About Nobu Haihara
Nobu
Haihara paints with one mission in mind. "I love life and I hope that my art contributes to
others enjoying life too," the artist says. His paintings reflect what he calls. "life's
simple passions." His super-realistic oils on canvas and paper feature scenario-packed still-lifes,
such as a single Hershey Kiss in a martini. a fine cigar freshly lit, and a table at which a golfer
has just sat down after a day on the course. "In general, I paint what interests me visually," he
says. "I'm not trying to make any social statements. It’s just my art...my profession."
Born in 1959 in Kokura. Japan, Haihara grew up with one brother along with his mother, who was a housewife, and father who was a grocer. As a young boy, he remembers his mother always creating decorations for the house, and from that grew his inspiration to draw and paint.
At the age of 13, his father passed away and his mother took over the family business. It was also around this time that he began to have an affinity for different cultures, those of the West, as well as his native Japan. He started studying the works of masters such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and later Warhol, Lichtenstein, Hokusai, and Utamaro.
Growing up in post-war Japan, it was very important to him that hestudy artwork from around the world and the history of art itself, both classical and modern. As a
boy, he remembers gaining inspiration from the brightly colored packages of American foods that his parents sold in the family grocery store.
Upon graduation from Hiroshima Economic University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Haihara tried his hand at an art career in America. He arrived in California in 1986, and sold many of his paintings on the boardwalk in Venice. He then learned silkscreening and would reproduce some of his own work as serigraphs and monoprints on paper, glass, Aluminum, and canvas. Some of his prints featured a style reminiscent of the Japanese Ukiyoewoodblock, in which images were combined with text relating to the piece.
One of his first official jobs was as a silkscreen chromist for Marco Fine Arts Atelier in EI Segundo. CA. After many years with the company, he decided to concentrate on his own artwork professionally. In this move, he began a career creating his life's little passions. Today, his originals and limited editionsare represented by Exotic Fine Art.
His paintings often portray the play of light reflected onto his subjects.
“Balance is very important," he says. "I spend a lot of time toning down or bringing up highlights. This is the most difficult part of each composition. I spend much time thinking about how it should be. To me this is all about the light - the way the colors are reflected and the way images are translated or distorted by the light. The visual effect is what excites me most."
Working from a large studio located in his Los Angeles home, which he shares with his wife Aniya, who works in sales, Haihara will oftentimes paint on several pieces at once, and at different hours depending on his mood.
"I like having the studio in my home because I am then surrounded by my work, I can pick it up anytime and put it down when I need to think. I'm at my easel at all times of the day. Morning is good because I am rested and fresh with energy, while night can be good because I can then reflect on my moods of the day."
Today, his inspiration can come from almost anywhere, especially subjects that bring people happiness. "Things that offer enjoyment and that others are passionate about, such as games or sports, are what I like to capture in my work."
Something else that inspires him is his love of travel. "I like to see the contrast between the East and the West, " he says. "One of my favorite places to visit is France. When I was in Japan, we were always studying paintings by many of the European artists, and by going to France I'm able to actually see what it is that we were learning about."
Future plans for his work include branching out into different subjects such as romantic themes, and possibly even some abstract work. Keeping his eyes open to other mediums, he is constantly developing his skills as a sculptor and photographer as well.
Some notable collectors of Haihara's work include Laker owner Jerry Buss and hall-of-famers Kareem Abdul.Jabbar, Jerry West, Jamaal Wilkes, and Chick Hearn. One of Japan's leading musical stars. Mao Daichi has commissioned him for work, as have television networks FOX and NBC for set designs for their shows Ally McBeal and 3rd Rock From The Sun.
Nobu Haihara's originals and limited editions are available through Exotic Fine Art.