Featured Artist: Ippei Gyobu

About Ippei's Work:
Illustrator and comic book artist Ippei Gyobu's long-legged, doe-eyed characters dominate at first glance.

Gyobu seems to have quite the knack for capturing movement, cuteness, and color.
The artist's style is heavily based on his smooth use of line and attention to minute details like the hem of a shirt or the exact style and color of a character's hair. The characters all seem to have their own distinct personalities, emotions, and definitely have an attitude.

Gyobu has collaborated with several large companies like Adidas on press materials and advertisements, and somehow can even spice up an everyday sodapop company like Dr. Pepper.
We wanted to dig a little deeper and see if we could find out a little more behind the creative process and life of this talented young man.

Q & A with Ippei Gyobu:
1. You have a very interesting style of illustration, what are some of your major influences?

I have been heavily influenced by Japanese super robot and superhero series that I used to watch on TV back in the 70s and 80s.I am, in a way, still living in the exitement i had when i was little and watching these TV series. Also, I love Disney animation movies such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in wonderland, and Dumbo.

2. Your art work are mainly digital illustration, Do you do any non-digital art work?
Yes, You are right, I mainly work digitally, but I have done a few art works with acrylic painting on digital lines.　

3. What do you do as a day-job?　I am a full time illustrator, my main work is illustration as advertisements for magazines and various companies.I also have done character designs for video games and animation as well as short story Manga comics as well.

4. Other than art, what kind of hobbies or passions do you have?　　I do not have any particular hobbies besides doing art. I would say collecting sneaker is probably my only other hobby.I like to go watch some movies and listening to music sometimes, but nothing that counts as a passion for it. I have a pretty laid back life. I like taking walks and have been loving cooking a lot lately.

5. What does your art mean to you and why do you do it?
I have no other talents besides drawing and doing art work. I had no doubt when I became an artist/illustrator. It was less of a choice on my part and more like destiny.It is not something that i have to do or choose to do, but more like something I cannot stop doing. There is no particular meaning in doing art for me; it is more like an addiction.But, at the same time, I would say that I draw and do art to define myself.

6. You participated in the “SUG 503” show in our gallery, have you ever thought of making a toy of your own?
I always wanted to make my own toys. I have actually done toy design for a Japanese toy company called “Wonderwall”, about two years ago now. The character was called Jet Girl. The production has been delayed because of technical difficulties with one of the toy weapons for Jet Girl, but it should be smoothed over and come out sometime next year. I would love to do more designs though.

7. How do you prepare as an artist before you begin a piece?　
I do a lot of pencil drawing as rough sketches. After that, I do some research for the background, products, and so on.

8. Your pieces seem to have a lot of influence from Japanese Animation, do you have any particular Animations that you were deeply influenced by when you are kid?　 I have too many Animations that influenced me during my childhood to even start counting, but if I must: Glendizer, Dangard Ace, Steel Jeeg, Combattler V, Gundam, and Macross to name a few.I was especially influence by all the TATSUNOKO production animations during the 70s to 80s. They are amazing.My favorate animation is probably Tekkaman the Space Knight.

9. Please name 3 Artists/Animator/comic Artists you most respect.

Walt Disney , Go Nagai , Shotaro Isinomori.

10. What's your current project you are working on? I am working on Character Design for an animation series called "Akihabara@Deep". It is made by Polygon Pictures, a Japanese subsidiary of the US animation production company, Nickelodeon.

11. What is the most fun project you have ever worked on? It would probably be an Adidas Japan Advertisement project back in 2002. I created 3 superhero characters for that project.I love doing projects with sport companies since I am very much into Sneaker culture.Also, Sony Walkman project last year was very exiting as well.

Learn more about this artist at:
www.gyoubu.com
www.digmeout.net