I was at the Japanese book store the other day and picked up a copy of Fineboys, a delightful how-to hair style magazine for young men. Each page features photos of stunningly gorgeous young Japanese men modeling the latest elaborate shaggy coiffures so coveted by today's modern trend setters. Medium: graphite, watercolor in moleskine sketchbook, digital color.
Each photo is accompanied by styling instructions, product endorsements, side and back view photos, and a rather scientific diagram detailing head shape, measurements and upkeep. Medium: ink in moleskine sketchbook, digital color.
Here's a scan of one of my favorite hairstyles. I like it because it looks like a Christmas tree. I want to string festive lights around it, hang ornaments on each of the branches, maybe tuck a few presents under it.
Some of the boys look like ethereal forest elves who wear pink lipstick and smell of roses. Sure, I took some artistic license and made his ears a wee bit more pointy, but I swear it's not that much of an exaggeration. Medium: gouache, ink, scrap of Japanese newspaper in moleskine sketchbook.
While other boys look as though they've emerged from a thorny briar patch. Medium: ink in moleskine sketchbook.
Your work is so amazing and you are so funny.
Renee xoxo
Posted by: Renee Khan | July 29, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Magnificent!
Posted by: midevil | July 30, 2009 at 11:12 PM
I read a story about one of these japanese boys who was turning a job down. He was trying to decide whether to style his hair on the day he was going to decline the offer and couldn't decide because custom dictated that in order for the boss to save face he was able to pour cold noodle soup over the the would-be employees head in front of the staff.
Posted by: Glenn Maguire | July 30, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Oooh! Love them all, especially briar patch boy!
Posted by: k | July 31, 2009 at 05:32 AM
These pieces came out so well. The term "unsettling beauty" is a dead on description to describe these guy's appearance, because, WOW, are these guys efeminate looking. I am not saying this as a dig against their looks, but the images are striking. And, as always, you're artwork is amazing, 14!
Posted by: MJed Lance VT | August 02, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Your art is nice, but when you do your "make fun of japanese culture" artwork, its getting abit repeatitive, especially with the little nonsensical english, and little octopus bear things. I think it would have been better without that, its like you just thought, oh lets throw in an octopus bear thing, what the hey!.
Posted by: chichi | August 06, 2009 at 04:18 AM
Chichi,
I'm sorry the octopus bear and the reverse engrish offends you. I certainly have no intention of "making fun of Japanese culture" because if you ask me, it's one of the most compelling cultures on our planet.
As for the "octopus bear", I just threw that in because of all the silly cartoon things Japanese products tend to throw on their packaging. All the little cartoon figures of things like smiling toilet brushes, happy crabs (spotted on a package of "Party Crab" snacks) and gleeful vacuum cleaners never fail to delight me.
LONG LIVE JAPAN!
xoxo
14
Posted by: 14 | August 06, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Japanese do it better.
I love this rice boy chic.
Posted by: Sweet Subversion | August 06, 2009 at 08:16 PM
Hi 14! One of the things I miss about living in Japan is the pretty J-boys. Hours of entertainment. One of my students wrote in her journal one time about a rock start she loved, "He is a man, but he is a beauty." Classic. After seeing this post and your previous testosterone freaks, I'd love to see your rendition of a body builder with a pretty J-boy head. Interesting mutant.
Keep up the good work. You are a great talent!
Posted by: Shanna | August 09, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Sennyo--so lithe and graceful that his black-booted feet barely clicked against the cement--strode along Kawaramachi-dori placidly. The neon danced, chanted, and screamed against the pavement, and the honeycombs of windows refracted it all back; but no garish hue, no harsh light, no cumbersome display of emotion dared violate the boy's elegant features. His pale and gently chiseled face generated its own light.
He owned this Asphalt-and-Illusion-choked stretch of Kyoto. The pachinko palaces vomited up dozens of almost-as-beautiful kids in eye-straining blues, pinks, and reds; and the eyes of locals and gaijin alike glowed from the artificial illumination. Every one of them either ran with Sennyo, or were potential prey for him and his Fineboys.
Posted by: YugenUshin | August 24, 2009 at 12:21 AM