I have some 'splainin to do

So I haven't posted in a while...
Well, what happened was I had to finish up my last job in Osaka, and move to newer digs in Kyushu, Japan.

Needless to say it was very hectic and stressful, and I didn't have much of a chance to scan and post stuff.

But I'm doing it now, so better late than never.

Before I go on to the pictures, I will have to say one thing though.
Although I didn't update as frequently as I would have liked to before, from now on my postings will probably be less so.

The reason is that I've moved to a smaller city in Japan, and there is only one train which I only take to go to the big city every once in a while. In addition to this, even when I do take that train, it's impossible to get drawings done because everything is facing forward...

However, this isn't the end of my subway/train sketching adventures, because whenever I do go into the city, I make sure to take the available subway and get as many drawings in as I can.
So, if I'm lucky, I'll still be able to get one or two drawings a week, but it's a far cry from sketching just about everyday.

It saddens me, but the upside concerning my new surroundings is that I have a lot more time on my hands and a lot less stress. So, hopefully I'll be able to turn that into something creative that I can post on this or one of my other blogs.

Ok, on to the sketches...

These are from some of my last days in Osaka. Osaka subway system, you will be missed...









More to come, I'm posting 4 sketches at a time, and I still have quite a few pics left.

Osokunatte...

Well, I'm late again. There's not too much I can say about it.
Being in Japan, it's been made aware to me just how hard life is.
I feel silly thinking about how much time I used to have, because my free time here is so little.

As a clue to just how things are for me in Japan, I went to the hospital the other day and got diagnosed with my first official stress related illness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome...lovely.

Ah, I miss the days in America where I could get 8hrs of sleep, and had vacation days and sick days.

Alright, enough ranting/reminiscing. Time for the sketches.












I have some other plans in store for these sketches that I will *hopefully* present soon. I'll also be getting a little break from my day to day responsibilities soon, so I can draw and post more.

Oops...

Ahh, I slipped up, at couldn't update, but it was because I got swamped with real world stuff...

Anyway, on to the sketches, first few are from when I went to Tokyo around Christmas.

New Osaka Sketchbook

I got a new sketchbook, and have been working in this one since the end of December.
It's back to a regular white paged sketchbook. When I get a little more comfortable with y finances I would-make. Someday, someday...

Anyway, a big thanks to those who are still checking out this blog. I do check the comments, and every single one is encouragement to keep e going amidst the often tough times that I have experienced as of late in the land of the rising sun.

Once again...Thank You.

More scans this weekend.

End of 2008 Moleskin

Just posting the rest of the sketches from my moleskine before I go on to my current sketchbook.
The two at the bottom are from a watercolor moleskine that I rarely work from, but should work in more.

Brain Drain

My Brain feels like sludge...
I've come into my own financial crisis because of school loan repayments and it's just taken a lot out of me, so right now I'm not feeling too hot.

Anyway, more sketches.


Playing around with my fude pen and a watercolor pen.






Started to write notes about what's happening so I don't forget interesting things that happen.


I saw a fellow foreigner on the train...yes, it's that rare.

They sprinkle fairy dust as you board the train

Having one of the few holidays that I will have this semester (1 of 2 I think). I'm probably the poorest I've been in my entire life, but I'm in the highest paying job that I've had in my life. It's a weird mix... There's no reason to get into it, but I'll just say that school loans are terrible.

Anyway, my financial status has forced me to stay inside for the holiday, and work on things that I should've been working on anyway, so it's not so bad.

So, here's a new update. Nice to have a steady pace of updates for the new year, I must say.


A one stop drawing. Probably about 30 seconds or so while standing.


I had nothing but a felt-tip marker at the time, so this was the result.


Sleep.


Zzz.


I'm a pretty bold guy, because I don't see other people doing this in Japan, and I'm sure everyone is looking at me draw other people. This time I was standing over this sleeping guy and drawing him. ...Luckily I have yet to be yelled at or scolded by the elderly for disturbing the "Wa."

In other news, I finished scanning from the moleskin, and I have about two more updates worth of stuff until I get to my next sketchbook.

Until next time.