

hey are you familiar with virgin finlay's or burnie fuchs works...
Both were great illustrators and had linework just like your portrait stuff,

Thanks for THE Sketch....I like your figures.....

Nice obama portrait

[Skureal]

Very cool stuff, Sir! Never posted here, it is a real shame of me.

Btw., I've been in Tokyo last april for vacation and fell in love with this 6 or 7 stories tall art store in Shibuya (pretty sure it was Shibuya). Forgot how it's called, maybe you know which on i mean. Def. the biggest i ever seen. Liked the city a lot...crazy japanese

Anyway, Floris says HI and whenever you're in Amsterdam, drop me a line and we can meet maybe. What do you think..

Henrik

[koppa]

hehe cmon i was in japan last year where were you then huh? hehe nah i think il be back there again this year unless you make it here first :p