Today we’d like to introduce you to Futo Wada.
Hi Futo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually didn’t do much art until middle school, but I think all of it started much, much earlier. I grew up on my mother’s collection of Japanese picture books, which defines my art till this day. Add a few animated movies that I watched religiously (most notably My Neighbor Totoro and Cinderella III) and a realization that if I don’t pursue something creative, I might die, and that leads me to where I am now- studying animation in LA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest thing for a long time was the solitude, I think. I don’t come from a family with much interest in art and went to a STEM-focused high school. Art was a very lonely pursuit for a long time.
Also, because I started pursuing it later, I missed out on drawing during my school years which is where a lot of artists really indulge in what they love and get to explore artistically without the pressures of making art for school or a career. But for me, once I picked up art, I had to start thinking about it seriously pretty quickly. It took me a very long time to force myself to loosen up and to prioritize having fun with my art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My proper answer to what I do would be that I do visual development in animation- I specialize in painting and color work. My more genuine answer would be that I pursue my love for shape, color, and human connection.
This might seem ironic since I mostly paint, but I’m actually most proud of my comics. Most recently, I made a 10-page comic about memory loss that comes with trauma in the format of an Ikea manual called “Assembly Instructions.”
I’m very drawn to work that incorporates multiple ways of expression, and I would love to continue finding a way to express my writing that is more emotionally heavy and combining it with my love for vibrant, playful visuals.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My artist friends – they’re everything to me. They helped me realize that making art is ultimately for the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://futowada.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fu_paints/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fu_paints
