Power Up! Simmer Down exhibition. Cafe Zenon, Tokyo

Pics from our exhibition, Power Up! Simmer Down, at Cafe Zenon in Kichijoji, Tokyo.

Louise produced 5 figures and I painted 10 characters.

Thanks to our friends in Japan for their support especially Katsuya and Yusei!

Japan watercolours

A series of watercolours based on the sketchbook work I produced in Japan (see previous posts).

All available to buy as prints HERE.

Japan Part 2

Here's my two Japan sketchbooks. Feel free to have a look through them!

Video 25-03-2015 15 31 59 from Jonathan Edwards on Vimeo.

Video 23-03-2015 10 07 12 from Jonathan Edwards on Vimeo.

Japan sketches part 1

If you follow me on any social media then you'll know I've been in Tokyo recently. It was inspiring as ever. Here's a selection of drawings and paintings I did while I was there.

Kitsune and Dragon at the Soma Gallery

Here's two new pieces I produced for our show at the Soma Gallery. Both are A1 brush pen drawings and are available to buy framed or unframed from the gallery. Also available are a selection of prints of my tree drawings from last year's Japan residency (presented below by G'goob!) alongside some of my other Japan prints. The show runs until September 15th.

Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. What a place! My only complaint was that I was too old to play on the Catbus. An outrage.

Akaoni Takoyaki restaurant

Another Takoyaki restaurant on Dotonbori, Osaka. This is one is called "Aka-Oni" (Red Demon) for obvious reasons. Well, perhaps not that obvious in black and white.

Teahouse, Nara Park

Another Japan drawing, this time a teahouse in Nara Park.

Pontochō, Kyoto

Another Japan sketch, this time it's Pontochō in Kyoto. Narrow streets full of tea houses, geisha houses and restaurants. There's no way I could ever do it justice in a drawing!

Takoyaki Restaurant/Konamon museum, Osaka

Another drawing of a Dotonbori restaurant. These are studies for what will hopefully be a series of colour illustrations/prints.

UPDATE - Now available as a limited edition print here.

Kinryu Ramen Bar, Osaka

A sketch based on a few photos of I took in Dotonbori, Osaka last year. This is the Kinryu Ramen bar. Famous for it's huge ornamental dragon. Dotonbori is the only place in the world where you can become blasé about giant anamatronic crabs! I miss it.

"Konichiwa, Japan" book

Our "Konichiwa, Japan!" book is now available from my online shop. It's a 32 page, full colour, A5 book collecting the work I did with Felt Mistress as part of our 5 weeks residency in Japan. Makes an ideal Christmas present! Ad break over.

Japan - The Headspace Monster event, Osaka

We're back from Japan. Japan was incredible (as always). It's hard to believe you can become blase about giant animatronic crabs but that's Japan for you. Sugoi desu ne. Our month in Japan was spent working towards the Headspace "Monster" event at Cafe Absinthe in Osaka. This was the art and music event that we were headlining(!). Earlier in the trip we met up with Osaka-based fashion designer, Kyoko Amano, and her team. Louise had made a doll specifically for the collaboration. I was asked to create creatures based on Osaka's iconic Sun Tower and the illustrations were then used to create a kimono fabric (designed by Tamotsu Shimada). Louise used this fabric to dress Fenella Snark (our monster catwalk model) and Kyoko dressed a real model in the same fabric.The day of the Headspace event was the first time we'd seen these photographs and we were completely blown away. Kyoko, Tamotsu, Hario (make-up artist) and Kozo (photographer) had done an amazing job. Way beyond anything we'd anticipated. Same goes for the decoration of the doors and DJ booths using my illustrations. For more pics of Louise's work for Osaka click HERE.

The event itself was hugely enjoyable. The incomparable Diane Orrett was the MC and music was provided by bands downstairs and DJs upstairs (see HERE for the full line-up) and I spent the night doing some live painting - one of my own and another smaller collaboration with Osaka artist, Hemneko. Other artists involved included Boss Hiko, Ben McDonough, David Bateman and many others exhibiting throughout the venue. What a night! Thanks to everyone involved but in particular Jamie, Aiko, Lee, Kyoko, Tamotsu, Kozo, Hario, Diane, Seth, Mariko, Nancy, Yukiyo and Noriko. That night was pretty much the highlight of our year. Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Forest Queen auction painting

My painting (Forest Queen) for the Headspace Tohoku Relief auction. Posca, acrylic, Indian ink.

3 Headspace Paintings

Set of three paintings for the Headspace "Monster" event in Osaka. Top to bottom - "Ice Cream Jean", "Harry Hachi", "Fish Griff". More photos of the night soon.

Work in progress

Tomorrow is the Headspace Monster event at Cafe Absinthe, Osaka. I'm still painting but it's almost all done. Here's a quick WIP.

Kimono fabric

One of the most exciting parts of the Headspace residency has been the collaboration with Osaka-based fashion designer, Kyoko Amano. I was asked to draw a creature based on Osaka's iconic Tower of the Sun. This image was then incorporated into a design and printed onto fabric. The fabric is to be used by Louise on one of the characters created exclusively for the Headspace event and will also be used to dress (an actual, living!) model by Kyoko inspired by our character. Here's my original illustration and a sneak peek of the fabric. All will be revealed on Saturday...

Kayamori House sliding doors mural

This weekend while Louise was holding a monster making workshop at Kayamori House I painted this mural on the sliding doors in the same room. It's been a great weekend. Met loads of interesting people. Let's do it again sometime.