Takeshi Ohgushi's Illustrations

Представям ви още един талантлив художник. Този път от САЩ се прехвърляме в Япония с Такеси Огуси, който създава уникално чувствени картини. Основната трудност се състои в това, че мастилото изсъхва много бързо и се изисква много прецизност. Насладете се на тези творения!

Photos via ohgushi.jp

How did you start painting with calligraphy brushes and ink?

When I was 21 years old, I returned to my parents’ house after experiencing a setback in painting and discovered a calligraphy set in the closet - and drew an ink and wash picture of a woman. It felt like the most fun thing I had ever done, and I could feel that it was an intriguingly deep world. So I hoped, albeit only slightly, that even I might be able to get somewhere with it.

What is the attraction of ink for you?

Ink has special characteristics, as it quickly spreads on paper, and so there are special techniques. However, I am more attracted to the fact that it is a medium with a special sense of tension: I have to work quickly and precisely.

Why do you constantly use women as your motif?

I often find myself absentmindedly drawing women’s profiles even when I’m talking on the phone, so I suppose I just love to draw women! It is almost as if that is the very reason I draw. I also draw flowers.

Which of your works do you like most?

My recent ink and wash paintings, I think. I managed to draw them with a positive sense of tension so I’m quite satisfied with the outcome. Whether I’m pleased or not usually depends on how big the thrills and tensions were while drawing.

In your collaboration with Emilio Pucci, you had models wearing Pucci creations posing for you. What is important when working with them?

I look at the model’s contour and find the line that has the biggest number of subsidiary lines and move my brushes around that main line. The use and the number of brushstrokes become all the more important to make the flow from the contour look beautiful.

Again, why do women and flowers fascinate you so much you keep drawing them?

That can’t be explained reasonably: It makes me want to pick up my brushes when my heart twinges for an allurement. I’m constantly thinking about how to better express the essence of that twinge of heart.

What was a big influence to you?

The first influence I had was illustrator Miyuki Morimoto. When I was 23 years old, I sent her a book of my printed works and she kindly wrote back to me. I met her several times since then and learnt many things from her feminine style. I really have to give her credit for making me the person I am today.

How would you describe your style?

I’d say that it’s a style that expresses that twinge of heart, as I mentioned earlier. Many of my works focus on a single feature – like the face or the lips – but when a beautiful countenance gives me that twinge, everything else, including the surroundings and the details of the hair doesn’t register in my mind. I only draw parts and features, because I want to express that attraction, that moment of the twinge of heart in a more essential way, and I think I can better convey it without dilution that way.