 
- Q: How much do you charge for convention sketches?
- A: It varies depending on the con and how big my expenses are. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the con, the more I have to charge. I have set prices anywhere from 5 to 50 bucks in the past.
- Q: What can you sketch?
- A: I prefer characters I’ve drawn in the past but if you have good reference material I am willing to make exceptions.
- Q: Can you draw _______ without any clothes on?
- A: No.
- Q: I can’t make it to any conventions this year. Can I commission a sketch from you through the mail?
- A: No. I’ve decided that any extra time I have will be spent towards the production of personal projects and other immediate commitments i.e. paying bills, going to cons and enjoying life. If you really want one, have a friend go to a con I am attending and ask them to get one for you.
- Q: I am a writer and would love to work with you on a project of mine. Can I send you images and a script? At least, get some feedback?
- A: No. I am up-to-my-eye-balls with projects and could, in no way, devote time to anything else at the moment. Do not send any scripts. It is a legal no-no and I will delete any attachments immediately. If you want me to review artwork, post them on a site and send a url. I can look at them that way.
- Q: I have a solid project with a writer and artist attached and would like you to direct me to an editor. Can you help me out?
- A: Not really. I’m a freelancer in the same boat as you. I can give you advice and suggestions on where to take it but that’s the extent of my powers. Editors are busy people and I’d rather not bother or pressure them into looking at something, especially through a faceless e-mail. Cons are neutral and social places to start up a discussion. Go, talk, drink and pitch there.
- Q: I can’t draw. How do I get better?
- A: Practice. Take some figure drawing lessons. Use other artist’s work as an example. I started out copying Ultimate Muscle and Dragonball so imitation is a practical way to begin. Just make sure you change it and develop your own style. Look beyond being a fan artist and set goals. Going to school is a solid way to get your feet on the ground. Institutions are not all bad.
- Q: What tools do you use?
- A: I switch between B and H lead. B for personal and H for freelance work. I use a 10 dollar mechanical pencil I bought in Japan over 10 years ago but anything would do as long as it has weight. I don’t blueline. It’s a pain in the ass. Instead, a soft under drawing erased lightly is enough of a foundation to work off of for me. I use letter sized Xerox paper for personal work and Marvel sends me comic Bristol for my pages. I cut those in half and work as if it was letter sized. I’ve found my art falls apart when I draw big. I use Photoshop CS for any colouring or layout needs. Specific comp specs are: Dell Dimension DXP051 Intel®, Pentium® D CPU 2.80 GHz with 1 GB of RAM with a 21” wide/flat screen monitor
- Q: What are some of your influences?
- A: Pre-High School: Doraemon, Pa-man, Obake no Q-taro, Gegege no Kitaro, Pro-golfer Saru, Dokaben, Hokuto no Ken, Saint Seiya, City Hunter, Dragonball, Kinnikuman, Captain Tsubasa
High School: Sakigake Otokojuku, Rokudenashi Blues, Spriggan, Appleseed, Ghost in the Shell, Kibun wa mo Senso, Short Peace, Sayonara Nippon, Gunnm, Oishinbo
Post-High School: Dragonhead, Mugen no Jyunin, Lastman, Tokyo University Story, Rookies, Monster, Pluto, Tetsuya, Initial D
Random artists I like: Sargent, Whistler, Goya, Motherwell, Vermeer, Bacon, Velázquez, Waterhouse, Schiele, Rodin
- Q: Are you Japanese?
- A: I’m Canadian. My parents are Japanese and instilled many Japanese values in me as I grew up. Thankfully, I can read, write and speak fluently and understand J-social conventions.
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