Interview with illustrator Shiroi Usagi
What happens when a designer gets the travelling bug, moves to Japan, totally immerses himself in the unreal Japanese pop culture scene, creates an absolute stack of illustrations and artwork… and then moves to Brisbane? An illustrator emerges by the new name of Shiroi Usagi, with an almost manic style of grunge illustration.
Shiroi grew up in Broken Hill, New South Wales, and like many creative kids, started drawing early and developed a love for escaping through comics. During school, he began studying by correspondence at the Australian Cartoon School (which no longer exists).
To mix things up a bit, he moved to the Sunshine Coast at aged 20 and started designing posters for friends. After a few years in Brisbane working as a graphic designer, and taking on the odd freelance illustration job, Shiroi sold everything, packed up — and moved to Japan!
With his diverse background in projects and travels, it’s no wonder Shiroi’s style is intense. His black and white artworks are almost hurried. There’s so much to say and cram into each piece. This intensity is engaging and his bold lines are the handy work of his trusty collection of Poscas and Sharpies. It’s fantastic to see that he’s worked with numerous bands from Australia (and overseas) creating album artwork and t-shirt designs too.
Shiroi also tells me he’s part of an underground movement of sticker trading and has traded stickers to the U.K., The USA, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and Denmark. His stickers have been on display in art shows in Melbourne, New York, and L.A.
Currently, he’s painting and illustrating in preparation for a couple of art shows later this year. And, if you’re wondering, Shiroi Usagi means white rabbit in Japanese. Check out his blog for more updates.
How have you got to where you are today? Describe a little background on why and how you got started…
I’d always wanted to be an illustrator of some description. My school days were spent doodling cartoons in my workbooks instead of actual school work.
After school I studied Multimedia design and found the field really hard to break into. I did however get into the design industry in a roundabout fashion.
I worked in the corporate signage industry as a graphic designer, which I found almost mind numbing.
I needed a break from it so I packed my bags and moved to Japan. Something crazy happened to me there. I figured I could tell actual stories with my illustrations. Suddenly they weren’t just lonely characters on a page they we’re full of life and crowded chaos — just like Japan.
Now I am back from Japan pursuing an illustration and art career full time and loving it!
In a few words, describe yourself…
Free thinker, daydreamer, and revolutionist.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
At the moment I am getting ready for numerous art shows. I am kind of nervous as I haven’t really displayed my work outside of the Internet before. It’s a real buzz to know that people will actually come to see my paintings and illustrations… And hopefully dig them!
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
Not really. For me, it kind of just happens. I don’t think about it too much.
I wake up and grab a pen and coffee the day just melts away.
What or who inspires you?
In general Cartoons, Japanese Culture, Street Art, Chaos, Anarchy, and coffee.
But there are so many amazing artists such as Frank Kozik, Douglas Tenapel, Joe Madureira, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Pro Hart just to name a few!
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the fact that despite people in my life telling me to get a “real job” I’ve stuck true to my dream and my goal and now all my hard work is starting to pay off
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I always wanted to be a cartoonist or an animator. I grew up in Broken Hill NSW, so there weren’t any options to do this. I always wanted to draw though and it is what made me happy then and it’s also what makes me happy now.
