He merged his love for drawing cartoons and interest in famous art works. And he did that very finely. His art works may look like simple drawings from a distance, that too uncolored. But when you have a closer look at them, you find doodles all over. You will end up searching for your favorite characters within them and also refresh some childhood memories.
The work doubtlessly requires a lot of creativity and patience. Read on the exclusive interview with the artist and know more about him. Have a look at his work to be able to appreciate.
1. Hello Sagaki, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello, my name is Keita Sagaki. I'm a Japanese artist. I draw miniatures mainly with a pen.
2. How did you get into the world of art? Were you always artistically inclined?
I liked Manga(comics) from my childhood. I drew a comic every day when I was in the elementary school. My textbooks and examination-papers used to be full of my doodles. It won't be wrong to say that those doodles are roots of the current my works. It was the entrance into the world of art for me. This is what I always loved, drawing doodles.
The beginning of my interest in art is marked by a mandala. A mandala is a religious painting of Buddhism and the esoteric Buddhism. I went to a village set in the mountains with my father once when I was eight years old. I saw a mandala for the first time there.
When I saw it, I felt it was a very psychedelic painting (it had multiple images of Buddha and gorgeously coloured pictures depicting hell )
I felt excited, it was a mixture of fear and pleasure. The episode was engraved in me. Minute drawing and information content of my works are influenced by mandala. In fact, I drew a mandala in some initial works. So mandala is a very important motif for me.
3. Your drawings use thousands of whimsical figures when observed up close to portray the actual subject? What form of art is this? Why do you choose to use only pen and board?
I will explain my process. I don’t draft (a rough sketch) while drawing the details of the doodle characters. I have used pen and ink from the beginning, when I confronted white canvas. I do not know what kind of character will be born until I begin to draw it. The reason is momentary inspiration and improvised drawing are very important for me. The pen transform my inspiration onto paper and I keep drawing the details of a picture. This process takes an excessive amount of time.
All my characters express all things in nature and at the same time, they are my other self. In other words they are an organization, like cells forming the universe (and me).
4. Is this art form something that you are trained in or have developed by trial and error? From where do you get the inspiration to create these figurines? Or is this just free flow drawing?
As I have mentioned earlier. Because I was into drawing comics, I got this technique. Most of my figurines are the products of my mind. But I sometimes use a reference from an illustrated book or Web. I act on impulse and flash.5. How do you choose what to portray in your drawings? What criteria do you set?
When I draw a picture, I gamble on my intuition. I do not draft it. I draw it in pen directly. I do not have a criteria. All in the world is a motif. For example, beauty and dirty, life and death, hope and despair, past and present.
It is necessary for everything to be located equally. I demand that they perform crossover in a picture.
6. Each of your art works has literally thousands of miniature figurines drawn close together to bring out the final form. It must be a very laborious process. On an average how long does it take you to complete each piece?
It varies according to the size. For example, the 'Ukiyoe Series' took around two weeks. Whereas "The Last Supper" has the biggest size and it took the longest time of ten months.
I work during noon. I am an art teacher in a high school. So I draw only at night for around four hours a day. It is not very productive.
7. What other artists do you look up to? If you could peek into the toolbox/studio of one other artist and collaborate on a project with him/her who would it be?
I admire Hokusai Katsushika a lot. He has original ideas. I would want to look into his tools and studio if I were able to do it.8. When you are not working on your art how do you like to spend your spare time? What do you find most relaxing?
Possibly, it may be ordinary pass times. When I do not work, I read a novel and listen to music. They are very relaxing for me. In addition, I like listening to Rakugo (traditional Japanese story telling). It becomes an idea of my next works and characters.
9. What are your future plans as a artist?
I want to do activities that classify display except just in Japan into the field of vision in the future.
Now, many people in foreign look at my work on the Web. However, I want them to see them in real.
10. What advice would you like to pass on to budding and aspiring artists?
Little and often fills the purse. Patience and persistence will always prove to be fruitful.
Keita, thanks for such an extensive interview. It was a great experience learning about you. Wish you good luck!
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