Heroic Artistry: When did you start creating art?
Yakusan983: I started drawing when I was about 7. At least drawing visible forms. Mostly in a mead notebook of the video games I played at that age.
Heroic Artistry: Who are some of the artists that inspire you?
Yakusan983: Tetsuo Hara (Fist of the North Star) Kentaro Miura (Berserk) Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond) and a few Renaissance European artists, especially Leonardo Da Vinci. Not so much for his paintings but for his sketches and aspirations to master anatomy.
Heroic Artistry: How would you describe your style?
Yakusan983: A mix of aesthetic semi realism combined with a manga feel. Particularly of the late 80s early 90s seinen genre. Very serious and adult like.
Heroic Artistry: What are your favorite medium to use and why?
Yakusan983: I have gotten used to attacking paper with only a fine tipped pen in sketch books and I never had a good medium of color that I was comfortable with. I came across copic markers and found them easy and comfortable to use. Also they have an interesting yield when blending colors together. Now I'm experimenting with watercolor paint. But I still use my pen at the forefront in detailed work.
Heroic Artistry: Any formal studies?
Yakusan983: I had a tutor for watercolor painting prior to high school and in high school I took portfolio classes in art house. My teacher Jack DeMartino was very influential in teaching me proportions, placement and lights and dark of gray values to create shadows.
Heroic Artistry: What are your favorite things to draw and why?
Yakusan983: My favorite things to draw are the things I grew up on. Manga and my own personal works.
Heroic Artistry: Why do you create?
Yakusan983: I create because I have a story to tell. There are people who need influence, something to admire or look up to as an example. Whether you're a child or a grown up, there are people who use batman, superman, wonder woman, spiderman as examples and standards. I simply want to give that to the people in my very own way.
Heroic Artistry: Outstanding! I too have a story/stories I hope to tell and get out sooner than later! Anything else you'd like to add?
Yakusan983: I'd also have to add that my father used to draw a lot of marvel comic art. I followed in his footsteps through manga. He is now a storybook writer and found out he may be a better author than illustrator and I received both art and storytelling from him..the ability to create ideas and bring them to life.
Check out a sample of his work below. These are his original characters which are copy-written.
or follow him on Instagram @yakusan893
Hope you all enjoyed this post!