What I'm Living In ... Kentaro Yoshida

Missing ramen, hoping for surf. Days in lockdown with the Northern Beaches-based artist and illustrator.

You totally know the artwork of Kentaro Yoshida. Pastel-toned, delicate line drawings that hold you in front of them. They're bold and brash and funny and make you want more.

Born and raised in a rural fishing village in Toyama, Japan, Yoshida headed our way in search of surf and warmer skies. We caught up with artist and illustrator to learn a little more about what it's like being a creative in iso, and what he's been living in.

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How did you find yourself calling the Northern Beaches home?
"It’s kind of coincidence to pick up Northern Beaches as first destination when I first arrived at Sydney in 2004. Since then I have been stuck in this area, and having local friends, surfing around few beaches and learnt Aussie English and culture from environment. So I find myself comfortable and home in Northern Beaches."

What do you miss most about Japan?
"I missed friends, izakaya, ramen and a lot of things, but I miss the most is my family over there now. Maybe I am grown up enough. I also miss winter fashion over there, specially my home town has lots of snow during winter. We layers T-shirts, shirts, sweater and Jackets / outer(wear) there, but not so much layers we need in Sydney."

Tell us a little about your process - how do you like to work?
"I start from rough pencil sketch and then work on final line drawing, then I colour it after with my colour palette or parallel with line drawing. Regardless digital or analogue, it follows the same process. Apart from actual process, I like burning incense while drawing. I like watching smoke coming out and changing its shape."

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Has your process changed since lockdown?
"I think it has changed my work flow a bit for sure. Fortunately I got jobs during COVID-19 time, but I get a lot of digital drawing / illustration jobs so that I could work from home. I miss painting brushes and rollers on bigger wall so I would love to go back on it after lock down is over, hopefully soon."

Where do you look for inspiration?
"I think I look for it from what I observe in my daily life routine. It could be at during surf, or hanging out at local pub [pre iso] or anything. Just observing people or communicating with them and I always find something funny or curious, then I drop them into my illustration. I guess I am a foreigner so cruising in Aussie environment still fresh and interesting for me."

What's your go-to album / playlist right now?
"I listen to Japanese hip hop most of the time so always dig upcoming artists from YouTube or Spotify. I also listen 88rising artists and playlist often as they are rising Asian in the scene, which I respect a lot."

Hot tips for young players - what advice would you offer anyone looking to make their way as an artist these days?
"I think be honest [with] yourself would be good thing to do. If you want to be an illustrator, you draw stuff you like everyday. That’s the simplest practice I think."