Yuta onoda biography of albert


The Perspective of Two Different Cultures

If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a BAA from the illustration program at Sheridan College in Canada.

Have you always been able to draw or was it a skill you learned in college? I think I learned most of skills from my program. It was very helpful for me to understand illustration; I experimented with a lot of different mediums (I still do) when I was in the college. And this helped me find and build the illustration approach I have now.

What was your first paid assignment? A half page illustration for Modern Dog magazine for an article lamenting the short life span of dogs.

What would you be doing if you weren’t an illustrator? A novelist.

From where do your best ideas originate? Growing up in Japan and moving to Canada, living in two different cultures, has definitely changed my thinking process and helped me develop perspective.

How do you overcome a creative block? I normally go outside, walk around and get some fresh air.

In one word describe how you feel when beginning a new assignment? Excited.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Always work hard.

Do you have creative pursuits other than illustration? I paint as well. Hopefully, in the future, I'll be able to find a balance between the two.

What music are you listening to right now? Japanese rock trio Spangle call Lilli line.

Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? Always work hard, never stop leaning and enjoy what you do.

What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? Communication skills.

Yuta Onoda, originally from Japan, is an illustrator/painter based in Toronto, Canada. He's been shaping his art aesthetic through various forms of media and finding new avenues to express himself. His illustrations have received awards from American Illustration, Applied Arts, Creative Quarterly, 3x3 and Communication Arts.