SHIZUKA

When I was a student, I began as a mangaka’s assistant, but I had to quit doing that after I got married and had a child. After that, in 1998 I began supervising a class on making picture postcards in my hometown of Gifu. I began accepting commission work for CG illustrations in 2003. Currently, I accept illustration commissions as well as create advertisement manga for businesses, fliers for theatrical companies, designs for New Year’s cards, and illustrations for magazines and publications.

◆ Awards
■ “Railroad Day Commemorative Event” Chubu Unyu Kyoku Tetsudo Bucho Award
■ EXPO - “A Letter to the World, A Letter from the World Contest” You Can Award
■ Monthly VAMPS Vol. 4 “Want Your Art” Honorable Mention
■ Monthly VAMPS Vol. 9 “Want Your Art” Award of Excellence
■ Art Creators New Year’s Card Award 2011 “Dezagura Award”

I’m a homebody by nature, and ever since I was young I was told that I was quiet as long as I had a piece of paper and a pencil. When I was in elementary school, I decided that I wanted to grow up to be a person who draws pictures.

I want to draw illustrations that viewers say are cute and healing. Rather than for my own benefit, I want to be an artist whose work brings joy to others.

There is a large amount of variance, so it’s difficult to say. For small monochrome illustrations, I’d say an hour, for A4-size full-color illustrations, I’d say three days.

Mostly when I’m doing something not related to drawing, like housework or riding the train. It’s likely that when I’m drawing or looking at art, I become so concentrated on it that ideas stop flowing.