Shiori Tamura

I ARRANGED TO meet illustrator and graphic designer Shiori Tamura at Ebisu, because she wanted to take me to a local neighbourhood park. Just a short walk from the station and we reach Ebisu East Park, which is named  affectionately by the locals as ‘Tako Park’, after its bright red octopus slide. It’s a Sunday, and the park is crowded with families and groups gathering to sit beneath the flowering cherry blossoms.

As we pick a spot and get to chatting, I realised that we have some trouble because of our language barrier. Yet, little by little, we make it work, and chat through translation apps through our phones. I reached out to Shiori over Instagram, after being drawn to her cute, eye-catching illustrations. I was curious to find out what inspires her drawings and her art process. I’m thankful for the chance to connect and admire her works in-person. 

Q: How did you start drawing? Did you study illustration?

I’ve always loved drawing since I was young. Once I started working and had a little more free time, I began attending the illustration school, ‘MJ Illustration’.

Q: What is your material of choice?

I use crayons. At first, I experimented with acrylic gouache and digital media, but once I discovered crayons, that was what I decided to stick with. They allowed me draw most intuitively and quickly and made me settle on my current style.

Q: I see that you also have these one-of-a-kind blocks. How did that come about?

I found some nice pieces of wood with a lovely grain and wanted to experiment to see if they can be used for a project. It’s a little different from my usual illustrations, but it's a nice thought to produce something that people can display and enjoy in their homes and living rooms.

Q: Do you plan to move beyond illustration, to other types of art products?

The current plan is to make more when there's opportunity to exhibit or for events. But I'd love to create more. My next solo exhibition is in August and it'll be my 3rd one so far.

Q: Very nice! How did you start exhibiting your work?

I actually have a graphic design day job and I started drawing because it is useful for design work. I started working on my personal art on weekends and weekday evenings. I’m really lucky because a gallery in Tokyo approached me to exhibit and sell my work, and I've done it with them a few times.

Q: Where do you draw inspiration from?

It comes from my daily life. I find that my imagination really starts to flow when I look at food or animals. Those are my favourite subjects. My hobbies are taking photos and walking, and it helps me get references and ideas so I can draw what I see.

Even when I set out to draw something, I don’t always end up drawing exactly what I had in mind, so I just draw whatever catches my eye, and try not to force it.

Q: How does walking and photography contribute to your art making?

I love walking along the river bank near my house. I find that inspiration strikes while I’m out walking. I think photography helps me develop a sense of balance when it comes to the composition and arrangement of my work.

Q: What do you consider first?

I'm drawn first to shapes. I also feel that it is important to get the colours right, so I choose 3 main colours to work with. It’s important in creating a balanced composition. I like to draw things that are recognisable, but in my style - simple yet memorable.

To end our time together, Shiori led me to the open area at Garden Place at Ebisu. She used to work in the area and would come to enjoy the vibe and to people-watch. As we watched people enjoying their Sunday afternoons, I realise how much nostalgia is subtly imbued into Shiori’s work. Using crayons (like we probably would have as children), she recreates familiar animals and objects through her use of simple shapes and bold colours. I love how she is open approach to her art, making it both enjoyable and stress-free.