Bob Dylan - The TImes They Are A-Changin'

This is a pencil drawing of a young Bob Dylan with his handwritten lyrics of his song The Times They Are A-Changin’ and his album label in the background.

Size: 329mm x 483mm / 13" x 17"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

I drew this pencil drawing of Bob Dylan at the request of my good friend Koji. The drawing is from Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ CD cover. I added the record label and Dylan’s handwritten lyrics in the background. I did consider including the score for the song, but I felt the handwritten lyrics looked better.

This drawing took several days to complete. His hair and shirt were challenging, but I think they both came out nicely. The source image I used was not ideal. It was small and unclear. Some details were obscure and dark. So I had to use a little artistic license to create what I could not see. For instance, in the photograph I could not see his pupils nor could I see the top of his head. I found another photograph online where I could see what his hair looked like during the same time period, possibly the same photoshoot.

Just as a side note, I had to extend the drawing an additional inch because I accidentally marked a small portion of the drawing with chocolate. A little “doji” on my part. That’s clumsy in Japanese. And during my scanning process, I unintentionally bent the right edge of the drawing with the scanner cover’s hinge. The drawing wasn’t damaged; only the side edge was bent. I was able to straighten out the edge with an iron, but it will always have two small marks as reminder to me.

In any case, I think this drawing turned out great. I think it is a very nice tribute to Bob Dylan and his renowned musical career. I really like this drawing and I hope you will like this drawing too.

Enoden Seaside

A color pencil drawing of my walk along the seaside train tracks of the Enoden line.

Size: 423mm x 508mm / 16.6" x 20"

Print Type: Special Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 100

This is the second drawing in which I used the color pencil set gifted to me by my fellow artist and friend Sayuri. This drawing is of a photograph I took with my smartphone along the seashore next to the Enoden train tracks in a late afternoon sun on a mid-summer’s day.

We were about 4 months into the corona pandemic hoping things would return to normal soon. If you look closely you will see the train driver is wearing a mask.

I’m actually thinking about talking with the train company to see if they would like to use this drawing in an advertising campaign. If they do, I will let you all know.

I really enjoyed drawing this piece. Granted it wasn’t easy. It was very complex and time-consuming; I included many details in the drawing, but I believe it was well worth the effort. The destination, the train number and the track marker are clearly depicted in the drawing. Its warmth and easy feeling relaxes me and holds the promise of a better tomorrow. I really like this drawing. I hope you like this piece too.

Rocker’s Delight

A pencil drawing of Rolling Stones' lead singer and rock 'n roll legend Mick Jagger with his beaming smile.

Size: 432mm x 317.5mm / 17" x 12.5"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

I drew this pencil drawing because I thought my good friend Koji would like it. He is a big fan of the Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger. Koji loves rock ‘n roll and owns Analog, a rock bar I frequently go to in Kyodo. He allows me to hang my drawings on the walls in his bar.

I think this drawing turned out a lot better than I had anticipated. I say that because I stopped several times during the drawing process. I felt the drawing wasn’t looking exactly right and it seemed something was off. I felt what I had drawn at that point was bad and was not good enough to finish. Mick’s hair and eyes were wrong. His mouth and teeth were a disaster. So I stepped back and put the drawing aside for awhile.

And then I recalled what my high school art teacher (and good friend) would say to me when he saw me struggling with a piece in class. “Don’t over work it. Know when it’s done.” So after a few days of thinking about it, I dove back into the project. And in the end it came out much better than I could have hoped.

I think this piece is my favorite drawing thus far. The reason could be that I struggled so much with this piece. The hair looks good, the eyes turned out right, and I really like how the teeth and mouth came out. I couldn’t be happier with the results. I really like this drawing, and I hope you will too.

Legendary Duo

A pencil drawing of Rock Legends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Size: 546mm x 425.5mm / 21.5" x 16.75"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

I drew this pencil drawing at the request of my good friend Koji, who owns a drinking establishment I frequent in Kyodo called Analog. I am grateful to him for hanging my most recent drawings on the walls of his bar.

This piece is rather large. It measures 22 inches wide and 16 and a half inches high. I was a little reluctant to take on this project because of its difficulty and scale. Plus the source material was of low quality. Normally I like to start with as much detail as possible, since some may be lost in my rendering. But luckily this piece came out just fine.

I like how Keith and Mick’s facial expressions came out. I also like how their clothing look real. Their hands and hair come out nicely too. This piece was a challenge to complete, but it was enjoyable to create. The more I look at it, the more I like it. I hope you will too.

Japan Rocker Eikichi Yazawa

A pencil drawing of Eikichi Yazawa, a popular Japanese Rock 'n Roll star.

Size: 387.35mm x 317.5mm / 15.25" x 12.5"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

I drew this pencil drawing thinking my good friend Koji would like it, but as it turned out he didn't. I thought it would be a good idea to draw Japanese Rock Stars and musicians, since most of my drawings were of American or British musicians.

So I thought why not draw some popular Japanese musicians. I asked some of my Japanese friends who was a popular rock star in Japan, and I was told Eikichi Yazawa is the number one rocker in Japan. But in the end, Yazawa would not occupy a space on Analog’s wall.

According to Wikipedia, Yazawa formed a rock band in ’72 and he went solo in ’75. He has had a successful musical career and is a prominent figure in Japanese popular music. He’s even made many Japanese television commercials.

I think anyone would be happy to display this piece. I like how his hand and eyes came out. His beard stubble was a little tricky, but I think it came out nicely too. This piece was fun to draw and I like it. I hope you will like it too.

Janis Joplin

A pencil drawing of possibly one of the greatest female rock stars from the late 1960's.

Size: 381mm x 495.3mm / 15" x 19.5"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 250

I’m really pleased how this pencil drawing came out. And I would be lying if I said Janis didn’t have an influence on me and my life, and maybe more importantly on my art. She was one of the prime movers in freedom of expression. In today’s vernacular, she’d be known as an influencer.

I was born in '61, so the music from late '60's and early '70's had a major impact on my life. I enjoyed my tied-dyed shirts and my bell-bottom flare. It was an era of grand freedom for most, and as we all did at the time, we let our freak flags fly.

I really like this drawing of Janis because she looks happy and beautiful. I like how her glasses softly reflect and her eyes appear to look back at you from within the drawing. Her vest, hair and accessories were a challenge to draw, but I think they all came out just right.

I feel her music will live on forever, and I'm certain she will continue to entertain and influence many generations to come. I hope you will enjoy this piece of American pop culture.

San Diego Slugger

A pencil drawing of my Grandson Forchie.

Size: 324mm x 362mm / 12.75" x 14.25"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of my grandson Forchie (Fortunato). Forchie is a wonderful kid and is a really good baseball player. Look for him in the Majors someday. My son liked the portrait I drew of him so much, he asked me to draw a portrait of his son. I think this piece turned out great.

I really enjoyed drawing this portrait. Forchie’s face seems to radiate out from the drawing and the texture of his ball cap seems real. I really like this drawing and I hope you will too.

Sushishou’s Taisho

A pencil drawing of Sushishou's Taisho at the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo.

Size: 329mm x 483mm / 13" x 19"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of the Taisho (master) and owner of the Sushishou sushi restaurant. Sushishou is a standing sushi bar/restaurant in Kyodo, Japan. Kyodo is in Setagaya, one of the 23 Wards in Tokyo.

Sushishou is ranked as one of the top 3 sushi restaurants in Tokyo (I think it is the best) and it has hundreds of customers, but it can only hold 12 people at one time. Even less now with the social distancing measures taken because of the pandemic. But as I said, Sushishou is a standing bar/restaurant. So there are no tables or chairs. There is only a counter. The small space gives it its ambiance, and forces people to talk to each other with the opportunity to make new friends.

I really enjoyed drawing this piece for my favorite sushi restaurant and friend. It was my pleasure and honor. The Taisho is a very warm and interesting man. He worked 30 years at a popular sushi restaurant in New Your City. He was very flattered that I would draw his portrait.

I really like how his hands and uniform came out in the drawing. The features in his face seem to stand out because of brightness of the room. The texture and feel of this piece is better than I could have ever hoped. All of his customers love this portrait and speak of it throughout Kyodo. I too like this drawing and I hope you like it too.

Burano Reflections

A color pencil drawing of the waterways of Burano, Italy.

Size: 432mm x 317.5mm / 17" x 12.5"

Print Type: Special Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 100

This was my first color pencil drawing using my friend's gift--a color pencil set. This drawing is of the waterways in Burano, Italy.

While vacationing in Italy several years ago, my wife and I went to Milan and Lake Como, but more importantly we went to Venice. While in Venice we visited Burano and Murano islands. We fell in love with both islands.

The reason we went to Venice was of course to see the sights, but we also went to take photographs for our upcoming wedding ceremony. After the photoshoot, while still wearing our wedding attire, my wife in her wedding gown and me in my tuxedo, we went to Piazza San Marco and danced our 15 minutes in front of an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd of a 100 onlookers. For a fleeting moment, my wife and I felt we were celebrities dancing before our adoring fans. It was quite exciting to have complete strangers take videos and photographs of us while we danced our first dance as husband and wife in Venice.

When we returned from Venice, my wife asked me to draw some of the images and feelings we shared during our stay in Venice. I think I captured at least one. I truly love this drawing and I hope you will too.

Rocking Pompeii

A pencil drawing of David Gilmour performing in Pompeii's Amphitheater.

Size: 410mm x 503mm / 16.15" x 19.8"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of David Gilmour, the legendary guitarist from the Pink Floyd band. I am a huge Floyd fan. Some may disagree, but I rank Gilmour as one of the top five guitarists of all time.

I drew this drawing for an old friend. Chris asked me to draw it after he saw my pencil drawing of Jackson Browne. Chris is a guitar enthusiast and he wanted me to draw it for his Gilmour wall, where it proudly hangs today.

I included the tree line and the amphitheater in the background to give it some context. In ‘71 Pink Floyd filmed a live performance in Pompeii’s amphitheater. A year later they released a documentary of their performance entitled: “Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii” They performed live in Pompeii again in 2016.

When my wife and I were in Pompeii a few years ago, we saw the Pink Floyd exhibition at the amphitheater. The exhibition was amazing. But more amazing is that the amphitheater is still stand after 2000 years.

As for this drawing, I am really happy with the results. The Fender guitar came out great. David’s hair and hands look amazing. I put many hours in producing this piece and enjoyed creating it. I hope you like it as well.

Yottemasu!!! ('I'm Drunk!!!')

A pencil drawing of two of my dearest friends (Mark and Robert).

Size: 440mm x 329mm / 17.3" x 13.1"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of two of my good buddies. They were having a great time on the Row and shared this great selfie. I liked this image so much I had to put it to paper.

At the time, Mark and Robert were partaking in adult beverages at another good friend's (Daniel) drinking establishment (Dolce Vita). Their facial expressions are so funny and entertaining.

Mark's mouth and teeth are hilarious, and if you look closely at his glasses you can see a nearby neon sign’s reflection. Robert’s wild-eyed and shocked facial expression is also very comical.

Robert is wearing a bandana with a Japanese phrase which reads 酔ってます!!! This phrase is pronounced Yottemasu!!! Which means "I'm drunk!!!" It is humorous since they both were drunk. I can't tell you how much I love this piece. I hope you will like it too.

The Eagles Poster

A pencil drawing of a special Eagles’ concert poster "The Long Run" tour held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 18th 1979.

Size: 305mm x 441mm / 12" x 17.5"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of a poster of the Eagles’ concert “The Long Run” tour. I found this poster fascinating and intriguing. I hold this poster dear for many reason, but largely because of the time frame and for the fact that the Eagles are my all-time favorite musical group.

I wish I could say I attended this concert, but I did not. Everything about this poster reminds of a special time, a special era which we can never return. I also like that the poster designer placed a photograph of the band members at the top of the poster. I probably would not have recreated it if it wasn’t there. This was also an interesting piece to draw because of the things that happened to me in 1979.

I graduated high school in May of ’79 and I then enlisted into the US Air Force in June of ’79. This would have been a concert I would've loved to have had attended, but in October of ’79 I was at my first station far away at a base in New Jersey.

I’m sure many will disagree with me, but I think I grew up during the greatest period of modern music history. From the late ‘60’s to the early ‘80’s I was able to listen to and watch live performances of some of the greatest musical bands and musicians of all time.

Now from here I could rattle off a bunch of band names, but I won’t because we all have our own list. But no matter who we are or which list we read, the Eagles would certainly be among that list. I truly enjoyed creating this drawing and I like it very much. I hope you will like it too.

Jackson Browne

A pencil drawing of an American singer-songwriter and legend Jackson Browne.

Size: 406mm x 308.5mm / 16" x 12.15"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of the most influential artist in my life, Jackson Browne. Only Roger Waters could challenge his influence. While growing up in the '60's and '70’s I listened to many great musical artists, but Jackson Browne by far had the greatest impact on me. His music resonated within my soul and I could relate to each and every word he spoke or sang.

I recall I would listen for hours to the same album, to the same songs over and over again. This would’ve been The Pretender album, which wasn’t even mine, it was my older brother Sammy’s record. It wasn’t until later in life I would learned of and could afford Jackson Browne’s earlier works (Late for the Sky and For Everyman). I think Running on Empty was the first album I actually purchased on my own.

Having lost my parents early in life, I related deeply with three songs on this album. The “The Only Child” taught me some life lessons my parents could not and would never be able to share with me. Like the importance of family, how kindness can guide you in your search for love, and once you’ve found it you have to take good care of it.

A tear still catches me by surprise when I hear the “Daddy’s Tune” song. Never having had the opportunity to speak with my own father on such life matters, this song gave me voice and a chance to say what I would’ve liked to have had said to him. The line “Nothing survives, but the way we live our lives” echoes down the years to me.

The song “Sleep’s Dark and Silent Gate” still resonates with me as well. The line “But the times when we were happy, were the times we never tried” taught me so much about love and happiness.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are other great songs on this album. Rarely have I found myself liking every song on a single album, but with this album I did. Each gave me hope and promise of a better tomorrow, and for that I thank the author.

I drew this drawing because I felt it necessary to pay tribute to Jackson Browne. Hopefully this will be the first of many. If you look closely, you will see I drew this entirely with one direction diagonal hash lines. I didn’t use cross-hashing since I felt that would make the drawing too hard. I wanted the drawing to have a soft feel, and I think I reach that goal. I truly love this piece and I enjoyed drawing it. I look forward to drawing more. I hope you like this drawing too.

At Jester's Store

A pencil drawing of a scene on my birthday at Jester's Store, one of my favorite places to visit in Kyodo city.

Size: 313.25mm x 410.7mm / 12.33" x 16.2"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 4 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of a photograph I took during my birthday party at Jester’s Store a few years ago. I would like to say this was a lot of fun to draw, but in reality it was probably the most difficult. The level of detail in this piece is probably far greater than I ever attempted before.

The glasses hanging over the bar; the beer tap, the sink and the bottles above the sink; the glasses and bottles on the bar, along with all the other items on the bar; and the wooden glass doors in the background all were challenging to draw. And I haven’t even mentioned the people within the drawing.

First we have my dear friend Naru-chan behind the bar. She is the barkeep, and along side her is her trusted helper Mio. Second is my very good friend Chris, who is chatting up a storm with his Japanese drinking partners. He could be explaining how the Earth is flat or how we never landed on the moon. But most likely, he is bragging about New Jersey producing more musical artists than any other state.

This drawing was tedious, time consuming, and complex, but I think it was well worth the effort. I really like this piece and enjoyed creating it. I hope you will like it too.

Self-Portrait

A pencil drawing of me.

Size: 210mm x 297mm / 8.3" x 11.7"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 250

This pencil drawing is a self-portrait. I don't normally draw myself, but I was inspired by other artists in the past who have drawn or painted themselves.

I did paint another self-portrait when I was a lot younger. I think my older brother Sammy has that painting, along with my “The Drunk” painting I did when I was 16 years old.

I promise this will be a rare occurrence, since I don't plan on doing another self-portrait any time soon. Maybe when I’m 70 years old I will do another. In any case, I hope you like this drawing.

Two Sly Cats

A pencil drawing of my son Fortunato holding a black cat.

Size: 315mm x 400mm / 12.4" x 15.75"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 2 of 250

This is a portrait of my son Franky (Forturnato) holding a black cat. I really enjoyed drawing this portrait. It would be the second time I drew a portrait of my son.

Initially I was not going to darken my son's shirt as it was in the photograph I used to draw this portrait. My thought was a sharp contrast between his shirt and the cat would be more appealing. So I went with a lighter shirt, but once I finished the piece I realized the shirt had to be darkened.

I was a little apprehensive about doing this because it might destroy all my efforts thus far, and there would be no way to undone the changes. I have learned in the past that I could ruin a piece if I made a bad last minute change. So I was a little afraid to move forward with this change. The piece actually looked perfectly fine as it was and I really didn’t need to make this last minute addition.

But after a few days of hemming and hawing, I decided to go ahead and darken his shirt. Specifically black, the same color as the cat. Now my next fear was I could lose the cat within the darkened shirt. So I used a different type of pencil for the shirt as I did for the cat. This proved to be the perfect solution. As you can see, the cat is clearly not part of his shirt.

Having solved that slight problem, I am very pleased with the results. I truly love this piece, and I had a lot of fun drawing it. I hope you like this drawing too.

Seiyu in Fussa

A color pencil drawing of the Seiyu department store sign in Fussa, Japan.

Size: 210mm x 297mm / 8.3"x 11.7"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 7 of 250

This is a color pencil drawing of a view from an alley in the city of Fussa looking toward the Seiyu department store building. Some of you may recognize this alley. It’s the same alley where Paradise Alley used to be on. And for those of you who don’t know, a Seiyu department store is sort of like a Walmart, and I think Seiyu is now owned by Walmart.

I have lived in Fussa for more than 35 years and I love everything about this city. I’m certain I have entered that department building more than a thousand times. I’ve purchased birthday gifts and Christmas presents for my children there. I’ve bought groceries there for our dinners hundreds of times. And though I call Pennsylvania home, only because it’s where I was born and it’s where most of my family still reside, I consider Fussa to be my second home.

I like this image because of its simplicity and colors. I could have drawn this piece using regular numbered pencils, but the colors were striking and vibrant. To grayscale it would have been a mistake. I only have two regrets with this drawing. First, I wish I had included the street leading up to the intersection. And second, I wish I had made the drawing larger.

This drawing is only 8 inches by 11 inches. I have been thinking about redoing this drawing for some time now. If I do, I will include the street and make the new drawing larger. Better yet, I could redo this drawing as a painting. It has been awhile since I have picked up a brush. So that could be my next project. I’ll keep you all posted on that endeavor.

Unlike the other color pencil drawings on this website, I used my own color pencils. My friend and fellow artist, Sayuri, had not yet gifted me the color pencil set until after she saw this drawing. This drawing was specifically why she gave me the color pencil set. I do like this drawing very much. I hope you like it too.

Reaching Out for Help

A pencil drawing of an inspired vision during a moment of despair.

Size: 326mm x 419mm / 12.8" x 16.5"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 250

I drew this pencil drawing during a dark and painful period in my life. Obviously it is not a pleasing portrayal of desperation, but in the past I used my art as a way to release and express my feelings. And at that time, my heart was saturated with feelings of loss and hopelessness. I seriously needed some form of venting. But I was young and stupid, reeling from a broken relationship and realizing I had no chance of getting her back.

As in this drawing, I was reaching out in a desperation. I originally titled this piece, “Going Down for the Third Time.” Luckily, I received the needed help from a dear friend after confiding in him. He reassured me that this would pass and I would be stronger because of it. I suppose scar tissue is a necessary teaching tool.

In any case, the most significant lesson I learned from this experience was “All is never lost.” Even though you may feel defeated and abandoned, you are never alone when you have your family and friends. As a great songwriter once shared with us: “All you need is love.” Trust those around you to help pull you through, because they hope you will help pull them through too.

Lastly, I did paint this drawing some years later for my best friend, Mark Warden. Sadly Mark passed away some years ago, but I’m sure his wife, Satomi, still displays my shared experience for all to see in Sacramento. I hope you like it, and I thank you for allowing me to share my experiences with you.

Gondola in Venice

A pencil drawing of a gondola ride in Venice, Italy.

Size: 444mm x 203mm / 17.5" x 8"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 250

This is a pencil drawing of a couple taking a gondola ride in Venice, Italy. I drew this piece after we returned from our Venice trip at the behest of my wife. We were in Venice to have fun, but we were there also for our wedding photographs.

The couple in the gondola is my wife and I, and our gondolier is Lupin III. For those who don’t know who Lupin III is, he is a popular Japanese manga character. Obviously, I was having a little fun with this drawing.

To create this image, I spliced two separate photographs I took while in Venice. I put them together for dramatic effect. I don't think the gondolas are actually allowed to go that far outside the city.

While in Venice, my wife and I did ride in a gondola. I had my tuxedo on and my wife was wearing her wedding dress in the gondola. She looked as beautiful as the day was in Venice. I really like this drawing, but I’m afraid not as much as my wife. I hope you like it too.

A Simple Offering

A pencil drawing of a outstretched hand holding a glowing orb of light.

Size: 255mm x 189mm / 10" x 7.5"

Print Type: Limited Edition
Print Number: 1 of 250

I may have drawn this particular drawing at least twenty times throughout my life. It is a simple pencil drawing, but if you look closely you will see symbols within the fingers. In an earlier version of this drawing, which I have lost, I drew paint brushes and pencils within the finger and fingernails. I may have given it to a friend, but I don’t recall exactly what happened to that piece.

I’ve used this symbolism in several of my paintings. One was at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi where I painted a wall mural for my squadron. In that particular piece, the hand held a globe representing our global support system. I think a lot of my co-workers enjoyed that piece.

Another piece I did was a 10-foot wooden Christmas card I painted for my squadron in Japan. In this piece, the hand held out an infant as a gift. The symbolism was the baby Jesus as the offering to humanity’s salvation.

If you have viewed several of my art pieces, you may have noticed I like drawing hands. I don’t have a very good explanation for this, since the hand is probably one of the hardest parts of the body to draw. Only second to a person’s face.

I do like drawing and painting the human hand. I feel the hand’s strength and its frailty can be captured simultaneously in art. It was fun to draw. I hope you like this piece.