Mr. Yoshii was born in Aichi prefecture in Japan. He used to work for a design company as graphics designer in Nagoya city and then, after he moved to Tokyo, he became a freelance illustrator (graphics designer) in 1990. He has been mainly creating several kinds of illustration work and character designs for magazines and books. He has a well developed skill for creating characters that express moods and abstract concepts. Mr. Yoshii has also written five different guide books for the 2D Software known as Painter.

Lux: What formal training in art do you have?

HY: When I was a high school student, I watched the movie Star Wars and loved the science fiction visual effects. Ever since then I wanted to become an illustrator, so I entered Graphics Design School after graduating from high school. After that I worked for a small graphic design company, and then I became a freelance illustrator. In 1992, I changed my creation environment to go all digital. Originally I did my work in 2D using Painter and then I began using 3D CG tools in 2003, eventually I started creating animations in 2005.

Lux: What people have inspired you?

HY: I yearned for (loved) Starwars and then I was interested in special effect artists. Then, I was influenced by Wolfgang Hutter and Claude Verlinde very much.

Lux: What is your biggest market?

HY: I used to work lots for creating some illustration for magazines and books; I am creating some character design and animation these days. Additionally, I have evolved as an artist to the point where I am selling small quantities of “art toys” by myself.

Lux: What are some of the interesting things your characters have been used for?

HY: I, myself love “TV-Dog”, which I have been creating over many times since I drew it with paints.

And also Pu-chan. I have been recreating this character over times, and I have created some animations with this character as well as TV-Dog.

Lux: When you create a character, are you also thinking of their personality?

HY: Yes, I do not create a character before I have given him some personality. He gets more personality and identity after I started creating the character. I am not good at naming the character.

Lux: You are creating the new characters and introduce them on your blog almost every day, why are you creating it every day?

HY: I have been creating my characters on my site The Daily Work for 9 years and so far I have created 1671 different characters (dated June 14th, 2008). When I started this, I made 2D images, but, I have been modeling 3D these days. The reason why I am creating it almost every day is that I feel very sorry for the character who is supposed to be born at that day and if I don't create on some of days, he does not get born... .A new character is born by my spending about 3 hours of my time every day to create new character for the TDW. Someday, I may stop creating up until I am burned out, but, I will keep creating for a while... might be forever...

Lux: What computer software tools have you used on your path up to this point?

HY: I have used Painter, Photoshop and Illustrator on Mac started since 1992. And then ZBrush and Cinema4D from 2000 - 2004. Now I have used modo and 3ds Max since 2004.

Lux: Was the switch from 2D to 3D a difficult one for you?

HY: I was always thinking of my creation with 3 dimensions in my mind at the beginning anyway, and then, I would draw/paint it into 2 dimensions. I love drawing with shading to express some volume, but, since I had been making 2D artwork including drawing with paints over 25 years, I was burning out in creating 2 dimensions. This is because it takes too much time to draw the shade with 2D tools. I prefer taking time for modeling and painting textures/surface color instead so that I tried to use some 3D tools, such as Ray Dream Designer and LightWave 3D, but I couldn't use them very well.

In the year 2000, I met ZBrush and it gave me a good feeling to model like handling clay without being conscious of most polygons. I then switched the ZBrush instead of using Painter when I created some illustration as well. However, I figured out that while ZBrush is a nice tool for creating complex objects very quickly, I felt that I should use a polygon modeler for creating simple objects. So that I started using Cinema4D in 2002. And then, I start using modo for all of my work (except animation works) when modo came out in 2004.

Lux: How have computers affected your art?

HY: Once I create something in my mind, I like to see the result sooner. But, I frustrated with drawing with the paints which took me long process. So, I feel that it is very wonderful to use the computer which gives me a very quick result.

Lux: Tell us about your computer setup.

HY: My main machine is Mac Book Pro with 17 inch monitor and also a Mouse Computer (Dual Quad core). But, the most of my work including the TDW website is done by my Mac Book Pro with a 23 inch Cinema Display. When I need to make animation with 3ds Max and when I need to render with modo, I use the Mouse Computer. I don’t use a mouse, I use a Tablet exclusively.

Lux: How much do you take time to create one character and also, workflow when using the modo?

HY: When I make a character by a client’s order, I normally take a few days, but, I only take about 2 - 4 hours (including rendering time) for my works like those on TDW. I have several thousands ideas of my characters and while I look at those characters, some of them ask me “Hey! Why don’t you make me!!” That is when I start modeling it with modo!!

Most of the time, I started modeling with the Cube primitive and give it a couple of subdivisions and then start making each part. Most of the time I create the characters as one single model. You can see this process with my video attached the below.

© Hiroshi Yoshii

Lux: What is you favorite functionality in modo?

HY: Since the modo allows to use little time and effort when modeling, it gives me a very fast response and a nice feeling so that I can get the result very quickly. I like:

Lux: What functionality are you hoping for modo to get in the future?

HY: Powerful Character Animation functions, like CAT. Easy to make a rig with some nice presets. If you support those, I will use modo only for all of my works!

Domo!

Lux: Thank you for your time and insight.