in this week’s newsletter: introducing a new art series, sharing stories, and feeling grateful for the kindness of the locals
dear penpals -
this week’s newsletter is coming to you a little later than usual because of a secret surprise that has been in the works, and now that it has passed, i’m excited to finally share it with you! (as well as share a new art series i’ve been wanting to do, but hesitating, and now jumping in!)
when i first shared the news to a good friend (hi andrew!) that i’m moving to japan, he called this move my “artist journey” and i’ve been hooked on that phrase ever since. i never felt like i was deserving to be called an “artist”. i don’t run a small business, i don’t post art content daily, and i haven’t found my specific art style. but coming here, i want to give myself the chance to try and lean into the title “artist”.
so japan is my artist journey. to take my teaching hat off for a little while and see what my life would be like to actively and wholeheartedly pursue the arts. not for fame, for money, for recognition, or status - but for the simple joy of falling in love with art again.
two main goals i have for myself (on top of many mini goals), would be to 1) sketch daily, and 2) work on illustrating people more. i’m still figuring out goal #1 (more on that later), but goal #2 has always been a difficulty of mine that i want to overcome.
so introducing a new art series here on the newsletter (frequency unknown) called ‘people of the inaka’ where i not only illustrate some of the wonderful people i’ve had the joy to meet here in the countryside, but to also share some stories of the ways that they have and continue to impact me here in kamikatsu.
people of the inaka: 真由美さん and イマジンさん
if you remember a few newsletters ago, i wrote about my experience working at the local cafe and the different opportunities i’ve had through this part-time job (old newsletter here). and an important person who has made this experience special is 真由美さん [ma·yu·mi·sa·n].
mayumi-san is the pâtissier at the cafe and the person i work the closest with - supporting her in the kitchen, serving, prepping meals, and trying my best to not get the orders incorrect or make bad coffee. and today (as of writing) is her birthday! i really wanted to gift her something special to not only celebrate her, but to also thank her for the way she took me in and really gave me a place at the cafe to feel welcomed and cared for.
i can’t remember how the conversation started, but one day we ended up talking about cats and she casually mentioned that her and her husband イマジンさん [imagine-san, not his real name but his forever nickname] have 6 cats!
we looked through photos and they were so cute, but when asked if they have a family photo, mayumi-san just laughed and said that it’s impossible to have all the cats sit still long enough to take one good photo.
so, for her birthday, i wanted to illustrate a family portrait they never got to have with their well-loved cats. i secretly reached out to imagine-san, got photos of their cats (plus another one that passed away before all 6 cats joined the family) and even photos of the humans, and started drawing for 2.5 weeks… just in time for her birthday!
i’m thankful for the kindness mayumi-san has and continues to show me. not only as she supports me in the cafe, but also in the ways she checks in on me as i transition and adjust to life here in kamikatsu. and i’m glad that i not only had the chance to make this special illustration for her, but also that she could be the first person i drew for this special art series!
Minaaaa, that's absolutely wonderful-the project, your first design (super cuuuuute, I love the detail of each cats!). Can't wait to see more of your work and follow your artist journey
Aww! This is very sweet of you to do. I love the drawing and this new art series =)