“How to Begin Life as an Artist Overseas” (Beginner Part 1)

Hello! How is everybody doing?

This is “How to Begin Life as an Artist Overseas” (Beginner Part 1).


Personally, I think this is the most important thing.

In a word, it’s all about “awareness”.

First of all, all you readers out there want to become aware of the same thing and that’s how to become an artist who can live and make art anywhere in the world.

Artists carrying out their lives overseas share the common desire to take full pride in calling themselves artists.  So, no matter how magnificent or lacking the product may be, no matter what the people surrounding them may say, these artists persevere with their creativity.

In other words...

what it means to be an artist is absurdly broad.

That picture of confidence is so moving it makes people want to see their works.  It arouses passion.

If that feeling isn’t strong enough, collectors and fans won’t feel that connection.

I feel the reason it seems so hard for Japanese artists to succeed abroad is due to this height of passion.

Mr. Tarou Okamoto once said, “art must explode!”

Say it out loud, okay?＼(^_^)／

Next time, I will speak more on how to approach foreign art galleries in “How to Begin Life as an Artist Overseas” (Beginner Part 2).

“What They Don’t Teach You About Becoming an Artist in School”（Motivation)

Ouchi Gallery, Brooklyn

In my last entry, I promised to tell where the idea for this blog sprung from, didn’t It?

Well, that has a link to the reason the gallery was started.

Let’s take a Time Trip to six years ago, to the year 2008....

   There we meet a woman who spends most of her days painting.  She and I have been friends for 15 years now, but at that time she often considered taking her own life.  Nevertheless, the one thing she loved to do was painting pictures.  During one of my visits, I felt that showing her art to the people was the only thing I could do for her.

With just these feelings, the gallery was born.

This year marks the sixth year since I began supporting Japanese artists, all from that single motive.

Welcome to the Ouchi Gallery, the one and only!

The word “ouchi” (pronounced “oh-oo-chee”)  is Japanese for “home.  I really do feel as if I’ve come home.  The art is, of course, very special but it was named “Ouchi” because it is a place to relax, feel at home,  and love art.

The main point is this: it all started with a single thought.

The motivation created life, no?

Next time, just for you readers out there, I will discuss starting artist activities overseas (for beginners)!

PLEASE “Like” this post to help get me started!  Thank you for reading!

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“What They Don’t Teach You About Becoming an Artist in School”（Intro）

From the Ouchi Gallery in Brooklyn

This blog begins April 6th, 2013 (EST).

Welcome, one and all!（It’s hard to convey Osaka-ben.）

The subject is...

“What they don’t teach you about becoming an artist in school”.

The reason I’m starting this blog is that, since I came to live in New York back in 1998, I’ve wondered why, by comparison, the number of people working as professional artists in Japan is so small...

Like, really, really small...

Just why is that?

Still, there are many hard-working artists out there.

Was there something wrong with the way they became artists?

Is what they’re teaching in art school really okay???

From my point of view, I wanted to teach the secrets of gaining global success as an artist, with “Love and Passion”.

But first, please allow me to introduce myself. :)

Who is Arisa?

   Arisa moved to New York from Japan in 1998 to become a jazz singer.  In 2008, she established the Ouchi Gallery around the concept of “A Slice of the Life of an Artist” in Brooklyn, the birthplace of modern art.  On top of that, she also applies her energy to cultivating artists as the owner and operator of the artist management agency Zank & Mars, LLC.  She is also on the board of directors for Art Magnet, a non-profit organization that strives to “change the world through art”.  Also that year, she stayed in Africa where she planned the Origami Project to teach Nigerian children about “the art one can make from a single sheet of paper”.  In 2012, she held an origami workshop in Canada and in Italy, During her time in Italy, she also held the 100 Artist Exhibition.

   As for her own artistic pursuits, back in 2007 Arisa joined the mural team for the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.  Currently, she performs as a jazz singer based in Brooklyn.

So just where did the idea for this blog come from?

You’ll just have to wait for the next entry... :)

PLEASE “Like” this post to help get me started!  Thank you for reading!

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Dear all crews 2/17/12

2/17/12

Dear all crews

For the time being, in preparation for its publication,

I want to focus on the writing of my book,

so I will be taking a break from this blog.

When commencing on this voyage, I will again call out to you.

Together let's go on an adventure!

Thank you for being with me so far.

I'm not perfect.

Maybe I sometimes say the wrong thing.

But I write the true stories that I learn from my everyday experience.

And I'd like to organize them step by step.

I'd like to continue this until I can see what the most important thing is.

These words are a precious treasure to me.

And my readers and my loved ones are irreplaceable gifts for me.

I deeply appreciate this from the bottom of my heart.

arisa i

147.A Life Pursuit 12/12

12/12/11

A Life Pursuit

When I thought I reached the end of the well-tread path
Time was already past that when I had turned my back on a road of my own.

修行

進むべき道が完結したと思ったときは

すでに自分が己の道に背を向けてしまっている時である。

146.love yourself first 12/11

12/11/11

love yourself first

Only after being able to love yourself first
can you then love someone else.
Another person is not a tool for loving yourself.

love yourself first

まず自分で自分を愛する事が出来てから

はじめて人を愛する事が出来る。

人は自分を愛するための道具ではない。

145. Starting from praise for oneself 12/10

12/10/11

Starting from praise for oneself.

まず自分で自分を褒めることから。

144. Love 12/9

12/9/11

Love

Love is not narcissism.
It is not seeing oneself in another,
it is the act of understanding a lover.

恋愛

恋愛は、自己愛ではない。

相手を通して自分を見るのではなく、

相手を理解する行為である。

143. Que Sera Sera 12/8

12/8/11

Que Sera Sera

When I was just a little girl

I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows, day after day
Here's what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich
I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

142. All the things you are 12/7

12/7/11

All the things you are

Time and again I've longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding your love I've found my adventure,
Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is you.

You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.

You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I'll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!

141.My shape and your shape 12/6

12/6/11

My shape and your shape

My form and
your form,
if they happen to differ
will likely separate with time.
If they are the same
then no matter what,
their parting seems unlikely.

わたしの形とあなたの形

わたしの形と

あなたの形が

もし違うとすれば

いずれ離れてしまうでしょう。

もし同じであれば

なにがあっても

離れる事はないでしょう。

140. change 12/5

12/5/11

change

If the self won't change,
Surroundings won't either.

change

自分が変わらなければ、

周りは変わらない。

139. Enjoy 12/4

12/4/11

Enjoy

To enjoy oneself no matter how much mental strain.

楽しむ

どんなに緊張していても楽しむこと。

138.Cherry Blossom's Flower 12/3

12/3/11

Cherry Blossom's Flower

Life, like the cherry trees' blossoming, is a short thing.

Still, we cannot let what blossoms fall only on what words lie in our hearts.

桜の花

人生は桜の花のように短いものである

だがこころある言葉までは散らせるわけにはいかない。

137. Heart 12/2

12/2/11

Heart

My life, all of it, my heart decides.

わたしのlife は、すべてわたしのこころが決める。

136.To Refine 12/1

12/1/11

To Refine

Every day, polishing pure the spirit.

毎日、こころを綺麗に磨くこと。

135.Illness 11/30

11/30/11

Illness

Illness is only human.
Yet, when it comes,
there is still the chance

to resolve it facing it head on.

病気

人間だから病気はする。

でも、その時

自分と向かい合って何かを解決する

チャンスでもある。

134.It's only a paper moon 11/29

11/29/11

It's only a paper moon

Say, its only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

133. Staying put 11/28

11/28/11

Staying put

Especially at the most painful times, we cannot run away.

132. I didn't know what time it was 11/27

11/27/11

I didn't know what time it was

Once I was young --
Yesterday, perhaps --
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps.

Once I was young,
But never was naive.
I thought I had a trick or two
Up my imaginary sleeve.

And now I know I was naive.

I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you.
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
How sublime it was too!

I didn't know what day it was
You held my hand.
Warm like the month of May it was,
And I'll say it was grand.

Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand to see your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.

I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize.
I wanted love and here it was
shining out of your eyes.

I'm wise,
And I know what time it is now.

Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand to see your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.

I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize.
I wanted love and here it was
shining out of your eyes.

I'm wise,
and I know what time it is now.