Recently, a former art-teaching colleague of mine told me, rather mockingly, that my dream to become a Anime sci-fi artist while living in the US is simply bogus, and suggested that "You're in the wrong town."

I was hurt, surprised and angry. I highly respected this friend in the past.

Then something happened.

Few weeks later, I was privileged to a private studio visit and lunch with Syd Mead, who not only was the man behind Blade Runner and Alien, but is also considered an idol in Japan's sci-fi and anime community.

And Syd, by now my idol, liked my work.

Lesson learned?

YOUR SUCCESS IS THE PERFECT REVENGE.

Sorry friends! Been away busy for so long!!!
Too many things happened over the last few months.
One of my most recent development is:

I'M A DAD!!!!!!

Folks, this is Miyazu's WINNING ENTRY on "What the future me would be".
Simply STUNNING.

HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE

The Future me :
What I'm wearing :
this body suit in which i can change my skin colour and clothes in just a button away, and i can change clothes by downloading clothe design online , and this bodysuit will turn into that design in just a click. And if i want to borrow, say my sister's leaopard print leggings, I'll just bluetooth her and she'll send the signal and I can wear them in just a click away.

What I'll look like :
Every part of my body, including, eye colour, hair, and skin is customizable, so everyday, maybe I'll have snake hair on one day, and then spaghetti hair another. Or, today I'll be wearing pink skin, and then the next day I'll have polkadot skin. Eyes, since there were some kind of trend on Dollar eyes, I'll be wearing Dollar Sign eyes. Humans will be just like a chameleon, able to project anything they want in their body in just a click away.

What I'll be driving :
Soap-shaped like , a 1 person car, color customizable by just a push of a button. Today I'll have my car fully chromed, because yesterday I went all out on having my car projecting my newest artwork

My Job :
I'm a freelance graphic designer, since everybody in the world now can download anything they wear through the internet, I'll be spending my days creating new clothes design on my laptop, or maybe sometimes creating patterns for car skins.

The city surroundings :
the government has locked public places and services to be customizable, so, the surroundings will have a very strict colour pattern like the one right now. Roads are grey, traffic lights are green red and yellow, signs are green or yellow with black. Only difference is that the roads are now much more organized and designed for either one person car or huge train-like public transportation.
But aside from that, the buildings are designed to have a large projecting space on the surface, they all are fighting to get people's attentions by projecting cool designs or pictures or patterns. Some would even require u to wear your 3d glasses to be seen properly. And your 3d glasses are attached to your ears.

The world gets crammed up, and people are starting to use the air above to build stuff more and more taller.

The world will be far away from cliche, futuristic, but it will be creatively built, because everyone will be expressing their art sense into everything they do or build. You'll find buildings looking like they're from the 18th century on the 40th kilometres above sea level. and then an abstract picasso-inspired building on the 45th km above sea level.

OPEN CALL CLOSED!
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

It was difficult to say "which of your ideas was better". You guys REALLY gave me some QUALITY ideas that is really worth thinking and painting about!!

I only was able to make a choice because one your ideas REALLY stood out to me in a personal way.
Not only this person provided many valuable information and shown AMAZING imaginations (which many of you have as well),
but most of all, THIS PERSON'S IDEA WOULD PRESENT TO ME A GOOD CHALLENGE: I'VE NEVER DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

SO, THE WINNER IS............
MIYAZU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miyazu will be the sole exclusive owner of a high-res digital copy of this painting!

BUT don't worry! As I begin the painting process, I will, whenever I can, post updates of the painting's progress on DA. It will take some time to reach the final result.

In a subsequent journal, I will post Miyazu's awesome response for all of you to take a look.
MIYAZU HAS SET THE BENCHMARK ON WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, SO STUDY IT!!
BECAUSE MORE COMPETITIONS AND GIVE-AWAYS ARE COMING OUR WAY!!!!!!!

Friends!

Over the last 2 weeks I have received many exciting ideas from all of you, as to what the "future you" would be like.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T SUBMITTED A IDEA, YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE!

WE ARE OFFICIALLY ENDING THE OPEN CALL FOR IDEAS 8am Tomorrow 4/29, Los Angeles time.

WE ARE DOWN TO THE VERY LAST FEW HOURS FOR YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEA
REMEMBER, THE WINNING IDEA WINS THE EXCLUSIVE HIGH-RES DOWNLOAD OF MY NEXT PAINTING - ONE INSPIRED ON YOUR IDEAS!!!

To be ELIGIBLE for your idea to be considered, please include your NAME and EMAIL in your submission (you can private message me your info so it doesn't have to go public here), and make sure you add me ON YOUR WATCH if you haven't already! GIVE ME A GOOD IDEA OF "WHAT DOES THE 'FUTURE YOU' LOOK LIKE?"

Clock is REALLY LOOKING DOWN!!! HURRY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!!!!

OPEN CALL!!! GET CREATIVELY INVOLVED WITH ME!!!

As I'm working on some new paintings, I was thinking "wouldn't it be cool if I include some of their (my deviantArt friends) idea into my painting?"

So I've decided to open an RARE OPPORTUNITY for all you deviantArt friends:
I'm going to make an concept art painting with YOUR IDEA IN IT!!!

What I like you to do is:
1) I want EACH OF YOU to give me ONE idea.
2) Submit your idea via replying this Journal or privately Message me.
3) Within one paragraph, I'd like you to answer the question:
             "WHAT DOES THE 'FUTURE YOU' LOOK LIKE?"

To be ELIGIBLE for your idea to be considered, please include your NAME and EMAIL in your submission (you can private message me your info so it doesn't have to go public here), and make sure you add me ON YOUR WATCH if you haven't already!

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO DO, AND IT'S NEEDED FOR A GOOD REASON THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU.

IF YOUR IDEA'S CHOSEN, YOU WILL NOT ONLY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INCLUDED in one of my recent conceptual art, YOU WILL BE THE ONLY PERSON among the submission list that will be GIFTED WITH A FREE HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGE!!!!!!

THIS CALL IS OPEN ONLY FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS, OR UNTIL WINNER IS SELECTED.
When the WINNER's idea is selected, I will announce the WINNING IDEA HERE ON DEVIANT ART and begin my painting in earnest.

SO CLOCK IS TICKING!!! START POSTING YOUR IDEAS NOW!!!!!!!!!

Hey friends!

SO, HERE'S A BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED MY WORK IN THE PAST:

Anime Expo and ComiCon is coming up in a few months!!! In a somewhat last minute decision, I have decided to look into the possibility of seriously getting Artist's Alley booth at both conventions!!! Not only would I have some unique products to sell, but I'll be there with the rest of you in a heaven of drawing and


I AM NOW LOOKING FOR FELLOW ARTIST LIKE YOU TO PARTNER WITH ME AND SHARE A BOOTH!!!
If you are interested and or have already reserved a booth and looking for someone to divide the cost with you......
LET'S TALK!!

10804 DIED.
16244 MORE MISSING.

It felt strangely heart-wrenching when I saw footages of people so helpless in Japan's disaster zones.
I think it's that many of the victims and survivors were too old to avoid the coming tsunami.
They remind me of my grandparents, who themselves spoke Japanese as well.

But I am continually inspired and touched by the resilience and strength of the Japanese people.
In disaster zones, there is NO LOOTING. EVERYONE TRULY UNITES PUTS UP THE BEST FIGHT FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

We've heard of "Country Strong."
In times like these, I wish we can all learn what it means to be "Japan Strong."

HOPE ALL OF YOU NEAR JAPAN IS ALRIGHT!!!
Tip: unless in real immediate medical danger,
TEXT INSTEAD OF PHONECALL to avoid crowding the phone lines.

Stay SAFE!

[link]

UPDATE

Aside Concept design and Manga Art, I have dived into Motion Design.
I have joined under the wing of Mr. Ko Maruyama, a well known Motion Designer in Hollywood.
For our midterm, I have created a Motion Trailer, based on my currently developing Manga story "Serene City".

CLICK THE LINK BELOW AND CHECK IT OUUUTTTTT GUYS!!!!!!!!!

[link]

Never stop believing.  
Never EVER give up your dreams.
Never let failures bind you in your past.
Never let hopelessness taunt you about your future.
Never dismiss the power of any decision made, any desire felt and any prayer uttered.

Just returned from Asia.

Our extended business journey has taken us from:

Los Angeles>>Taipei>>Shanghai>>Hangzhou>>Shanghai>>Hong Kong>>Macao>>Hong Kong>>Taipei>>Los Angeles - all in 10 weeks.  We met a lot of key influencers in their perspective regions and, most importantly, strengthened bonds with our good friends in the Asian entertainment world.

Thanks to all of you in Taipei, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong whose kindness made this a exciting, beautiful, at times challenging yet deeply moving trip.  

Picts to be uploaded soon.  Stay tuned!

The way to heaven is hardly ever attained through trying to be good and right.
It can be, however, stumbled upon through.....

CURIOSITY.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT about changing yourself, "be a grown-up", "suck-it-up" with a smile, forgetting the past and learn from your mistakes.  But really, REALLY, when all said and done..........

REJECTION REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HURTS.

"Realists know where they're going. Dreamers have already been there." -Robert Orben

"Not all those who wander are lost" – Tolkien

Studies show that the more you say things - believe in them....will come to fruition.

-Apollo Anton Ohno

Guys check this out...this is sooooo cute:

[link]

Last night a dear friend and legendary Art Center Instructor Norm Schureman passed away.
He is one of my greatest influence, both as a designer and a mentor.
He instilled in all of us the spirit of excellence and dedication to innovation and professionalism.

We will miss you very much.  
We will live on as your legacy.  
Rest in peace, Norm.

For those who knew him, share something you remember about him.
For others, read more about his story at:
[link]