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About me
Hello! I am an American illustrator from Santa Cruz, California. I have been fascinated with Japan since a young age, and after studying abroad in Nagoya during my university years I decided to move here in 2010. I spent three years living in coastal Iwate, two in southern Osaka Prefecture, and am in Tokyo.
I work mostly in pen and watercolor, and my illustrations are largely inspired by my Japanese surroundings.
I have held exhibitions of my pen and watercolor illustrations inTokyo, Osaka, Wakayama, Iwate, and Kochi, as well as in the United States.
I am always hoping to connect and co-inspire with other artists here in Tokyo.
My Creations
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Tiger Year
1 February 2022
Happy Lunar New Year, 2022.
Ink, watercolor on paper.
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願い事の歪 Wishes’ distortion
7 September 2021
願い事の歪 Wishes’ distortion
160 x 230mm, framed to 220 x 270mm
Ink, watercolor on paperA new piece for my current exhibition
Ryokan Sawanoya Art and Book Project: "Welcome to Engiyado" Erica Ward + Sakai Takao
Dates: 9/1~9/30,
Time:
10:00~18:00 Mon~Thur
10:00~20:00 Fri, Sat, Sun, Holidays (10:00~18:00 on Sun 9/30) ... continue reading (1, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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Solo Exhibition: BONSAI
23 November 2021
Flyer design featuring three paintings that will be on view at my upcoming solor exhibition, BONSAI. At BLANK gallery in Koenji 12/7~12/12. Open 13:00~19:00 (~17:00 on the final day). Would love to see you there
For map and other gallery info: info@blank-koenji.comERICA WARD SOLO EXHIBITION
「盆栽」
2021.12.7 TUE -... continue reading (1, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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City Face
24 October 2016
When I arrived in Tokyo in January 2016 after five years living in the Japanese countryside (and the rest of my life living in the Californian countryside) I wondered when my eyes and brain would adjust to the buzzing detail of the surrounding metropolis. Factories, offices, houses, apartment buildings-- every... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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Solo Exhibition: Engimono
26 June 2020
Erica Ward Solo Exhibition
えんぎもの
Engimono7/28~8/2/2020
at CLOUDS ART + COFFEE in Koenji Tokyo
Open 13:00~19:00I am excited to announce that I will be holding a solo exhibition in July-August this year. 2020 has been a strange year for everyone, filled with lots of fears and uncertainties. I... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Happy Year of the Ox
1 January 2021
明けまして、おめでとうございます。
今年もよろしくお願いします。Grateful for my Tokyo creative family and looking forward to a creative 2021!
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Engimono: Daruma
21 July 2020
An open wish for the City.
From my new series, "Engimono" which will be unveiled in full at my solo exhibition in Koenji next week (please come if you are free, or check out our online sales page if you feel more comfortable staying in)
Erica Ward Solo Exhibition
えんぎもの... continue reading (1, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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June Solo Exhibition
3 May 2021
6月12-13日(土日)と19-20日(土日)柴又のギャラライー Atelier 485 Tokyo で個展開催
Solo Exhibition at Atelier 485 Tokyo in Shibamata
6/12-13 and 6/19-20
Opening hours are 13:00~17:00 on the above listed WEEKENDS ONLY.
On 6/12 (Sat) the gallery will be open until 20:00pmI will be showing a selection of past and new pen and watercolor works... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Murasaki
26 April 2017
"Murasaki Kanjo"「紫感情」
Watercolor, ink, on watercolor paper
24.5 x 32cm
"Before I went to Court I tried to avoid sadness by writing to those who were in the same state of mind, even to those with whom I was only slightly acquainted, and associating with them I consoled my heart... continue reading (1, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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Decade: Solo Exhibition and Reception
16 January 2020
The year is 2020, a new decade turns
At my first exhibition of the 2020s, I will be showing a selection of artworks from throughout the past decade, as well as new work from the start of this new one.
Please join us for the reception on 2/28!Reception
Friday,... continue reading (0, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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"めでたし/ Celebratory"
6 January 2020
Happy New Year 2020
Looking forward to all the new creations in Tokyo this year
This watercolor painting, "Medetashi/Celebratory" is the January illustration in a series titled "Toshitsuki" that I created last year that illustrates each of the twelve months of the year. In January we have both Shogatsu and... continue reading (0, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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Year of the Dog
9 January 2018
Happy Year of the Dog.
今年もよろしくお願いします。Ink, watercolor on paper.
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"This is Osaka" with Lilo Coffee Roasters
30 August 2017
Ink, watercolor on watercolor paper
This is a piece that was commissioned at the start of this year as a "3rd Anniversary Celebration" design by Osaka cafe and roaster, Lilo Coffee Roasters.The initial request was definitely one of the most dynamic I've ever received, with a vision of "a... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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Rosenzuiro: Solo Exhibition 6/11~6/23
16 May 2019
Hello Canvas Friends! I'm happy to announce my Solo Exhibition "Rosenzuiro" in Koenji next month. It would be lovely to see you--feel free to message me if you think you can make it and I can try to meet up at the gallery.
Erica Ward 2019 Solo Exhibition: 路線図色
6/11... continue reading (1, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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Konomachi: This Town
13 March 2017
This Town
Erica Ward, 2016
55 x 78cm ink, charcoal, watercolor, paperBefore she knew it her mind was full of such scenery:
the details that extend out into nothing.
Stepping out into such
is to be seen,
is to be unseen.
It is both freedom and bondage,
this town.Fans of Title of creation here
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Masquerade de los Muetros
1 November 2016
Halloween night has ended with today's dawn, but every year November 1st allows one more day of festivities as the Day of the Dead. For the past six years I have done a Dia de los Muertos themed artwork which I've shared on November 1st. This will be the first... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Celebrate Iwate
28 January 2018
A celebration of Iwate
The Hayabusa Tohoku Shinkansen, taiko dancers of the Morioka Sansa festival, Mt. Iwate, the beautiful seasons, and decorative manhole covers. Takizawa's cover depicts the Chagu-chagu Horse Parade Festival.Watercolor and Ink on Paper.
This image was personally commissioned by a friend to remind her of what... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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"Planes: B3" for Solo Exhibition 6/5~6/10
29 May 2018
"Planes: B3" ink, watercolor, on paper.
This is the cover image for my upcoming solo exhibition in Koenji:
Erica Ward Solo Exhibition
6/5 (Tue) - 6/10 (sun)
Reception 6/9 (Sat) 6pm ~ 8pm
at Clouds Art + Coffee
25-4 Koenjikita 2-Chome Suginami-ku Tokyo
cloudsartcoffee.com
facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/165749357454852/都会の中に存在する自分
自分の中に存在する都会Fans of Title of creation here
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Street Cat
25 May 2016
A walk through my shitamachi neighborhood
In the sun the surrounding buildings start to blend into a patch-work: white, brown, black
they become the
random spots
of a calico cat,
who I then spot sitting disinterested in an alley.
Large and small,
grand and minute,
I don't know which is... continue reading (0, 1 image)Fans of Title of creation here
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Trainlines in Bloom
31 March 2018
"線路満開" "Trainlines in Bloom" Ink, watercolor on paper.
This image will used as the cover for a new collaborative zine, "hajime" which will be debuting on April 14th. "hajime" is a collection of works from seven non-Tokyo-native artists (including myself) who have produced brand new, four-page artworks on the collective... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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The Season
8 April 2016
Yesterday's rain may have brought it to an end, but this year too we saw those two short weeks where flowers grow from trees and humans grow from the blue tarps spread out in every park. For me, and each of us in our own way, there is more than... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Wings
20 February 2018
“Wings”
Ink, Watercolor, on PaperWings
soft and light,
so lovely to examine
when pinned, unfurled, unmoving.
function
sacrificed
for form.This piece and others will be on display at CLOUD ART + COFFEE in Koenji from Tuesday 2/27 through Sunday 3/4 as part of their “Color Series: Pink” group... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Kyo
25 March 2016
My first upload to Canvas. I'm excited to be a part of the Tokyo Creatives Community! "Kyo," ink, watercolor on paper. The stimuli of Kyoto.
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Views of Spring I
12 April 2016
First complete in a series of small watercolors depicting Tokyo Spring.
「春風景一」
"Views of Spring I"
Watercolor, ink, on watercolor paper
17 x 21 cmFans of Title of creation here
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Transfer
30 March 2016
I was living in Iwate up in Tohoku from 2010 to 2013. From that far north and where I was out on the coast, even domestic travel meant a trek of distance and money. However I was never sorry to ride the shinkansen when I had the chance and the... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Bikkuri Animals LINE Creators' Stickers
12 January 2017
Original watercolor LINE Creators' Sticker series, "Bikkluri Animals" is now available on the LINE Stamp Shop
https://store.line.me/stickershop/product/1369683I knew I eventually wanted to make my own series of "Creators' Stickers" for the LINE messaging app ever since they introduced the option a few years ago. The original guidelines required 40... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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VW Bus Cafe
15 August 2016
Original work in ink and watercolor on watercolor paper (with a digital touch of 60s purple), this image is a personification of the Roppongi cafe and eatery "Cafe Frangipani." I'm very excited to be having an exhibition of my art at the cafe this month (Exhibition info below--check it out!)... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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外は寒い It's Cold Outside
6 February 2017
Setsubun: Not a fun night for Oni
Original watercolor and pen on watercolor paper, 15 x 25 cm.Fans of Title of creation here
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Embrace Spring
26 March 2017
This piece was done in time for the opening of spring, and also for the Artcomplex Centre of Tokyo's upcoming group exhibition, "Animal World 10," in which I am participating. See below for more details!
"Embrace Spring"
March, 2017
23cm x 31.5cm
Pen, Watercolor on Watercolor PaperGroup Exhibition:"Animal World... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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Kiyosumi Daruma
5 October 2017
Outside the oldest house in the neighborhood stands a stone statue of Daruma.
The house must be the residence of the stonecutter, as his handiwork guards not only both sides of the door, but also under the windows, and continues to march in a frozen processional to wrap around the... continue reading (1, 1 image)
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"Calico Kappa" LINE Creator's Stickers
20 October 2017
I’ve just released a new LINE sticker series: Calico Kappa!
So I, personally, am actually a huge fan of simple-design animal character LINE stickers, so I decided to make my own. This time it’s a funky little kappa-cat (catpa?) named “Calico Kappa.” He’s mostly cat, so he hates water, but... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Breath of a Metropolis
12 April 2018
都会の深呼吸 Breath of a Metropolis
210 x 297mm
Ink on paperThis is a partial page illustration for my section of a collaborative zine, "hajime," in which seven artists have submitted their freely interpreted "first impressions of Tokyo" as four-page, black and white artworks.
This original piece and others of... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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Chrysanthemums in Spring
15 May 2018
One of four new paintings to accompany Vivat Veritas' kimono remake fashion collection for a joint Art x Fashion exhibition "渋色モード” (Shibuiro Mode) that runs from Tuesday 5/15 through Friday 5/25 at Ego Arts and Entertainment Gallery in Nihonbashi. My contribution to the 3-artist-show are watercolor paintings inspired by the... continue reading (0, 1 image)
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