Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Daikubara.
Hi Mike, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I first started sketching in 2000 to be able to visually communicate better and faster at my design day job. I carried a sketchbook/pen everywhere and drew everything and anything all the time. After a few years, I felt like I was able to visually communicate better, but I also noticed that I was sketching for the pure joys of doing it more than wanting to get better at the skill set. I now sketch daily to be able to see better, understand better, and enjoy life!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Back in 2000, social networks were still in their infancy so I sketched solely by myself without talking to or sharing with anyone else. Information on how to sketch was also hard to obtain so sometimes it felt like I was in the dark doing this all by myself. I somehow made it through and kept on going since I just enjoyed it. I look back at this as ‘challenges’, as well as something good since I was able to just keep on ‘doing it’ without the influences or pressures of social media. The initial part of sketching is really about just ‘doing it’ to be able to train the hand/eye coordination of being able to translate what you see onto the paper.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Urban Sketcher, or a sketch artist that likes to draw on-location from direct observation. I believe there is beauty and something interesting behind everything in this world and it’s just a matter of being able to see it and to understand it. Sketching allows me to do that and as a result, I enjoy every second of that experience to enjoy life. Since I did not know how to draw and started sketching way into my adult life, I feel I can teach anyone how to sketch even if they believe they cannot draw or have any artistic talents. I believe it’s the initial mindset that gets in the way for many people since anyone can draw and once you overcome it, you can see the world through the eyes of a sketcher which is quite wonderful. 🙂
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
1) To keep on sketching everyday.
There are days I don’t feel like it but I force myself to do it and interesting enough, it starts to get fun once starting to do it.
2) To share your sketching journey with others.
I used to be afraid of showing my sketches to others out of fear of being criticized or hearing of negative comments. I learned over the years that the positive connections I have with other artists and people interested in my sketching outweighs anything negative that takes place. I learn so much from others and this energizes me to want to do more.
3) To disconnect, slow down and to just have fun.
The world is getting faster and more connected than ever before becoming harder and harder to get ‘disconnected’ from technology. The time I have with my sketchbook + pen is the only time I can go ‘analog’ and this allows me to really slow down my mind and to connect with the physical environment around me. I can also stop thinking about anything going on in my mind and to really just enjoy that ‘moment’. I find this really fun and therapeutic at the same time.
Contact Info:
- Email: mike@daikubara.com
- Website: www.daikubara.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikedaikubara
