Kyo Tagawa shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kyo , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I think folks sometimes get the impression that I’ve always been able wake up and want to draw everyday. Or (to my annoyance) they say it’s “talent”. The fact is, drawing daily is a habit that takes time to build up; I call that ‘art stamina’. There’s days I’m not really feeling it but I need to get work done regardless. You can’t tell an employer, “sorry, but I’m just not feeling it today.” So, being able to show up everyday and reliably make something is a huge accomplishment for me. When I think about my work habits now compared to five years ago? I feel nothing but pride, because I know I’ve become the artist that past me would be in awe of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! My name is Kyo Tagawa, and I work as a Concept Artist in the game industry! While I can draw anything from cool weapons, to strange plants, I love to create monsters, and I specialize in Creature Design. I create original work either from imagination or based upon criteria of what I’m given by clients and employers for use in pre-production (for games, and comics). From there (depending on the nature of the work) I’ll create a model sheet, annotated with notes which acts as a blue print for 3D artists so they can bring the character to life! It’s a very collaborative process that’s both challenging and fun.
I’ve pursued this career path since childhood; and despite facing many obstacles, I’ve managed to overcome them and make what was once a dream, reality. Presently I work freelance juggling various client projects, and finding time in between to work on my own ideas. My style leans towards ‘dreadful elegance’ something foreboding but beautiful. In nature, the most gorgeous things tend to be the deadliest.
I like to call myself a Thoughtweaver, I take ideas, and weave them into something tangible, it’s the closest thing to magic in our modern world and I love that.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My late father.
We were very close, in fact, he was the one who got me into video games when I was a kid. He had a talent for reading people and I distinctly remember trying to prove him wrong to no avail. Even now, a decade after his passing, I’m finding out that he’s still right about things. We used to talk a lot, and one of the questions that came up often was: Do you know yourself?
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Multiple times, but the one experience that stands out to me the most happened not long after I graduated college in the Summer of 2017.
I quickly discovered that I had much to learn about the gaming industry, and my career as a whole. Being in college for four and a half years and learning my skills weren’t remotely good enough to be considered for professional work was maddening. I was lost, confused, and frustrated.
Demotivated by art, I turned to video games for a pick-me-up, particularly the game League of Legends. At the time, it was far easier to quantify my growth playing ranked, compared to my struggling growth as an artist and League was much more enjoyable (at the time). I got the brilliant idea that could study art and pursue competitive esports side by side, but the game quickly took over my time, energy, and attention. Eventually, art fell to the wayside.
By the end of 2017 my mental health deteriorated, I was playing the game 12+ hrs a day, my family hardly saw me, and I had nothing to show but a highly disappointing season with a local esports league. The experience itself left me incredibly bitter, but in that bitterness I learned how much I missed making art.
That wasn’t the end though.
My esports adventure left me with a crippling addiction to the game. I would get very depressed if I couldn’t play and the urge to “just play one match” was overwhelming. If I gave in? One match would quickly become many, many more. It took a tremendous amount of will power to fight and later overcome those urges. Thankfully, my desire to change and refocus on art got me through those rough times.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
During college and some years after, I held onto the idea that I was going to graduate and land myself a job at my favorite game studio. I was inspired by the stories of folks who had gotten hired by their favorite studios doing fan art. I tried to bank my career on a stroke of luck, while failing to understand that the game industry is a business. Embarrassingly enough, I also thought I could skirt the hard work it takes to build up foundational art skills.
Furthermore, focusing on one or two major studios hurt my chances elsewhere. There are hundreds of game studios out there, from small indies, AA, to large “AAA” corporations. That doesn’t include where concept art can be applied in other industries like comics or film. In fact, my first professional gig was with a local Colorado comic artist. It’s very easy to get swept up by the fancy big name studios and be enamored by their popularity and promise. It can be a harmful mindset because if a company is the only reason you want to draw and suddenly that company is gone, or something happens to the people there, where does that leave you?
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Me.
A Thoughtweaver, a being who can create something, from nothing.
I think that’s one of the really cool things about my skill set and my interests. Nothing can take that away from me. As long as I can think, I possess the ability to create what was previously unimaginable. There’s a really magical quality about that.
Beyond art, is a person who loves the natural world, and the wonders of the universe beyond. I don’t mind how unfathomably large space is, it fascinates me. And how could I forget Vlad, my cat? He’s been with me for ten years now, and when I look at him, I’m reminded of all the experience life has offered to shape who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://80.lv/talent/p/kyo-tagawa
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paladin_maar
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyo-tagawa
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/paladinmaar.bsky.social
Image Credits
Kyo Tagawa
