Capturing the excitement of every and each moment in a bamboo pen without any sketching
Himeno’s destination every Saturday morning is always a painting class. On the day we visited, Himeno was vigorously drawing a meerkat with a bamboo pen and cartoon ink at the painting class as usual. Himeno was aware of us and sometimes whispered, “Meera-a-cat(meerkat), I’m drawing, I drew. I’m drawing, I drew. I like meerkats” while TANAKA Iwahisa, a painter who supervises the painting class, stayed close by.
Tanaka retired from the company he had been working for and started the painting class wholeheartedly at the age of 55. He also works as a painter while supervising the class.
“From the moment I give the subject matter for the drawing, Sato-chan (Himeno’s nickname) always begins without sketching. It’s like he is drawing with excitement each and every moment. I’m not sure how to describe it, but his unbalanced feeling ends up being the balance of his pictures, and that’s what makes his drawings so attractive. So basically my role is just sitting next to him like this (laughs). When I sometimes think he has painted too much, I just say things like, ‘Sato-chan, let’s stop here. You don’t need to paint a face.’”
Tanaka decides the subject matter for Himeno’s drawings.
“I often choose the subject matter from animal picture books these days. I try to choose an animal which can become interesting when Sato-chan draws.”
Apparently, Himeno was good at using scissors from an early age and folded balloons and cranes precisely. After his mother Chikako observed him doing it, Himeno started drawing following her recommendation. From around the age of 13, he started going Tanaka’s class. At first, he began by drawing things around him including scissors and a stapler, and then the subject matter of his drawing gradually become more diverse to include fish, vegetables, plants and animals as well.
Plants
Ocean life
Plants, animals
Noh masks
Cats
Owls
Dogu, clay figures
Mutsuko showed Himeno’s previous works at home. His early works were multi-colored watercolor paintings and are also impressive.
“Initially I got him to paint watercolors starting with pencil sketches like other children do, but I eventually suggested ink drawing. That’s because I felt there was potential in his ink drawings. I was really convinced that ink drawings would develop his originality further, and he could create masterpieces which no one else can imitate.”
Loading the art materials into the car by himself and waiting impatiently for Saturdays
Since then, Himeno has become focused on drawing pictures using a bamboo pen and cartoon ink at the painting class, and his painting has been gradually recognized by society. He was selected to be a registered artist among many candidates from all over Japan as a company artist at Able Art Japan which supports the talents of artists with disabilities. In 2019, his original picture was displayed at Starbucks Coffee Beppu Park branch. This February, he also participated in the ‘Oita People with Disabilities Art Exhibition Vol. 1 Daily Art Bokura no Sekai(Our World)’ held at the Oita Prefectural Art Museum (OPAM).
“Sato-chan’s work is becoming recognized by society, so I’m really pleased,” said Tanaka with smile, and Himeno looks forward to going to his painting class more than anything else.
Himeno’s mother, Chikako
This is Chikako’s favorite work. ‘It is a relatively early work but has something about it that make me emotional and feel like crying when I look at this picture.’
Merchandise using Himeno’s drawings designed and produced by Chikako are also sold in the museum shop at the Oita Prefectural Art Museum (OPAM).
“As he personally always wants to go, he has never missed the painting class. When Monday comes, he loads his art materials into the car and lets me know he is going toMr. Tanaka’s place again this week (laughs). As he is like that, I used to stay with him when he began going to the class but only drop off and pick up these days, and leave everything else to Mr. Tanaka. In fact, I think that spending time with Mr. Tanaka is what built the foundation for Satoru’s drawing.”
Every spring, Tanaka’s drawing class holds a student exhibition in Beppu City.
Chikako studied design when she was a student and supports Himeno’s expression activities with all her might, saying, “As I like the world of expression, I might be enjoying it more than anyone else through my son’s paintings.”
“Sato-chan, it’s a bit thick. Shall we change it?”
When Tanaka spoke to him, Himeno gently put down his bamboo pen. Other students come into the classroom. Looking at the students and smiling, he turns his attention to his drawing once more. After a while, he showed us the drawing of a meerkat which he has been working on since last week and is now completed.
“I’ve finished this, happy. I’ve finished this, happy.”
