How Japanese style Illustration works

2 Jun 2006 Category: Features, Illustration, Japan

How Japanese style Illustration works

Astronaut floating by Gez Fry for Count Down

In 2002 Gez Fry decided, that he wants to make a living out of Japanese style illustration - without being experienced in drawing. Locking himself up in his bedroom in London he studied big masters like Masamune Shirow and developed enough skill and an astonishing portfolio to jump into the big market - within only 2 years. Here are some of his comments about how he draws, develops characters and why the Japanese Manga market is so tough.

written by Uleshka

1. Gez, what made you want to be an illustrator in the first place? I heard you actually studied languages before?

My original plan was to be a diplomat - that is why i learned languages - but I realized that I then could only be living in Japan for four years. I really wanted to be in Japan with my future wife and thought that freelancing in art would allow me to live wherever I want.

a boy’s dream illustration by Gez

a boy’s dream illustration by Gez

Wow! So you threw away your life of being a diplomat out of love and decided to become an illustrator instead!?? I never hear that before. And you really have guts to try your luck in Japan: that is about the hardest country when it comes to competing with other very skilled illustrators!

Yes, I know… When I grew up, I really loved reading comics by Joe Madureira (X-Men) and Masamune Shirow (Ghost In The Shell) - and one of my big motivations for drawing was that I wanted to be able to draw like them one day. I started really late, though (smiles) and never went to art school, but my mom is an illustrator and I learnt a lot from her in those two years hiding in my bedroom. Then and agent picked me up and I was pretty lucky going from earning no money to being able to make a living out of it over night.

2. How do you survive in Japan? You call it artistic mecca, but don’t you get eaten alive in this competitive market?

Basically, I get a few jobs from Japan but most of my jobs come from the States and England. There are not that many people who can do animation style or Japanese style outside Japan and it’s quite hot right now. But what I really want to do is to break into Japan, but therefor I must work a lot harder…

combining natural media with computer illustration: a collaboration with French photographer Stephane Tartelin who took those photos with a pinhole camera…

… Gez illustrating on top

3. Photoshop versus paper drawing

How do you draw? Do you need a lot of sketches or do you go straight to the computer?

I do pretty much everything in Photoshop.

Many people do, but I think that 99% of the Japanese illustrators still start on paper. If you have that ability to do a good drawing on paper, there is certainly a material satisfaction to it and it feels a lot nicer to have something solid. All I have is a paper print out - that is it. Doing everything in Photoshop has a lot of advantages, though and more and more people do the same.


ad for Evisu, Britain - Japanese style with new elements

Evisu detail

Ghee - I can’t believe it is all Photoshop! How do you do it?

I design a rough in the computer (pretty small), then I blow it up and have a proper go at it. There are tons of advantages in using Photoshop when you draw: you can zoom in really close, you can flip the picture to get a new view on it and see if the composition still works, work in layers and move things around afterwards…. all that stuff is nearly impossible with a pencil drawing.

And the downsides of Photoshop?

Since I learned how to draw on the computer using the pallet - I feel really uncomfortable drawing without it, so I always have to take a laptop with me.

Another thing is, that you tend to get too trigger happy with the undo-button and can’t decide on anything. If you try to keep your hand away from that button - it usually turns out better.

These esthetics really look like a pen or a brush… Or some lines could almost be vectors… Is there nothing else you use?

If you work with high resolution, you can really get a pen or pencil look. I sometimes use Painter which emulates natural painting. You can get brush stroke marks and that kind of stuff - and then take it back into Photoshop. Sometimes it turns out really digital - so you have to just try it out.


illustration for Hot Version magazine

girls and cars - Hot Version magazine cover illustration

4. How long does it usually take for you to finish a drawing?

Well that depends on the client, really. This one was for a Japanese car magazine called Hot Version - they write about drift cars and that kind of stuff. They knew exactly what they wanted: a girl standing on the left, cars… I put it all in the rough and they liked it right away. After that we went back and forth, because I couldn’t really get the colors right. From start to finish it took several weeks, but the actual drawing time probably took me two days: one to do the lines and another day to do the colors.

detail of a Manga-illustration series by Gez

5. What would it be like to draw a whole Manga?

I am trying to make a story where each of these will be a page, but it is not very structured and more of a visual thing.

Doesn’t it scare you as an illustrator to see, how Mangas are consumed here every day? Like flipping through a telephone book, reading in a glance and then: garbage! I suppose that must break an illustrator’s heart…

I think that there are big fans out there who buy the whole collection of a particular Manga artist, but the majority of the pieces don’t get collected, that’s true. But I think that this disposable mentality is one of the reasons why Japan’s comics market is so healthy!

image of a Manga-illustration series by Gez

Oh!? Why do you think it is better not to worship each drawing of a comic? Isn’t that what all illustrators wish to happen?

In America for example they treat comics like artwork. They keep it really clean and collect it, which sounds cool from an art point of view, but the whole industry is completely deteriorating because it takes too much time and effort to create the pics. They can’t ever get a long story like this and have to keep it really simple - therefor the reader’s finally lost interest! Compared to 20 years ago the American comics in the market are a small percentage of what they used to be.

On the one hand it’s a real shame to throw things away, but then you have to make a choice: art for the sake of collecting or art for the sake of the story - which makes the story more fun to read.

I see… so what do the Americans do wrong?

I don’t know what exactly it is that they do wrong, but there are a few things. First of, they have an assembly line to make the comic: 6 different people each in charge of different aspects of the comic, which then often feels a little disjointed. In Japan there is quite a hierarchic system: one boss having a vision and a style telling all his assistants exactly what to draw… which seems to work better for the story in the end.

So - could you picture yourself doing Manga instead of Manga-style illustration, after all?

No, I could never do Manga! First of all I wouldn’t want to be one of those assistants (big grin) and then, if I was to draw 100 pages I would treat each picture as an individual picture and take too long for it. I just wouldn’t be able to produce 4 pages a day - which is what the Japanese do! The Americans do about 1 page every 1-2 days.

Rebelstar 2 character illustration

6. Developing Anime characters

Gez, you developed lots of characters already. Some were an Anime-fication of a real persons, then your portfolio shows a lot of free fantasy figures, characters for games like Rebelstar for Namco USA, you developed things for Adobe, Evisu, Firetrap, Buena Vista International and the BBC… How do you develop those characters?

For the Rebelstar2 game for Namco USA for instance, my briefing was something like: a young guy with a scar on his face, a leader of some Luke Skywalker- type of character - and I wanted to give it a bit of originality.


the main hero of Rebelstar 2

and a beautiful freak on his side

Was that illustration enough to base a video game on it? How are those video-game characters usually invented?

It depends! Most companies have in-house concept artist developing the characters, but I think for this game they wanted a slightly Japanese style character, which would also be accessible for Americans, so that is why they came to ask me.

illustration as part of the astronauts series

Doing the character designs is the first step in the process and then they go and develop the 3D characters from that. I’m not really involved into Rebelstar2 anymore, but I don’t think they started with the 3D modeling yet. I did 20 characters for the series on the Gameboy Advance, for this later one, the Rebelstar2 I did 7 characters for the sequel on the PSP, which will be out in about a year and a half from now.

It’s not going to be huge or anything, but it was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see my characters in 3D!

7. What will you do next?

So the main part of your work is character development, Japanese style animation for big companies, a little game-fantasy touch… but you also experiment with a mix with natural photography.

Is this really you, Gez Fry? - Yes, this is me on a very bad day…ha ha ha

Yes, I think this is what I have been doing mainly so far. I made these drawings for my portfolio to get more games work. I really enjoyed doing it but it is not 100% me…

If you had all the freedom, what WOULD you draw?

I really like Takashi Murakami, actually: the superflat stuff! What I try out now at the moment is to get into Ukiyo-e combined with some of this stuff. Imagine some drawing elements, some Ukiyo-e style and some Takashi Murakami flatness. That is something I experiment with for myself at the moment. Let’s see, where that takes me.

recent experiments: a combination of illustration, Ukiyo-e and some Takashi Murakami flatness

Ukiyo-e illustration detail

Gez Fry on a sunny day

Gez, thank you very much! I am still impressed that you quit your diplomat’s career to become an illustrator - for love!

202 Comments

  1. This article is definitely a MUST read! Very informative! :D

    Posted by: Ben Tong on June 2nd, 2006 at 10:44 pm

  2. Holly geez Gez :) .
    You are very determinded are you?
    I am going to be your fan for you strong will and great style for only two years of study.

    Posted by: Kuswanto on June 2nd, 2006 at 11:33 pm

  3. Respect!!
    I’m totally amazed by ur works, and more by ur determination!

    Posted by: Agus Wijaya on June 2nd, 2006 at 11:40 pm

  4. Madd Respect!

    Posted by: augustus on June 3rd, 2006 at 12:50 am

  5. Even for only two years of practice, that’s pretty amazing. I’d like to hear more on his methods of how he trained himself.

    Posted by: Dranore on June 3rd, 2006 at 1:26 am

  6. cool works,I love the style!

    Posted by: MUDE on June 3rd, 2006 at 1:49 am

  7. Excellent work. I especially like the lighting in the “astronaut” and “boy’s dream” series. Fantastic.

    Posted by: mkuehn on June 3rd, 2006 at 2:20 am

  8. great!great!great!
    make me have to name you twice:
    Gez Gez
    from now on, i’m you super fans

    Posted by: ChuLi on June 3rd, 2006 at 2:34 am

  9. [...] http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/06/02/how-japanese-style-illustration-works/ [...]

    Posted by: Simulacre | Blog Archive | British Illustrator works in Japanese Manga Style on June 3rd, 2006 at 3:13 am

  10. Great work!
    Very inspiring and bright article!

    Posted by: Mindaugas on June 3rd, 2006 at 4:21 am

  11. Hey I think the gezfry website link is missing from this article, hehe here it is … http://www.gezfry.com/

    Cool artwork!

    Posted by: Dupy on June 3rd, 2006 at 4:49 am

  12. Now I wanna quit my job and spend two years learning to draw (better). Yes!

    Posted by: dunsany on June 3rd, 2006 at 4:52 am

  13. [...] http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/06/02/how-japanese-style-illustration-works/ [...]

    Posted by: keesj blogt » Blog Archive » How Japanese style Illustration works on June 3rd, 2006 at 9:14 am

  14. Upside-down BOOBIEZ!@!! Yay

    Posted by: Pete on June 3rd, 2006 at 9:28 am

  15. Awesome, I really want to draw like that..but than again i dont have the motivation like you. Sigh, I need to stop procrastinating..

    Posted by: Ilya Radchenko on June 3rd, 2006 at 9:43 am

  16. nice work!

    reminds me of Japanese influences upon Vincent van Gogh’s

    http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/artcurr/asian/vangogh.htm

    Japonism and Japanisme: the influences of Japanese culture upon Western art

    Posted by: gjiro on June 3rd, 2006 at 10:07 am

  17. Umm… people. Gez didn’t go from not being able to draw anything (like me and you) to being amazing in two years. He was born that way. What he did in two years was refine his skill (possibly a lot).

    Posted by: Chris on June 3rd, 2006 at 10:18 am

  18. Excellent. As an aspiring illustrator this article was really inspirational. Thank you Ping Mag. I love your site. :)

    Posted by: Lori on June 3rd, 2006 at 10:30 am

  19. Well the article do not really says “how he does” (using photo references 3d, ect. ect) his art, only like what he does. But actually I think there is no way he learned to draw like that in 2 years, but he could learn to “become a professional illustrator” in 2 years. I guess it’s a big difference.

    Posted by: kidintwo3 on June 3rd, 2006 at 11:21 am

  20. Gez for teh win! :)

    Posted by: Siggi on June 3rd, 2006 at 12:07 pm

  21. [...] Locking himself up in his bedroom in London, Gez Fry studied big masters like Masamune Shirow and developed enough skill and an astonishing portfolio to jump into the big market - within only 2 years. Here are some of his comments about how he draws, develops characters and why the Japanese Manga market is so tough.read more | digg story [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese style Illustration works - The Digg Effect - Search for Diggs or get Dugg on June 3rd, 2006 at 12:50 pm

  22. two years!? i’m impressed, floored.
    i’m thinking that i have to lock myself up as well.

    i wont give up hope :D

    Posted by: carolina on June 3rd, 2006 at 12:52 pm

  23. wow im impressed u give a new york city girl the inpiration not to give up in her dreams. great drawings and your style priceless.

    Posted by: emikoftokyo on June 3rd, 2006 at 2:37 pm

  24. Stussy?…

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 3rd, 2006 at 2:53 pm

  25. why do all of the questions make it sound like the interviewer’s mouth was glued to your cock?

    Posted by: max on June 3rd, 2006 at 3:19 pm

  26. [...] Source: PingMag Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

    Posted by: info-ninja » Japanese style illustration just works. on June 3rd, 2006 at 4:04 pm

  27. It is possible to learn to draw in two years. You need to have time for that and motivation. However it is more difficult to enter succesfuly this market in two years from when you start learning to draw. This is what astonishing!

    Posted by: Mindaugas on June 3rd, 2006 at 4:37 pm

  28. hi, u talk was very inspiring may be i have wasted my few years …but behind all this is what i wanted …thanx a million man….determination can make it happen all…proven by u..do u have any personal website

    Posted by: ankit sharma on June 3rd, 2006 at 5:12 pm

  29. Oh! His art is beautiful! Thanks for this article, I must go find out more.

    Posted by: Jonathan on June 3rd, 2006 at 5:13 pm

  30. Something really inspiring, I loved the first illustration “Astronaut floating”, but what I’m really astonished by is the Photoshop, I never knew that these things can be or being done on Photoshop.

    Posted by: Rida Al Barazi on June 3rd, 2006 at 5:31 pm

  31. Very Good Comparison… That’s a really Great Illustrations too… :)

    –
    Balakumar Muthu
    http://i5bala.blogspot.com

    Posted by: Balakumar Muthu on June 3rd, 2006 at 7:21 pm

  32. [...] 在digg碰上一個有關ACG的topic How Japanese style Illustration works (是一個外國人以實力打回日本的故事) [...]

    Posted by: anacel的碎碎念 » digg on June 3rd, 2006 at 10:02 pm

  33. [...] There’s a lot to like about this article in PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” about Gez Fry, an American illustrator living in Tokyo. There’s the guy’s art, which is great, and his discussion of technique, which is interesting, and his account of how he gave up his plans to be a diplomat so he could be a freelance illustrator and follow his wife to Japan. And there’s some interesting commentary on manga versus American comics. It starts with his reflection on the throwaway nature of Japanese phonebook manga: I think that there are big fans out there who buy the whole collection of a particular Manga artist, but the majority of the pieces don’t get collected, that’s true. But I think that this disposable mentality is one of the reasons why Japan’s comics market is so healthy! [...]

    Posted by: MangaBlog » Blog Archive » PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about on June 3rd, 2006 at 10:48 pm

  34. [...] Came across an article, How Japanese style Illustration works, about a new artist named Gez Fry, who is not Japanese but as quoted “wants to make a living out of Japanese style illustration – without being experienced in drawing.” Yet, in 2 two years time, he developed enough skill and a great portfolio to make it into the market. What amazed me is how little time he took and how he did all of his drawing on Photoshop entirely. [...]

    Posted by: Illustration, Modern Art, Commercial at ntitletoluv on June 3rd, 2006 at 11:53 pm

  35. Great article!

    Posted by: Nikita on June 4th, 2006 at 1:33 am

  36. Very inspirational! Thanks and good luck Gez!

    Posted by: Alex M on June 4th, 2006 at 2:20 am

  37. [...] Source: PingMag [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese Style Illustration Works - Hemmy.net, A source of varied interests on June 4th, 2006 at 4:52 am

  38. [...] Ping Mag has an interesting article about Giz Fry: [...]

    Posted by: ZachStroum.com » Blog Archive » Gez Fry on June 4th, 2006 at 6:19 am

  39. Looks Great! you know your like me I am not japanese but write japanese style music(jpop all that) I did pretty much what you have done to learn the styles and production. And you could break it down to pencil work being like composing on paper with a piano, to your photoshop being like doing the production and arrangement using samples a sequencer, plugins etc.^_- Very Cool!

    Posted by: StrangeCat on June 4th, 2006 at 9:17 am

  40. I think I want to kill you and suck your brain out.
    Your wonderfull.

    Posted by: Juchi on June 4th, 2006 at 11:38 am

  41. Now I bow and salute Thee….

    Posted by: Rafa on June 4th, 2006 at 1:35 pm

  42. Nice Article. Btw Gez tell Japan to stop making Naruto Filler Episodes! Heh.

    ^_^

    -Joshua

    Posted by: Joshua James on June 4th, 2006 at 1:50 pm

  43. [...] [ Link ] [...]

    Posted by: Interview: Gez Fry, Animator and Illustrator. at Gargles on June 4th, 2006 at 10:16 pm

  44. Hello I am from portugal and love anime, if you want to send me quality links please do to my email paulo_coelho@post.com.
    great article !
    ciao
    paulo

    Posted by: Paulo Coelho on June 4th, 2006 at 11:47 pm

  45. “Umm… people. Gez didn’t go from not being able to draw anything (like me and you) to being amazing in two years. He was born that way. What he did in two years was refine his skill (possibly a lot).”

    Well he probably drew a lot before those 2 years too.

    -
    A

    p.s. I thought the interviewer’s questions were very affectionate and nice.

    Posted by: andrew jones on June 4th, 2006 at 11:57 pm

  46. insane, just insane. now if I had mad skills like that.

    Posted by: aaron on June 5th, 2006 at 2:01 am

  47. You’re my hero!

    Posted by: frontin on June 5th, 2006 at 7:46 am

  48. I’d like to know a little more about what exactly that “shutting myself away for two years” bit meant. Just practicing? sketching? copying others works?

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 5th, 2006 at 12:25 pm

  49. A very good article.
    Its inspiring! This is called be passionate to achieving something.

    Posted by: Paavani on June 5th, 2006 at 2:35 pm

  50. [...] Uncle Roger (no relation…) sent a really interesting interview with an American who specializes in drawing manga style. Interesting insights on a field I’m currently working in… [...]

    Posted by: OOKEE.com » Blog Archive » How to Draw Manga Style on June 5th, 2006 at 3:47 pm

  51. Beautiful work, really inspiring - still can’t believe that you just use computer with no paper/pencil. One of my all-time heroes of comic book art - Brian Bolland - he’s forsaken the paper and pencil and produces his work digitally now. I’m still a bit spooked about doing this myself…

    Posted by: Steve on June 5th, 2006 at 5:08 pm

  52. Very beautiful artwork and very inspirational! I’ve only seen Gez Fry’s work once on the cover of ‘Marvelai’ and didn’t know he has such an impressive gallery of work.

    Posted by: G on June 5th, 2006 at 6:41 pm

  53. Wow! This really inspired me to do more manga-style drawing… But I know I don’t have as much as determination as Gez for this kind of work. But mind-blowing illustrations like those done for animes like The Place Promised in our Early Days & Voices of a Distant Star are something I would aim for. I’m currently only doing web design which is far from illustration but some say there is no such thing as talent, only practice and determination!
    Again, respect for Gez’s hard work and determination to get where he is now ;)

    Posted by: Istvan P. on June 6th, 2006 at 2:26 am

  54. Wow, I have a new idol, and your from england Peace out dude!

    Posted by: Badger on June 6th, 2006 at 3:27 am

  55. Thank you! Now I feel inspired enough to finish that illustration book i´ve been working for so long!

    Posted by: Mie on June 6th, 2006 at 3:58 am

  56. [...] Gez Fry In PingMag (via Coudal) [...]

    Posted by: Pig Pen - Web Standards Compliant Web Design Blog » Blog Archive » Gez Fry In PingMag on June 6th, 2006 at 9:32 am

  57. fuckin grat artwork man! i love it !!

    Posted by: monk on June 7th, 2006 at 12:12 pm

  58. [...] [...]

    Posted by: Visual Movement Weblog » Blog Archive » How Japanese style Illustration works on June 8th, 2006 at 8:27 am

  59. [...] [...]

    Posted by: Visual Movement Weblog » Blog Archive » How Japanese style Illustration works on June 8th, 2006 at 8:27 am

  60. [...] * For complete article please click here! [...]

    Posted by: LAB » Blog Archive » How Japanese style Illustration works on June 8th, 2006 at 11:31 am

  61. Wow.. I’ve seen this guy’s art quite a few times. I’ve always wondered who this guy was… Awesome talent and an awesome story!!!

    Posted by: C. N. Willingham on June 8th, 2006 at 3:52 pm

  62. Very good information, this will change my life as a game programmer and graphics designer, time to warm up my scanner …

    Posted by: Wissam on June 10th, 2006 at 3:20 am

  63. [...] How Japanese style Illustration works [...]

    Posted by: Specfuckingtacular » Links of the Week on June 10th, 2006 at 3:33 am

  64. This article was amazingly informative… GezFry did pretty much exactly what I wanted to do with my future. Now I have a new idol!

    Posted by: Sae on June 10th, 2006 at 10:30 am

  65. your skill is very stunning!!your skill is already at international level! I really want to talk to you directly…me myself is an comic artist…. would you take a look at my website?and…if you would..please tell me your E-mail…..I want to know more about Comic Art….

    Bloody..

    Posted by: Bloody Sekhmet on June 12th, 2006 at 9:29 pm

  66. man! you aren’t human! your work is astonishing. really, i´m amazed.

    Posted by: alisson on June 13th, 2006 at 10:12 pm

  67. Wow Gez! The pieces for Hot Version and the collaboration with Stephane Tartelin are amazing. You handle female figures beautifully & your colouring is super graceful. I too shall be locking myself in my bedroom now…

    Posted by: Erica on June 17th, 2006 at 6:57 am

  68. [...] PingMag’s How Japanese style Illustration works. A good comparison of Japanese and American comic books, with an explaination of why comics are hugely sucessful in Japan, but not America. [...]

    Posted by: Dan Century » Friday Fun: the Japan-Only Edition! on June 19th, 2006 at 9:40 pm

  69. That is serious talent!

    Posted by: Laynie on June 22nd, 2006 at 12:31 am

  70. very inspiring

    Posted by: godote on July 1st, 2006 at 5:26 am

  71. [...] Accidentally found this at Telophase’s Livejournal. It is an article from an online Japanese magazine PingMag which is running an interview with Gez Fry called How Japanese style Illustration works. In some ways you could skip the interview and just look at the gorgeous pictures because the artwork really is stunning, but the interview is good too. [...]

    Posted by: Love Manga » Blog Archive » Gez Fry Interview on July 2nd, 2006 at 3:49 am

  72. wow..that a great art,and just for two years..?! salute for you…and nice article

    Posted by: cleber on July 3rd, 2006 at 3:02 am

  73. [...] Address: [Click here to visit the source website] [...]

    Posted by: Coffee and Links: Start your day off right! on July 13th, 2006 at 5:38 am

  74. [...] Japanese Style Illustration with Photoshop From the Gez Fry Interview: [...]

    Posted by: Creation Engine Blog » Blog Archive » Japanese Style Illustration with Photoshop on July 13th, 2006 at 6:00 am

  75. [...] Mark Frauenfelder: PingMag, a Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and making Things,” interviewed Gez Fry, who learned to draw by studying Japanese-style illustration for two years. Q: I can’t believe it is all Photoshop! How do you do it? A: I design a rough in the computer (pretty small), then I blow it up and have a proper go at it. There are tons of advantages in using Photoshop when you draw: you can zoom in really close, you can flip the picture to get a new view on it and see if the composition still works, work in layers and move things around afterwards…. all that stuff is nearly impossible with a pencil drawing. Q: And the downsides of Photoshop? A: Since I learned how to draw on the computer using the pallet — I feel really uncomfortable drawing without it, so I always have to take a laptop with me. Another thing is, that you tend to get too trigger happy with the undo-button and can’t decide on anything. If you try to keep your hand away from that button - it usually turns out better. Link [...]

    Posted by: theblogverse.com » Archives » The art of Gez Fry on July 13th, 2006 at 9:20 am

  76. Do you think you can manage to do something here:

    http://www.mainada.net/comicssketch/

    Is a free webapp to draw comics :D hope you enjoy it.

    Posted by: Comics on July 13th, 2006 at 7:13 pm

  77. [...] Das PingMag hat ein hervorragendes Interview mit Gez Fry über seinen Weg zum Illustrator mit dem Titel How Japanese style Illustration works geführt. [...]

    Posted by: TechNovelty » Illustrationen im Anime-Stil on July 13th, 2006 at 8:30 pm

  78. [...] How Modern Japanese-style Illustration works [...]

    Posted by: Tales from the Bookcase Forest » Links for 07/13/2006 on July 14th, 2006 at 4:55 am

  79. [...] 11 - British dude does Japanese Manga-style drawings…in Photoshop PingMag interviews Gez Fry, manga-style artist who does all his work on computer, no pens or pencils or paper at all. Lots of his artwork on the page too, good stuff. (tags: artist interview images Fry Gez design style Manga Japanese illustration art) [...]

    Posted by: Velcro City Tourist Board » Blog Archive » Links for 14-07-2006 on July 14th, 2006 at 11:22 am

  80. [...] How Modern Japanese-style Illustration works [...]

    Posted by: Tales from the Bookcase Forest » Links for 07/14/2006 on July 14th, 2006 at 9:23 pm

  81. amazing. i wouldn’t mind locking myself in a room and studying gez for a few years. hahaha. but i really do love the manga, ukiyo-e, murakami style stuff. very inspiring.

    Posted by: karen on July 19th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

  82. That’s a lot of development in such little time. I’ve been drawing my whole life so far and I’m still nowhere near as good as Gez. That’s a little humbling … but at the same time, a little inspiring. Keep up the great work, dude.

    Posted by: Allison on July 27th, 2006 at 11:24 am

  83. great work! hats off for you gez! im also an artist(neophite) and i really adore your works.you really give justice to what you call works of art.

    Posted by: baden,philippines on July 27th, 2006 at 11:57 pm

  84. [...] Link [...]

    Posted by: newsBreaks.net » The art of Gez Fry on July 29th, 2006 at 12:02 am

  85. [...] Link [...]

    Posted by: newsBreaks.net » The art of Gez Fry on July 29th, 2006 at 12:02 am

  86. [...] Ilustraci

    Posted by: xoyaz - Un blog de dise on August 1st, 2006 at 10:49 pm

  87. Wow, that is awesome stuff. Well done! Good for you abotu the diplomat thing! That’s great!
    Congratulations again!

    Posted by: Sponge on August 5th, 2006 at 2:34 pm

  88. WOW WOW WOW…..within 2 years and learn all by urself??????? omg….
    COOL!

    Posted by: peggy on August 8th, 2006 at 12:37 am

  89. [...] PingMag has an article about Gex Fry: “In 2002 Gez Fry decided, that he wants to make a living out of Japanese style illustration - without being experienced in drawing. Locking himself up in his bedroom in London he studied big masters like Masamune Shirow and developed enough skill and an astonishing portfolio to jump into the big market - within only 2 years. Here are some of his comments about how he draws, develops characters and why the Japanese Manga market is so tough.” [...]

    Posted by: the adventures of teapot the cat » Blog Archive » Gez Fry : Manga / Anime style artist on August 8th, 2006 at 4:01 am

  90. Now THIS is a nice article! Fry’s story is inspiring for young comic artists, especially those interested in Japanese style illustration.

    Posted by: gazoza on August 11th, 2006 at 11:21 pm

  91. [...] He says in a PingMag interview, My original plan was to be a diplomat - that is why i learned languages - but I realized that I then could only be living in Japan for four years. I really wanted to be in Japan with my future wife and thought that freelancing in art would allow me to live wherever I want. [...]

    Posted by: Drawn! The Illustration and Cartooning Blog » Blog Archive » Gez Fry on August 12th, 2006 at 12:41 pm

  92. Interesting interview. I hope Gex keeps on experimenting.

    Posted by: sweet on August 14th, 2006 at 12:46 am

  93. Amazing story. especially to pull off the skills in only two years flat. Then again. two years is a lot of time if you are serious about your career. Great job Gez.

    Posted by: Mark on August 14th, 2006 at 8:58 am

  94. Awesome. Very inspiring (for the 100x time). I love what Gez did with Murakami. I’ve spent 1 year now out of art school wishing I could do what Gez is doing. I need to stop thinking about it, or how much my illustrative skills suck and just DO IT! Dang…1 year already wasted, huh? (And I can draw without a laptop too…) I think I need to read this article daily as a reminder of what is possible if I just put my mind and heart to it…to keep practicing, keep drawing, keep studying, and then find someway to get an agent. I always thought freelance illustrator would be the way to go if you wanted to live anywhere and do what you love (and be with your lovah). PiNG!

    Posted by: CloudRyder on August 16th, 2006 at 1:40 pm

  95. Insightful and inspiring. Thanks!

    Posted by: Mari on August 17th, 2006 at 3:52 am

  96. I’m just so impressed by your determination and will power!

    Posted by: Doran Chang on August 18th, 2006 at 1:44 am

  97. [...] Read about an interview with Gez by Pingmag. “) [...]

    Posted by: » All that Gez on August 20th, 2006 at 1:58 am

  98. [...] 从PingMag上看到的插画家，Gez Fry，英国和日本的混血儿。是我喜欢的类型。特别是那2张用照片加工而成的CG，是一种很有趣的尝试。不知道以后会不会变成趋势呢。 [...]

    Posted by: Human-Error Processor on August 20th, 2006 at 11:31 pm

  99. Extraordinary man and superb performace

    Posted by: Jun-ah on August 28th, 2006 at 4:52 am

  100. [...] Locking himself up in his bedroom in London, Gez Fry studied big masters like Masamune Shirow and developed enough skill and an astonishing portfolio to jump into the big market - within only 2 years. Here are some of his comments about how he draws, develops characters and why the Japanese Manga market is so tough.read more | digg story [...]

    Posted by: Designs » How Japanese style Illustration works on August 31st, 2006 at 11:16 pm

  101. Ooh!Japan offers a shopping service which buy Japanese products and ship them for all who live in oversea.
    You can get any Japanese products through this service without coming to Japan.
    Ooh!Japan provides not only the shopping service, but also full information about Japanese culture and its lifestyle. Check out more:
    http://oohjapan.com/

    Posted by: sugar on September 1st, 2006 at 2:42 pm

  102. i am in awe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: tracey on September 9th, 2006 at 12:30 am

  103. Awsome!

    Posted by: snake eyezzz on September 14th, 2006 at 9:13 pm

  104. Hello, nice to meet u.May i ask, are u a cartonist?

    Posted by: Jenny Tan on September 25th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

  105. Total genius! Your attention to detail is mind blowing. I only wish I had the patience and talent to draw so skillfully like you.

    Posted by: Risy on October 5th, 2006 at 8:01 pm

  106. co-ne-che wa o-hi-yo go-dima

    Posted by: Anonymous on October 8th, 2006 at 11:04 am

  107. UR the teacher!!!
    …the PLANET needs 4 d NU Millenium.

    STAY POSITIVE - LET NOT DARK SIDE GETS U!!!

    Love - all the way from India; Dalaj.com

    Posted by: Dalaj on October 10th, 2006 at 6:55 pm

  108. i learnt a few tricks here…
    pingmag is amazing!

    Posted by: dotty on October 14th, 2006 at 12:08 am

  109. ナイス！ Love the Masamune vibes… with
    a skater feel.

    Posted by: 辞書君 on October 14th, 2006 at 7:40 am

  110. Amazing illustrations! I have actually seen your work in some of the mags I read. U are my inspiration.

    Posted by: Lu on October 20th, 2006 at 3:39 am

  111. really amazing! ya definitely good tricks to learn.

    Posted by: tom on October 20th, 2006 at 5:49 pm

  112. THis is Insane! wow!!! wonderful work!

    Posted by: Emily on October 21st, 2006 at 1:13 am

  113. ya its really nice

    Posted by: jane on October 21st, 2006 at 3:22 pm

  114. its nice b’coz u will not find this trick easily..
    http://—

    Posted by: jane on October 21st, 2006 at 3:24 pm

  115. Very nice

    Posted by: Typo3 Server on October 22nd, 2006 at 8:57 am

  116. i really like these tricks
    amazing keep it up

    Posted by: Kajal on October 28th, 2006 at 3:32 pm

  117. Beautifull illustration and effect..

    Posted by: Ironmould on October 29th, 2006 at 6:49 pm

  118. wow he’s greaT! i wanna be as good as him! imma work hard since am i wanted to be an illustrator one day. imma take this as a lessen because im kinda taking forgranted the history and not knowing some famous jp illustrator! great jobs you inspired a lot of people!!

    Posted by: sargent_rose on October 30th, 2006 at 12:48 am

  119. hey the work is very good and really cool great job!!!

    Posted by: Nicole on October 30th, 2006 at 3:36 am

  120. good job =)

    Posted by: phoenix on November 3rd, 2006 at 2:59 am

  121. [...] В журнале советую обратить внимание на заметку How Japanese style Illustration works (как работает иллюстрация в японском стиле), представляющая собой интервью с художником Gez Fry. Наполовину англичанин, наполовину японец Gez мечтал стать дипломатом, однако судьба распорядилась иначе и в настоящее время он работает в Токио. Среди его клиентов значатся Adidas, Adobe, Namco Bandai, Marvel, Wizards Of The Coast и другие компании. [...]

    Posted by: Leoarts » Архив блога » PingMag on November 3rd, 2006 at 11:49 am

  122. these animations are off da shizzle. i wanna be the big neptizzle (of drawing). I am a art person and i wanna be able to draw dese sick, ill, crazy, loco drawings. Holla at me down da fone if u got beef. Keep it hood. Jimminiebillibob junior senior

    Posted by: jimminiebillibob junior senior on November 3rd, 2006 at 6:53 pm

  123. I’m not very good at art but i want to be an art person like you guys. I love art and drawing oriental pictures. I’m good at crosshatching (but not as good as my friend Jimminiebillibob junior senior who is off da heezzzzzzzzzy!!!! at drawing. I wish i could be like him but i will never be as good as him EVER. O well :-(

    Posted by: Kirsten Pearson on November 3rd, 2006 at 7:00 pm

  124. Im a miss know it all. I think im all that and a bag of potato chips but you aint no think like a chicken laying on my lap. I will be the best art person imaginable. Better than jimminiebillibob junior senior who is really really really really good at art. The Best!!! BUT I WILL CRUSH HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (evil laugh)

    Posted by: Jessica Loftman on November 3rd, 2006 at 7:06 pm

  125. I have two left feet. I don’t have anything else to say coz that’s all i know. Im just blah

    Posted by: Stephie Weeks on November 3rd, 2006 at 7:11 pm

  126. I’m an alcoholic. Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday,Saturday and Sunday i’m drunk. When i’m sobber im drunk. I’m loud and annoying. Put me on mute and i’m still loud. HELP ME!!! O yeah i hate art.

    Posted by: Polly Bartlett on November 3rd, 2006 at 7:16 pm

  127. [...] PingMag - How Japanese style Illustration works [...]

    Posted by: Estilo de ilustración japonesa « NoteBook DG on November 5th, 2006 at 4:30 am

  128. Wow, this dude is really good.

    Posted by: Sergio on November 7th, 2006 at 1:04 pm

  129. ya its nice , i mean really nice

    Posted by: Katie on November 18th, 2006 at 3:35 am

  130. [...] Check out his artwork.. Here Bookmark to: [...]

    Posted by: D4N - Anime, Manga, NEET, Books, Geeks, Gadgets, Japan, Photos, Tao, Otaku » Blog Archive » A Brilliant Anime Artist…. on November 26th, 2006 at 7:52 am

  131. Hola.
    Could you send me a scanned version of one drawing of a nature topic? I’ll observe it and I will reply it with my type of drawings. No matter the format. protected pdf or so.
    jgarciabatista@yahoo.es
    Gracias

    Posted by: VITODA on December 6th, 2006 at 8:42 am

  132. [...] If you want to know more about him and the way he works, there’s a couple of interviews online at pingmag and pixelsurgeon. [...]

    Posted by: Zen Damage » The artwork of Gez Fry on December 16th, 2006 at 6:49 am

  133. nice work

    Posted by: chandru on February 19th, 2007 at 9:10 pm

  134. 不是一句喜欢可以说明，我看到我坚信的艺术不是用来欣赏，而是渗透生活的信念。ja，ich lieber sie···

    Posted by: 李宇明 on April 9th, 2007 at 1:22 am

  135. the full mind and soul been illustrated in the most pleasant way ever have reached.

    Posted by: Albert Leung on April 16th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

  136. any recommandations on JUne’s design exhibition n June?

    Posted by: Albert Leung on April 16th, 2007 at 9:31 pm

  137. He is good, VERY good!!!

    Posted by: Bruno on May 18th, 2007 at 1:20 am

  138. Amazing artwork mate!
    Congrats!

    Posted by: john on June 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 am

  139. Gez, its the most wonderful drawings I’ve seen in a while. Keep up the good work. I pray one day all our wishes will come true like yours and that we may have the determination and talent too.

    Congrats!

    Posted by: maki on June 7th, 2007 at 4:10 am

  140. a-ma-zing! but really, your ukiyo-e-style artwork is one of the best illustrations i’ve seen.

    Posted by: pie on June 7th, 2007 at 8:07 am

  141. Gorgeous stuff! And all on Photoshop!! Wow…

    Posted by: Kristine on June 14th, 2007 at 6:31 pm

  142. sugooooooi……
    I used to based my illustration on Ukiyoe style, but looks crappy compared to this one. Bravo pingmag

    Posted by: ray on June 22nd, 2007 at 1:04 pm

  143. Wow!

    Posted by: pruh on July 5th, 2007 at 10:28 pm

  144. damn! these absolutely one of my inspiring story!

    Posted by: herdi sularko on July 10th, 2007 at 12:50 pm

  145. [...] Interview here. [...]

    Posted by: Gez Fry: How To Design Manga & Influence People | YouAreNotBeautiful -[beta] on July 27th, 2007 at 6:11 am

  146. Gez is a hottie<3

    Posted by: Angelzkiss on July 31st, 2007 at 3:09 pm

  147. wow, this is great stuff! Thanks for a very interesting interview!

    Posted by: epifanov on August 15th, 2007 at 11:49 pm

  148. [...] Click here for more [...]

    Posted by: Gez Fry on PinMag at Up Late Creatures on August 26th, 2007 at 5:16 pm

  149. [...] PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » How Japanese s… (tags: art design graphics illustration illustrator inspiration anime manga japan diy)     Read More    Post a Comment [...]

    Posted by: Federico Feroldi’s blog » Blog Archive » links for 2007-08-30 on August 31st, 2007 at 5:21 am

  150. It’s incredible… I didnt know this artist… Thanks pingMag for discovered to me!!!

    Posted by: MangaBlog on September 5th, 2007 at 9:18 pm

  151. after hayao miyazaki,u r the next artist i’m looking forward to !

    Posted by: chewmin on September 6th, 2007 at 5:11 pm

  152. I need to find Ilya Radchenko…

    Posted by: Anonymous on September 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am

  153. [...] Illustration works September 16, 2007 Posted by stophat in Everything Else. trackback the article content actualy features an interview with an jap/frnch illustrator which i felt is quite [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese style Illustration works « The 6th Interactive Collective on September 16th, 2007 at 4:33 pm

  154. iluv gez

    Posted by: masashigoh on September 20th, 2007 at 12:31 am

  155. PLZZZZ I NEED TO LOCK MYSELF!!!

    Posted by: masashigoh on September 20th, 2007 at 12:38 am

  156. [...] Gez Fry, illustrator & concept artist based in Tokyo. [...]

    Posted by: Riceplate » Gez Fry is insane!: Art & Design on September 24th, 2007 at 11:49 pm

  157. Gez Fry you’re the ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL …
    you got the courage to become ilustrator although you never go to art school and you never gave up although you make a late start… KEEP THE WORKs you’ll be one of my inspiration…
    And for those of you out there … BE A DAREDEVIL and TAKE THE CHANCE!!!

    Posted by: Alfred @ namustudio on September 25th, 2007 at 5:41 pm

  158. Oh, my…only two years and he’s drawnig like this? Wow! Keep up the good work. He’s got a fan.

    Posted by: Lu on October 8th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

  159. OO!! Two years of complete refining his style?! I used to draw anime but lately, being in a formal university, I’m basically taught that anime is not a “real form of art” though that is total crap. So my style and understanding of it has completely suffered in these past three years. So maybe I need to lock myself away and give myself some pure artistic cleansing. ^^ Then maybe I could get close to half as amazing as this guy! So inspiring, it’s changing my whole outlook on art technique.

    Posted by: shizuyuki on October 18th, 2007 at 5:37 pm

  160. [...] has a really good article about Gez Fry who became an amazing illustrator in only two [...]

    Posted by: Japanese style illustration at yagmot on October 23rd, 2007 at 3:14 am

  161. Hey Gez Fry! This is the field I want to get into, do you have any advice?
    See Im a senior in high school and trying to get ready for college.
    ~Somasu Uagaru

    Posted by: Somasu Uagaru on November 8th, 2007 at 10:33 am

  162. a friend of mine recommended to look up his work…
    i did it… and i totally love it.. dogdamn!! it’s sweeet

    Posted by: lil on November 18th, 2007 at 9:23 am

  163. Gez have a great style!
    Really nice to find his work here.
    Im from Brazil and work as illustrator in Japan.I understand how can be hard to survive here,but he got a good point to make his job in Japan.
    Its a natural talent and the sense of challenge which is not so easy to find here.

    Posted by: Ton Strottmann on December 9th, 2007 at 4:25 am

  164. [...] Gez Fry in the following articles: > CGSociety Artist Profile > Interview with Pixelsurgeon > Interview with PingMag > Interview with Guu [...]

    Posted by: startdrawing.org | the asia drawing portal on January 13th, 2008 at 3:50 am

  165. What I like about Gez’s style is that he has solid foundation on realism. That makes it very refreshing! It seems like majority of people who wants to pursue career in Anime/Manga field tend to be style over substance, thus leads to very generic, trite, and sometimes awkward results. His cel shading looks natural. It looks much better than those cel shading artworks done by so-called Anime/Manga style artists in the West.

    Posted by: H Park on January 23rd, 2008 at 5:49 pm

  166. [...] worth a read is this PingMag interview with him from back in June 06 which does a nice job of putting the work in context. You’re [...]

    Posted by: multilink » Blog Archive » Gez Fry on January 30th, 2008 at 5:12 am

  167. thanks for your subject. it is very important

    Posted by: nakliyat on February 29th, 2008 at 5:05 am

  168. i love it!

    Posted by: zombie 138 on March 4th, 2008 at 4:49 am

  169. Ive gotta love the anime thats why i doing anime mongas!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: Mona on March 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 am

  170. really awesome! i think i should take this eample to my life x_x i´m a frustrated fashion designer inside me but i´m a graphic designer and again against my will i´m in another university…of advertisiment…i´m not happy i wanted to be in Japan to show i can creat great clothes but i dont have money enough for that, this break me completely…

    Posted by: mika on March 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pm

  171. wow… my deep, sincere respect.

    Posted by: yu on April 18th, 2008 at 4:58 am

  172. good site dude

    Posted by: adult on May 20th, 2008 at 10:36 am

  173. keep up the amazing work gez.

    Posted by: hide_y on June 8th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

  174. truly inspirational!

    Posted by: yuri on June 11th, 2008 at 7:56 am

  175. [...]    [...]

    Posted by: momodomo » A Style Profile on June 22nd, 2008 at 12:18 pm

  176. [...] Gez Fry the image is taken from PingMag.jp [...]

    Posted by: Superb Japanese Illustrators and Artists Collection | 3D Models, Website Templates and Illustrations blog | Templates.com on July 16th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

  177. Very inspiring Gez. Cheers.

    Posted by: Peter Orange on July 25th, 2008 at 8:41 am

  178. Every time I see Gez Fry’s work it blows my mind! The work and his story are just inspirational.

    Posted by: James Abney-Hastings on July 29th, 2008 at 5:18 am

  179. [...] 30Jun06 found an interesting article today : How Japanese style Illustration works [...]

    Posted by: Moondoloco on August 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

  180. [...] read more | digg story [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese style Illustration works « Briefcases on August 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

  181. [...] read more | digg story « Hack My Son’s Computer, Please Digg Lab’s Big Spy on Chumby! » [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese style Illustration works « Bedroom Furnishings on August 21st, 2008 at 4:43 pm

  182. [...] read more | digg story Posted by jack6tack Filed in Uncategorized [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese style Illustration works « Bedroom Furnishings on August 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pm

  183. [...] Working on this post has also had me discover PingMag, what appears upon cursory examination to be an excellent blog/net-magazine on Japanese illustration, animation, contemporary art and design, including interviews with tons of interesting artists and designers. Read their interview with Gez Fry. [...]

    Posted by: Gez Fry « 茶有の者 - A Man with Tea on August 27th, 2008 at 11:07 pm

  184. I really like these japanese’s design capability.

    Posted by: msn adresleri on September 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 am

  185. This is more than just hard work. You have talent to be able to draw this well after two years. This pictures look better than 90% of the crap animes that come out.

    Posted by: Ash Frog on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 am

  186. [...] read more | digg story [...]

    Posted by: How Japanese style Illustration works on September 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm

  187. great article

    Posted by: CJM on September 20th, 2008 at 8:34 am

  188. işte bu

    Posted by: indir on October 27th, 2008 at 7:16 am

  189. thanks

    Posted by: izle on October 27th, 2008 at 7:18 am

  190. hadi nerde kaldınız:)))

    Posted by: moto on October 27th, 2008 at 7:19 am

  191. [...] highly suggest you go read the full article. [...]

    Posted by: Gez Fry « UNC Asheville Multimedia Arts/Sciences Council on December 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm

  192. what can be said thats not said, your pretty inspirational

    Posted by: Anonymous on January 5th, 2009 at 7:13 pm

  193. post has also had me discover PingMag, what appears upon cursory examination to be an excellent blog/net-magazine on Japanese illustration, animation, contemporary

    Posted by: bursa evden eve nakliyat on March 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

  194. thanks for your subject. it is very important for internet users.i will write your site .. please write me back. thank you

    Posted by: bursa evden eve nakliyat on March 30th, 2009 at 9:33 pm

  195. this through me on the verge of tears because for abut two years now, I became a totaljapanese-culture-holic (especially the art) and reading what you accomplished (which is what i could only dream of) really fills me with hope and a bit of envy ^^..but you have truly inspired me. Thank you, that doesn’t happen often.

    Posted by: Ineliz on April 3rd, 2009 at 9:18 am

  196. very important for internet users.i will write your site .. please write me back. thank you

    Posted by: Anonymous on May 21st, 2009 at 4:37 am

  197. This pictures look better than 90% of the crap animes that come out

    Posted by: Bursa Evden Eve Nakliyat on May 25th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

  198. [...] Gez Fry, illustrator & concept artist based in Tokyo. [...]

    Posted by: Gez Fry is insane! | Riceplate on June 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm

  199. Bursa Evden Eve Nakliyat

    Posted by: Bursa Evden Eve Nakliyat on June 7th, 2009 at 3:29 am

  200. [...] felt torn apart while I stumbled upon this link while exploring [...]

    Posted by: Site Updates and a little. « on May 2nd, 2010 at 4:13 pm

  201. very inspiring Gez, thank you so much for all of that. I’m beginning to understand myself in terms of my art, but i’m starting realize the art school i go to is more about the money and not so much the students. I just want 2 years to do my own thing but since im in sooo much debt, there really is no stopping now… Just gotta endure.

    Posted by: Jet Kimchrea on May 20th, 2010 at 6:53 am

  202. im trying to do the same. this is very inspiing

    Posted by: samantha on May 21st, 2010 at 3:13 pm

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