Life & Work with Kotono Ogihara of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kotono Ogihara.

Hi Kotono, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first discovered smudge-proof chalk art in Australia seven years ago. I was fascinated by how this kind of art could blend into everyday life while bringing warmth and joy to the people who see it.
I was so drawn to it that I traveled to the Gold Coast to learn the technique directly from one of the pioneers of this art form.
At the time, I was working as a registered dietitian in Japan, but I soon decided to change careers and came to Los Angeles to study typography.
Today, I work on a wide variety of projects, from restaurant signage and menus to weddings, special events, and even prop art. I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love and to create art that brings warmth to everyday spaces.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road.
Every time I introduced myself as a chalk artist, people would ask me, “What’s your main job?” That gives you an idea of how difficult it is to make a living as a full-time chalk artist in Los Angeles. Most of my fellow chalk artists work in other fields as well.
To keep doing this full-time, I’ve had to be persistent and stay positive.
Growing up in Japan, I wasn’t used to putting myself out there or actively promoting my work. But I learned that in the U.S., you can’t just wait for opportunities to come to you. You have to put yourself out there and create your own opportunities.
I started visiting local businesses and suggesting ideas for things they might find useful, showing them how chalk art could work for their space. Over time, these efforts helped me build trust as a professional, and gradually, more work started coming through word of mouth.
These days, people rarely ask me what my main job is when they see my work. It makes me feel like I’ve finally established myself as a professional artist.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for my smudge-proof chalk art, a technique that originated in Australia and is still relatively unfamiliar here in the U.S.
Chalkboards can serve so many purposes. For a daily special, maybe it looks best when the chef writes it by hand. But what about a restaurant’s name or logo? Or a wedding welcome sign? Those are things you want to look beautiful, and of course, you don’t want them to get smudged, dirty, or accidentally erased.
That’s where my chalk art comes in. Using specially designed boards and chalk, I create artwork that doesn’t just look beautiful in the moment, but can preserve that beauty for years to come.
Living in Los Angeles, a city full of entertainment and visual creativity, I feel there’s something special about the warmth of hand-drawn art on a chalkboard. In a world filled with digital graphics and printed signs, chalk art brings a personal, human touch to a space. I think that’s part of what makes it so valuable here.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’d say flexibility and integrity are the most important qualities behind my story.
My clients range from business owners and event coordinators to directors, and no two projects are ever the same. Everyone has different expectations, working styles, and even different paces. Rather than being thrown off by those differences, I try to understand each person’s needs, anticipate what might be expected of me next, and approach every project with honesty and care.
Sometimes, people are surprised by the kinds of jobs I take on, asking, “You do that, too?” But if I can use my skills to help someone, I don’t get too caught up in the form the job takes. I see each opportunity as something to be grateful for, and I give it my best.
Los Angeles is such a diverse place, where people from different cultural backgrounds come together. Over the past few years, I’ve encountered so many new ways of thinking, not just about work but about life in general. Looking back, there’s no doubt that flexibility has been one of the keys to my growth.
We live in a time when art created digitally and with AI is everywhere. That makes me want to keep sharing the warmth and humanity that can only come from something made by hand.

Pricing:

• Custom chalk art: Pricing varies depending on the size and design. Projects start at $300.
• On-site chalk art services: Starting at $500 for 4 hours.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kokochalkart.wixsite.com/koko-chalkart
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k0k0_art/