PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATOR
His journey into the world of professional art wasn't straightforward. Dai initially faced the societal pressure to pursue a conventional career but chose to follow his passion instead. He made a life-altering decision during university to forgo traditional job hunting and dedicate himself to becoming an artist. That bold leap, driven by a love for drawing and an aversion to living a life without passion, would lead him to the global success he enjoys today.
In 2016, after years of honing his craft, Dai's perseverance paid off. He won the Caricature World Championship, a monumental achievement after drawing over 30,000 people professionally. However, despite this success, Dai made a pivotal decision to leave exaggeration behind and reinvent his style into something more refined. His new focus was on creating cool, realistic portraits that could capture the true energy and emotion of his subjects, particularly athletes.
FUSION: For those who do not know about you, please introduce yourself.
Dai Tamura: My name is Dai Tamura, and I am an illustration artist specializing in portraits. I won the Caricature World Championship in 2016 and have over 150,000 followers on Instagram. I have collaborated with luxury brands such as HUBLOT and FENDI, as well as Porsche, and have an extensive track record of partnerships with internationally renowned brands and celebrities - including BTS member Jungkook, who shared my work on his social media.
FUSION: How did you discover the laws of art?
Dai Tamura: I have loved drawing since I was very young I was always doodling during class. I still remember being amazed when an older student drew a Dragon Ball character on the blackboard when I was in first grade. I have never formally studied art, so everything I know is self-taught. Because of that, I am still out there every day searching for the answers when it comes to rules and principles.