Short Run Seattle was founded in 2011 by four comic creators who wanted to highlight the mix of visual art and literature involved in creating comics. “We believe in the intimate experience of holding a book in your hands,” states the organization on its website.
Each year, in addition to fostering educational opportunities in the comic arts, the organization hosts the Short Run Comix Festival in order to showcase established and emerging artists. One of the participating artists this year is Tetsunori Tawaraya.
Tawaraya’s love of drawing began at an early age. “I was a big fan of ‘Gegege no Kitaro’ and I remember doodling Kitaro and his eyeball father on the back of my kindergarten notebook,” he reminisced. “At the time, I was more impressed by the mischievous feeling of doodling on the notebook than by whether I had drawn them well.”
In the late 1990’s, Tawaraya had immigrated to the United States, and gravitated toward the hardcore music scene in San Diego. Though he wanted to communicate with the local kids, he couldn’t due to a lack of English skills. So, instead, he would carry a sketchbook with him and draw portraits for free to connect with them. This drawing practice helped Tawaraya develop his skills. “It somehow became a tool for communication and making friends,” he said.
He describes his own style as grotesque and vibrant, and cites the influence of anime, particularly the two hits Kinnikuman and Gegege no Kitaro, which featured grotesque yokai and mutants. This exposure from an early age normalized that world, he said.
Tawaraya also combines his visual art with being a punk musician, which he said are very different from one another. the commonality? Improvisation.
“Both are processes in which the composition is completed in the brain, relying on the artist’s hand habits,” Tawaraya said. “In terms of the fusion of drawing and music, I see a lot of potential for animation and would like to spend more time there.”
Tawaraya currently exhibits his work worldwide.
“When I was young, I was more passionate about being in a band than drawing, so it was meaningful for me to tour abroad,” he said. “The connections I made at that time may have made it easier for me to do my art activities today, and since many of my clients are overseas, it is necessary for me to visit them in person to see their kind faces.”
Closer to home, Tawaraya will be seeking other kind faces at the Short Run Comix Festival, where he will exhibit original artworks, limited edition posters, and his new book. It’s his first time at Short Run, so he hopes to discover and meet local artists.
“After Seattle, I will be doing a pop-up at Floating World Comics in Portland,” he said. “I haven’t been there since they moved to the Lloyd Center, so I’m looking forward to it.”
For the rest of 2024, Tawaraya expects to finish up a new comic that is in progress, but invites fans to check out his recent work, an illustration book called Frenzy, currently available from Desert Island in New York.
The Short Run Comix Festival takes place on November 2 at the Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle.
