Making people feel comfortable through illustrations - Illustrator Kenichi Ikebe. Mr. Miss-

Kenichi Ikebe works as an illustrator, drawing illustrations for textbooks and advertisements. Mr. Miss. This time, we asked him about how he started his current job, his dreams for the future, and his activities in the local community.

It all started as a childhood hobby.

Mr. Ikebe specializes in works with expressive figures. Recently, the number of requests for medical and health-related fields has increased, and the field of work has expanded. When I asked Mr. Ikebe why he became an illustrator, he said there were two turning points.

Illustrations for educational media

The first turning point was when I was job hunting during my university days. When I heard that she was an illustrator, I thought she graduated from an art school, but she graduated from the literature department. "I've loved drawing ever since I was little. There was a time when I wanted to become a manga artist, but I continued it as a hobby when I entered the Faculty of Letters," says Ikebe. After looking for a job and getting a job offer, he started rethinking his life just when he was planning to get a job.

I had a chance to discuss my concerns with a professor at the university, and when I told him my true feelings, he encouraged me and said, ``You can start over with your life, so if you want to get a job, I think you should do it.'' He also said, ``Why don't you try doing it globally?''

crayon drawing

Mr. Ikebe moved to America with the understanding of his parents. After returning to Japan, I deepened my knowledge of graphic design at a Japanese vocational school.

Encounter with the profession of illustrator

The second turning point was during my time at a design school in Japan. I'm good at drawing interesting things, and I was drawing manga or illustrations of my teacher or friends, and my classmates came around my desk during break to ask for the drawings. The teacher saw this and gave Ikebe a new encounter.

The teacher looked at my sketchbook and said, ``Why aren't you using it for your assignment? It's a drawing that only you can draw.'' He also told me that there was a genre called illustration, and that there was a specialized magazine.

Following that advice, Mr. Ikebe immediately bought a specialized magazine and read it, and was shocked. I used to think that being good at drawing was important, but there are many genres of drawing, and all of them are things that make people feel comfortable. This commonality of ``things that make people feel comfortable'' is said to be the most important point for Ikebe, who works as an illustrator.

Graduation commemorative photo frame

After that, I got a job at a manufacturer and worked as a designer while attending illustrator school on the weekends. After studying hard, I started working as a freelancer after about 3 years. Mr. Ikebe says that everything he experienced before becoming an illustrator is reflected in his current work, and he feels that he is being helped by the people around him.

Future goal is to give back to the local community

When I asked Mr. Ikebe what he wanted to do from now on, he said, ``I want to think about giving back to the community that has supported me.In particular, I want to give back to my hometown.'' It seems that they have been gradually starting activities in their hometown of Yokohama for several years.

Public relations magazine

Over the past five years, he has been able to build connections with the local community, writing a series for a community magazine, and working on package designs for sweets made at an employment support facility. You can also see Ikebe's warm and cute illustrations of animals in public relations magazines and product packages.

product packaging

Locally, I also hold illustration classes for children and give lectures at art universities. The illustration class for elementary school to junior high school students is extremely popular and is said to remain fully booked. Ikebe says, ``I don't do it to get better at illustrations, but because I want young people to expand their wings of imagination.I believe that imagination is important in doing anything in the world, so I'm trying to draw illustrations. I would be happy if it were," he said. It seems that there are not many openings available, but if you are interested, please check the website at the turn of the year.

Illustration class

``I'm blessed with people,'' says Ikebe, and I feel that people and work are naturally attracted to her because of her warm personality. We are also actively collaborating with the local community, and there are opportunities to purchase items with Ikebe's drawings on them at local stores.

Badges at local stores

Ikebe's illustrations are all about things that make people feel comfortable, and she has a wonderful smile and is friendly as she tells me all kinds of stories.

Illustrator Kenichi Ikebe.
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