——The first question is about FireAlpaca. How was your experience using FireAlpaca?

It was very intuitive and easy to use. There’s no unnecessary clutter, and there are plenty of brushes available. I sometimes use the grisaille technique and loved that FireAlpaca has the variety of gradient maps.
Actually I had used FireAlpaca to create illustrations more than 10 years ago, and I am really impressed how much it has improved since then.

——Thank you! Were there any features you found particularly useful or you would highly recommend to others?

Besides the gradient maps, I really appreciated that there were all of the essential features needed for drawing. And I liked how blending modes were applied directly to a folder without having to merge the layers inside it.

——Were there any features you wished FireAlpaca had?

3D perspective feature was a bit difficult to use, and it would be greate if linework could be extended outside the canvas. Being able to see elements like character’s feet positions outside the canvas would make properly setting up perspective easier when drawing backgrounds with perspective,

——Next question is about the illustration you created for this project. What were some of the key aspects you focused on, any particular details you were mindful of, or thoughts you put into the piece?

Since the theme was "urban," I immediately envisioned a modern, white color-based aesthetic with graffiti-style characters.
In terms of the composition, my current personal challenge is to create illustrations looking like a comic book cover. I focused on the image that clearly tells who is a main character and what is going on.
I realized after attending the events such as Tokyo Comic Con that many artists created the book cover arts, so it inspired me to become an illustrator who can draw such illustrations.

——Please tell us about the brushes you used for this illustration.

I wanted to use a brush with slightly blurred edges for coloring, so I customized the default "Pen" brush to fit my needs. As for the smoke in the background, I used the default texture brush "Scratchy Brush" .

——Roughly how long did it take you to complete this illustration?

It took 9 hours in toal. This is actually the second version since I wasn’t satisfied with the first one. If I include the time spent on the first version, the total would be 19 hours.

Analyze the illustrations appealing to you and categorize them.

——Now moving on to questions about you as an illustrator. First, please tell us about your work environment.

I use an XP-PEN "Artist 15.6" display tablet. I primarily use Clip Studio Paint and Tabmate for my left-hand device.
I have a triple-monitor setup. The first one is the display tablet, the second one is for reference searches, and the third one is for watching movies while I work. I normally work while watching live-streaming. Lately I’ve been working on comics, so I always keep the scripts on my desk.

——Please tell us about your illustration history. When did you start drawing, and how did your style evolve over time?

I started tracing Pokémon and other characters when I was in kindergarten, and I kept drawing throughout elementary, middle, and high schools.
In high school, I saw the works of Haato-sensei and was deeply impressed by the stylized designs and unique technique. This influence led me to emphasize silhouettes more.
When I was deciding my educational path between university or vocational school, a teacher from a trial class pointed out that my camerawork was poor. That feedback made me more conscious about the illustration composition.
My foreign or American comic styles illustrations have started after being inspired by a full-color anthology by Filipino artists found at Nakano Broadway.

——What kind of illustrations do you line? It doesn’t have to be related to your own artistic goals.

There are so many so it’s hard to choose, but I like illustrations using aerial perspective, contrast, or such techniques effectively. I also like illustrations highligting the featured element clearly. And the dynamic figure perspective is quite difficult as you canot just rely on the 3D modeling, so I admire artists who can execute it well as it showcases their skill level.
Additionally, I love illustrations with a strong sense of storytelling, like Gosho Aoyama-sensei’s color illustration. And I also appreciate artists like Takuzo Nagano-sensei and Haato-sensei, who capture a character’s essence through their silhouettes.

——What are some of your favorite works? (illustrations, comics, anime, novels, movies, or anything)

I like the social problem works, such as Naoki Yamamoto-sensei’s comic books "Believers" and "Red". As for movies, I enjoy films like "A Clockwork Orange" and "Suite Française".
As for games, I like the character-focused titles such as "Inazuma Eleven", "the Zero Escape series", and "Ace Attorney". And I’ve been playing the FPS game "Rainbow Six Siege" every week for years.

——What do you keep in mind when coming up with ideas before working on an illustration?

I think the most important thing is to regularly look at a variety of illustrations. When I create a specific themed illustration, I recall images I’ve seen in the past and use them as references.
For example, when I draw a parade, I don't just picture an actual parade. I try to vision a composition, colors, and other visual elements from my memory, which I believe this approach will help creating an unordinary illustration.

——What do you keep in mind in order to improve your skills?

I try to analyze an illustration that may be a useful reference and categorize its appealing aspects. This effort lets me quickly access relevant illustrations and incorporate a technique when I struggle.
I think that taking in various artists' technique and combining them will develop my own unique style. it is also important to research and study reference materials before drawing. For example in this illustration, I closely observed a real spray can to accurately depict its reflections.

I’m always struggling with “what is my branding?”

——What do you keep in mind when working on a paid illustration work?

First and foremost, data management is crucial. Since my painting style doesn’t have a clear separation between linework and coloring, I organize my layers carefully so that I can fix any revisions promptly.
Also this is still a challenge for me, but I try to be extra concious about understanding what type of illustration my client expects.

——Please tell us any difficult experiences or struggles while working on an illustration.

I’m always struggling with the question, “what is my branding?” I haven't fully established my own style, color choices, and overall approach that clients recognize as the distinctly Motojima's work. I'm still searching for what is my strength and artistic identity.
Since I tend to get bored easily and change my drawing style, my goal is to establish my artistic identity even though I change the drawing style.

——Please tell us your future goals or challenges you’d like to take on?

I’m currently working on the challenge to complete a full-color comic. I love to create illustrations with a strong sense of storytelling and dynamic camera angles. So why don't I use it on comics? I can apply my composition techniques to create something visually compelling.
Therefore I’ve been shifting my focus toward comic creation since 2024. But I’ve realized that comics aren’t just about stunning visual, and it needs a strong storytelling as well. So I’m also studying scriptwriting to improve my narrative skills.

——Lastly, please comment if you have any advise to those who want to become an illustrator.

I think it’s easier to get an illustration work if you pick your specialty, such as a specific genre or a particular color palette you want to focus on. You can easily obtain various information from SNS, so I recommend to absorb a wide range of illustrations while you’re young. From there, you can refine your style by choosing what style resonates with you the most.
If you draw randomly while you don't know what you like, it can be harder to establish a unique identity. I recommend to take some time to identify what truly inspires you and to build your artistic voice.

——That concludes today’s interview. Thank you very much!

▼ We also got a sneak peek at some of Motojima’s full-color manga works! ▼