toronto
Small cures art show 2019 /
I participated in the annual Small Cures art show again which took place last month in Toronto, and decided to submit three pieces! Their format of using only tiny 6 x 6” canvases, made me struggle to figure out what to paint, again. The complexity of the piece should be rather simple because of the size, I thought. Should I draw a simple object? Some fun interesting typography? Or abstract? It had to be not just something simple, but also humorous and relatable. With last year’s Small Cures show, I went with doing something simple and humorous. I painted a cute vinyl record character chilling on a staircase looking back at the viewer seductively. That’s it. Super fun. I also thought about doing a cassette and a cd of course…but just wasn’t in the mood at this time. Just wanted to paint something refreshing for a change.
One day I came across a silly youtube granny rap video called ‘Oba Funk Osaka’ describing what a ‘Osaka Obachan’ is. And then I remembered seeing them everywhere from my Osaka trips, and started sketching out my version of her. Then I realized I had forgotten that there are so many types of characters in Japanese society that are so distinctly Japanese and visually interesting. ‘That’s it!’ I thought. Soon after I sketched out the ‘salaryman’ and then the ‘construction worker’.
Halftime Onigiri: This salaryman I wanted to be the overworking underpaid 50 something year old fellow taking a 5 minute lunch break during the day with his modest lunch-in-hand: an onigiri. He then would be sitting back on one of those kiddie jungle gym springy thingies (what do they call those?), possibly fantasizing about being young again. Or he’s fantasizing about new love? Hmmm? Either way the flat background emphasizes that he’s in a place outside of reality.
Ichigo Milk: The young construction worker wears a ‘safety first’ helmet, typical of a Japanese construction worker. The uniform is called a ‘nikka pokka’ and the boots are ‘tabi boots’ (I made them rollerskates!). He also has his bling rings, aviator glasses, and most important of all: his strawberry milk (ichigo milk). All this retro, gets him in his zone.
Osaka Obachan: She’s the polar opposite to the Salaryman. She’s enjoying every bit of her life, and showing age ain’t nothing but a numbaa. She wears her love of leopard print, Adidas, Asics, red lipstick and shades. Ok I added the mixed sport brands. Oh and the pogo stick. Hey gotta have fun with it right? I like the juxtaposition of the old with young items, and young with the old items. So yep i guess looking at the three: it’s all about age perspective. Also maybe about people dealing with stress lol.
Anyhow, had so much fun on the night of the event. Huge turnout that night, with a lot more artists this year exhibiting. They were even serving Beau’s beer this year! Thank you again to the organizers for having me, the people that bought the works, and all the people that came out!
Lastly, I really wanted to stay with these, so I ordered some prints for home! If you’re interested hit the button below. :)
New Print & New Shop /
This ‘NISEKO DEEP (BluRay version)’ is one of my favourite pieces so far. I sort of got lost in thought working on it, as someday I would LOVE to go. Also it was pretty much like restoring a lo-fi piece and making it high def, just like a restoration artist. It’s quite fun.
I call it the BluRay version, simply because it was originally made for a width of 4”, and then I had requests for a much larger print version of it. In simple terms: ‘resolution’ doesn’t scale up nicely. This is roughly 4 x larger than the original size, so lots of details like: textures, details (snow, kimono, skis, adjustments, etc) had to be added in. The original illustration was featured in The Economist 1843 magazine (Feb / Mar 2018). Also this is a premium giclee print (or ‘fine art print’) on Strathmore Fine Art Paper, so the colours really pop with a really sharp image. Measurements are 18 x 24”. Signed and numbered edition of 100.
The Shop section got a slight facelift. Images now have ‘in situ’ images, as well as the artwork on its own. Looks more like a proper gallery now. Check it out.
Exclaim! magazine /
Started as Art Director for Exclaim! magazine in spring of this year. Here are a few covers and feature stories I designed.
From issue to issue, I am usually learning about or listening to a new band or artist that is new to me. The process always involves me either YouTubing their videos, or Wikipediaing their bios. I wonder what music magazine Art Directors did back in the day before the internet on bands they didn't know? I imagine many poor librarians having to archive newspaper and magazine clippings...oh internet I love you.
Anyhow, we also commission illustrators for portraits for our 'Reviews' page. I've also been enjoying those quite a bit. I will post some of those soon as well.
For now, check them out here!
Start to Finish. New Series of 12. /
Hello, been a while!
I've been away with a full time position as a graphic designer. But now I'm back as an illustrator! There were a few projects I was able to work on, and will hopefully get around to it updating my site over the next month or so. Also to get the illustrator gears running again, I've cranked out this small series I call 'Start to Finish'.
These images were originally conceived as parts of a collage illustration for an article. I always found them so humorous, but thought it was a shame that they were so tiny and under developed. They had potential to be individual pieces, if they were given some love. So after leaving my full time job, I decided that this would be the first series I would work on as a personal project.
Also I've always thought that 'context' was such an interesting thing. I mean some images here are more obvious than others. But placing an image in a certain context, our minds connect the dots to give it new meaning. For example placing like placing a 'hello kitty' on some underwear, or some well known branding on a stack of condoms. It's no longer 'just sex'. It's become something more than that.
Here they are as a series of 12, with more love (12 x 12").
Prints available for sale upon request.
Also follow me at the links below :)
Applied Arts Twice. 3x3 Twice. /
It's been quite a while since my last post. Not that I've been one to post daily, as if it were my personal diary. Was away on quite the experience in Japan (which will be covered in the next issue 7 of Scion magazine).
Anyhow I am happy to announce that my work on the 'Northern Exposure' article in issue 5 of 'Scion magazine' was selected a few times for Illustration annuals and the 'Troy Sumitomo' (from Five Axis) portrait as well!
'NORTHERN EXPOSURE'
ADVERTISING & PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATION
Applied Arts 2014
'NORTHERN EXPOSURE' & 'TROY SUMITOMO'
PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATION
3x3 Illustration Annual no. 11
Saatchi & Saatchi Canada
Executive Creative Direction: Brian Sheppard, Helen Pak
Illustration: Shingo Shimizu
Editor in Chief/Magazine CD: Lisamarie Chen
Client: Toyota Canada
Welcome to the new site! /
Good morning! I am excited to announce the new site for shingo.ca! The content is more or less similar from the older site. Actually probably less works, as it was getting a bit crowded on the last one, and an overhaul was way overdue.
You will find the new site is scalable, so it can be viewed nicely on your mobile devices, when your showing it off to your friends or possible clients! Notice it's a lot crisper too?
As for my character designs, there not up yet (except the quiznos stuff) but I'll put up some eventually (ScotiaFinancial stickman).
I still have to work on some updates with some new work in the upcoming weeks, so either subscribe to the newsletter or subscribe to the RSS feed (both on the right). Definitely follow me in the socialverse below!
Help me commemorate this occasion with a 'like', 'tweet', or a 'share'! If you have any comments or suggestions please let me know (more eyes on it the better right?).
Have a wonderful day wherever you are.