Lock and Loll

A long overdue update.

I've been back in Japan for a little while now, working and getting a drawing or two in.
For some reason or another I've gotten busier than before, but not too busy that I'm not drawing anymore.

While I was in America, I filled my book with TONS of sketches, which was great.
For the most part I get most of my sketching done on the train, and since moving to a small town in the middle of Kyushu I hardly ride anymore. When I do ride the train, it's not one where I can see more than the back of someone's chair, much to my dismay.

So, I took every opportunity I could to fill the pages of my sketchbook while back in NYC. When I left I had just started a new sketchbook, and filled most of its 192pgs within three weeks. Ah, how I miss being able to sketch everyday on the train...

But I digress...

Here I am, to present you with new sketches from this book and more.

I've been thinking and racking my brain on what to do with this blog since coming back. My first step beyond what I've normally have been doing was to self-publish that book. Now, what's next?

Well, I would like to, and I believe that I should do more with this blog than just post my pictures with a thought or two.

When I first started this blog, I had thought I would be able to get some attention for my work and also connect with other subway sketchers like myself. I made a connection or two...but for the most part my plans fell apart in a big way and now I am here, posting by myself, and pretty distanced from the small group of sketchers that I was in contact with in the beginning. It is what it is, but I can't just let it be like that, can I?

So, here's what I would like to do. Make some promises, if not for anyone by my own self.

1. Update once a week no matter what. At least one sketch.
2. Write in Japanese in addition to English.
3. Respond to what few readers I have through these posts (FAQs, tutorials, etc.) In other words, give back to the community and people that support me more.

So, with that said, let's get started with this new, better direction for the blog.

よろしく！


ごぶさたです。やっと更新しました。

もう日本に帰ってきてからしばらくたっているけど、その間普通に働いたり、たまにスケッチしたりした。
しかしなんとなく日本に帰ってから普段より忙しくなってきた。
まったくスケッチをしなかったというほどではないけど、とにかく忙しい、最近は。

アメリカを旅行したときにスケッチブックでドンドン描くことができてよかった。
たいてい僕のスケッチはほとんど電車の中で描くのだけど九州のよく知られていないところに引っ越してからあまり乗ることがない。乗る機会があっても、座席の配置で席の裏側しか見えないので残念だ。

というか、NYに旅行した時にできる限りスケッチブックを描き終わるように頑張った。
日本を出発する時、新しく買ったスケッチブックを描き始めたばっかりで、帰ってきた時には１９２ページのスケッチブックがあと少しになるくらい頑張りました。ああ、毎日電車で描けるのはいいなぁ。

さて．．．
今回はその本から最新のスケッチと他のお知らせがあります。

最近、そのブログでどうしたらいいかと考えたんだけど、
まず僕のアートの活動を広げるためには、前回に描いた自分で出版した本が第一歩だった。
次はどうしよう〜？

毎回更新の時、スケッチをはって一言書くだけでは足りないと思う。
それ以外もっとやりたいと思う。むしろ、やらなきゃ！

最初，僕の絵に見てほしいと思ったし、他に電車で描くことが好きなアーティストの友達を作りたいと思った。そのためにこのブログを作り始めた。でもなんとなくその目的は大きくずれてきた。その結果，少し連絡を取っていた電車のアーティスト達と疎遠になってきたので、一人でブログを更新している。まあ，それはそれだけどこの調子で続けてはだめだと思います。

これから下記の事を約束します。誰のためでもなく自分のためにやっていきたいと思います。

1. せめて毎週１つのスケッチをはります。
2. 英語と日本語でも書きます。
3. 読者やファンの方に対してもっとこのブログから情報やサポートしていきたい。（よくある質問、チュートリアル）

じゃ、これで、このいい方向に進み始めよう！


今読んでるみんな、よろしくお願いします。




Fukuoka-Kuko-line/福岡地下鉄、空港線


Tosu bound-Kagoshima-line/鳥栖行き、鹿児島線


Taipei Airport/台北空港


Taipei Airport/台北空港　(Up until this point I forgot how fat Americans can be.日本人に慣れてきたので、アメリカ人はそんなに太っているのかとびっくりした。)


NYC- A-train

Left overs from Fukuoka-July '09

I'm back from the United States, and I'm still recovering from my second dose of jet-lag.
The trip all in all was pretty good, although a bit busy. The best part was that I successfully printed my first book, a collection of my skectches from NYC (mostly from the subway, but a few just from my time in NYC too.)

I've sold and given away, all together, about 50 books, and have 50 more here that I will be selling/trading, mostly in Japan. However, I will sell/trade to anyone outside of Japan if they're willing to pay for shipping.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that all these books that I have on person have been/will be signed so to the lucky few that got one directly from me, if I happen to one day become famous/infamous you have yourself a collector's item.

Otherwise, if you're in the US/Canada it would be cheaper to have it printed and shipped directly from lulu.com

...and here is the link. Just click on the button below and you can get it shipped directly to you.




If you would like to buy directly from me, please contact me at one of the following e-mail addresses:
ajanioloye@gmail.com
samurabi@gmail.com

Anyway, I'm quite content with this book and am glad that I finally got around to doing it. Though, I know it isn't perfect and I've already learned what I could improve on.

I also wish that this could've been the group book that I originally wanted to do, but my plans to keep this blog as a group showcase of sketches fell through a very long time ago (not any one person's fault by the way...).

With that said, the next one will be much better and I'll be studying more about self-publishing to improve on the quality and presentation of it all. So, look forward to the next edition, which I plan to finish towards the beginning of 2010.

Alright, on to the sketches. These are just some leftover sketches that I did before I left Fukuoka for NYC at the end of July. While in NYC I did a TON of sketches (over 100 or so) so I have plenty to post from now on, and I'll continue to draw when I can in Fukuoka.

Oh, and one more thing, I can never say thank you enough to everyone who views this blog and especially those who bought/ will buy book.

THANK YOU!

NYC Subsketch #1

Hello everyone, great news!


I finally self-published a little book of my sketches stretching from 2005-2008.
I really should have done this a long time ago, and I'm not sure while I waited until now, ...but here it is.

I published through lulu.com and have 100 copies that I ordered, here with me in NYC.
So, if you order through me, you will get a signed copy.
However, signed books are limited to the 100 I have here and shipping is only $1.90 until Monday, as I have to go back to Japan on Tuesday, obviously upping the shipping price to the United States.

So, here's the link!



$12+$1.90 S&H

Edit: I removed the link because I've returned to Japan. So, no more signed copies unless you want to pay for shipping from Japan.

Return to city

These are a few more of the last bit of sketches from the current sketchbook I got May/June. I've started a new one, going back to a variety of the Fabriano Artist's Journals which I love.

Other than that I have two announcements...

* As the title states I will bill returning to New York City. Unfortunately, it will be temporary, as I'm still working in Japan until next year. I will have a decent stay though...about 3 weeks. So, from July 31st-August 18, I expect to get a lot of sketches done.

*A BIG thing (for me, at least) is that I actually got around to making a small collection of my sketches and I'm in the process of publishing it through Lulu. I just ordered the proof and should be receiving it in New York sometime next week. If it looks alright, I'll be selling a 90pg book with a selection of sketches that I drew in New York from 2005-2008. This will be a series that will continue for as long as I'm drawing, and I already have enough for the next volume, which will be all sketches from Japan (all of 2009). So, look out for that soon.

On to the sketches...













Ok, I'll post the last few when I get into the city after my 24hrs (X_X) of jetsetting.

Coming to America

Been busy finishing up school recently, but now I am free...well sorta.
I'm actually on "standby" until the end of the month, then I'll have three weeks off.
So, at the end of this month I will leaving on a jet to New York City via Taiwan.
It'll be good to get back on the subway and fill my sketchbook with a load of drawings.

Anyway, here are some more sketches that I've done recently. I just about finished one of the new sketchbooks that I got from America a little over a month ago (2pgs left). So, when I'm in America I'll start a new one.

I think there will be one more post with a special announcement before I leave in less than two weeks, stay tuned.

Update 6.14.09

Just some more updates. Now we're finally moving into my newest sketchbook, which I had to order from the US (Thank you Blick Art Supplies). It's surprisingly hard to find nice sketchbooks that don't cost an arm and a leg here. Most sketchbooks in Japan seem to be spiral bound...which I hate.

Update 5.29.09

Here are some sketches from my watercolor moleskine that I never got around to scanning until now. They are also from Osaka, the first two from when I was living there and the last one from when I had to go back to take care of some issues with my previous apartment.