Josh Taira’s Journey as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator

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9 months ago

Artistic representation for Josh Taira's Journey as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator

From High School to University

Josh Taira’s passion for graphic design began in high school, where he took up the craft as a hobby. He has a degree from the University of Montana in fine art, and has been working as a graphic designer professionally since 2018.

Taira’s work is highly detailed and inspired by anime and manga styles.
He has been creating art for the Roxy Theater for the last three years.
As art director, Taira oversees graphic design, art projects for their festivals, and picks and chooses which projects he works on.

Awards and Recognition

In April, Taira was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Creative West Artist Fund, which supports artists with income, supplies, technology, resources, and holistic health. He plans to use most of the grant to upgrade his computer equipment, as his detailed work requires a higher processing power.

“‘What ends up making a lot of work frustrating with just older equipment is you’re spending too much time waiting,” he said. “And if I’m spending too much time waiting, I’m going to forget what I was doing. It kills momentum. So if I’m really working on a project and all of a sudden that momentum is stopped it just kind of kills everything.’”

Travel and Personal Growth

Taira plans to use the remaining grant funding to take a trip to Japan, which he says is a way to build on his creative skills. As a half-Japanese individual, he has always been fascinated by the country and its culture. He has been to Japan once before in 2019, but has not had the opportunity to return since. “I just really haven’t had the opportunity or the funds or resources or time all at once to go back, so this is a way to force me,” he said.

Future Plans

Taira also plans to use some of the grant funding to get into 3D printing and modeling. He has always been interested in this field and sees it as a way to expand his creative skills.

Taira has been working as a graphic designer professionally since 2018.
He has a degree from the University of Montana in fine art.
As art director at the Roxy Theater, Taira oversees graphic design, art projects for their festivals, and picks and chooses which projects he works on.

Grant Award	Amount	Purpose
Creative West Artist Fund	$5,000	Supports artists with income, supplies, technology, resources, and holistic health.

Conclusion

Josh Taira’s journey as a graphic designer and illustrator is one of passion, hard work, and dedication. With his unique style inspired by anime and manga, Taira continues to push the boundaries of his craft, and his awards and recognition are a testament to his talent and perseverance. As he looks to the future, Taira is excited to take on new challenges and expand his creative skills through 3D printing and modeling.