There seems to be a lot of fuss about "moe characters" these days -- but I don't want to get involved in anything strange, so I'll keep quiet.

When I finish writing a column, I start illustrating it, which for me is like a "reward" for myself.

Well, I don't expect anyone to be interested in my illustrations.

In fact, there is no way that something that I draw with a feeling of "reward for myself" becomes great.

And, as my second daughter said, "Your illustrations look like something we've seen somewhere else," which, unfortunately, I agree with.

-----

For me, it's not so much 'drawing is fun' as it is 'being able to use a variety of techniques' with drawing software (I use SAI).

- I just want to cut this part out.

- I'd like to make this character bright a little.

- In this picture, I want to make it a little more black and white.

I like the feeling of being able to do things like that in a snap with draw software.

I may be surprised to find that a wrong operation can produce effects that I never expected.

- It's also interesting to pose myself, take a video, and create an illustration from the captured images.

- It's also fun to take a male character and transform it into a female character.

However, this is just a matter of "technology".

I have never considered my work to be a "work of art".

-----

I am grateful to IT (computers) for making it possible for an engineer like me, who has no artistic talent, to draw illustrations.

Ever since I started illustrating with drawing software, I have had a deep respect for not only art in general, but also for anime and what is often referred to as "moe" art, and its creators.

There seems to be a lot of fuss about "moe characters" these days -- but I don't want to get involved in anything strange, so I'll keep quiet.

However, I often wonder "Is there any respect for the creator there?