Meet Kotono Ogihara | Chalk Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kotono Ogihara and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kotono, why did you pursue a creative career?
“Is this drawn with chalk?”
Five years ago, when I was so busy that I did not have time to interact with art and to enrich my soul, I came across a beautiful chalkboard in a cafe that warmed and moved my heart. It was like magic on a chalkboard and I could not resist the urge to learn it. Then I went to Gold Coast, Australia from Japan to learn by a pioneer who had started that style of art.
Nowadays, the streets are filled with digital printed matter, but there is a distinctive character that only hand-drawn chalkboards can give; the attention to detail, a traditional and homey atmosphere, and the friendly warmth of familiarity that cannot be found in mass production.
Chalk art is half art and half signboard.
That is why it is an art that can catch people’s eyes at a casual moment and become more integrated into everyday life.
When I realized that I could make people happy using blackboards and chalk, which are familiar to everyone, I quit my job as a dietitian and became increasingly immersed in it.
What if the chalkboards throughout the city were beautiful?
“I want to increase the number of chalk artwork that can warm the hearts of many people in their daily lives.”
This desire led me to pursue this creative career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In my style of art, you can see that there are two different types of artworks coexisting on a single chalkboard: white chalky lines and realistic, smooth drawings. Its contrast and uniqueness attract people’s attention. In addition to that, by using special chalk and a blackboard, I create smooth, vivid, and permanent (smudge-free) art that is different from regular chalk art.

My style of Chalk Art is very unique and is not yet known in the U.S.
It was not easy to promote my art from scratch in a new land. I walked around the city and introduced my Chalk Art to businesses that the Chalk Art style would look good at.
I sometimes even drew for free as a trial. More than having nothing, for me, it was more important to never stop drawing.
The works that I have continued to post on Instagram have become in a way, a little weapon,
showing people, I meet for the first time, that they can trust me.
Of course, there were people who rejected my art but I kept listening to the positive words of people who appreciated my skill.
Nowadays, my work is not limited to restaurant menus, but also includes chalk murals, personalized wedding / birthday signs, live painting at events, and portraits of pets or people, etc.
Drawing somethings I love for myself is great, but what is even more rewarding to me is seeing someone receive my customized chalk art and be happy with it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting LA, we would grab smash burgers at “Proudly Serving” in Hermosa Beach and chat on the beach. Then we’ll get some cookies as a souvenir from “Fleurs et Selm Bakery.” We’ll then go to “Charmed LA” in Melrose and make customized bracelets together. For dinner, we will eat the best sushi in LA at “Toku Unagi” in West Hollywood. On first day it will be just like this, taking her to one of my favorite places.
The rest of the week will be spent doing what she loves. It must be filled with outings to Disneyland, Universal Studios, the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood and of course, shopping.
Because there are so many things to see, do and eat in L.A, the itinerary will have to be well planned out. On our last day, I might take her to Palos Verdes to chill. Chatting with the stunning sunset views are a must for a good end to the trip.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank Fred Eric, owner of Fred 62 and PiLA.
I think it is not an easy for an unknown artist like me from another country not only to be listened to, but also to be entrusted with a job. But He believed in my skills and gave me many opportunities even though I had just moved to Los Angeles from Japan.
His pizzeria in DTLA sells pizzas inspired by the cars of Los Angeles, where many cultures intersect. Each pizza has its own story that could not be fully expressed in text alone, so I wanted customers to know about it and drew chalk art of each car on each pizza along with the ingredients. The chalkboard, the pizzas, and the cars went great together and produced wonderful results.

I would also like to thank each client who has given me work so far. They are the owners of restaurants / shops who are so humble, creative and is able to see the essence of things with their own eyes. I feel like I have learned a lot about the key of success from their mindsets and behavior.

Website: https://kokoart.weebly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k0k0_art/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@k0k0_art

Image Credits
KOKO Chalk Art
Portrait taken by Osgood Obodo