Painter’s expo demonstrates pastel crayons

Kohei Arikawa’s works are often pastel color crayons with happy overtones.

Kohei Arikawa, an Okinawan specializing in pastel crayon painting, is showing off his cute, colorful paintings he says make people feel happy at Plaza House in Okinawa City.

Although Arikawa was more interested in baseball during his youth and had no experience with painting, he became conscious of painted pictures when he was 23 years old.  He had a hard time at the beginning as a painter, but had perseverance. He sustained himself selling portraits on a street in Mihama, Chatan, while working and trying to get people to remember his name.

Today, he’s been an artist for more than 10 years, and Arikawa’s works are known all over Japan.  More than 10,000 people are coming to his annual exhibition in Okinawa.  His works are seen at many places, and in Naha, one can often see a bus painted by him.  Furthermore, Arikawa has continued his workshop ‘Happy Portrait’ aside from his main work.  The aim of the workshop is for people to feel joy from having their own original drawn portrait.  People can order a portrait for a special price at the exhibition.

The exhibition runs through Sunday, October 26th, in the Fair Mall 3rd Floor Gallery & Space in Plaza House Shopping Center.  Admission is ¥500, except for people over 65 years of age or high school age and younger who can enter free.

09:00 29 Mar , 2024