Like billions of artists throughout history, Christine Ughayon has to fit her art around a busy life. She works as a part-time janitor at Assiniboia Elementary. She also babysits her brother. However, this local anime artist has managed to produce a sizable portfolio for the Ganbatte Convention at TCU Place in Saskatoon, held this year from July 21st to the 22nd, an annual convention promoting Japanese anime, art and media since 2015.
Ughayon started watching Japanese anime on television in the Philippines as a child. After arriving in Saskatchewan with her family in 2012, she continued watching anime online. One of her favourite programs is Gintama (Silver Soul), a series divided into lessons rather than chapters and based on the manga books by Hideaki Sorachi. This show blends a wide array of genres, including science fiction, adventure and alternative history.
Inspired by Sorachi and other like-minded anime artists, Ughayon’s renditions are sophisticated, realistic and not overtly cutesy like those large-eyed creatures in programs such as Pokemon, Astro Boy and in other anime shows geared towards younger children. Although Ughayon is comfortable with using traditional mediums such as charcoal, pastel and coloured pencils, her preference is digital art. Recently, she completed an online digital arts course through Sessions College, a US-based, accredited institution specializing in professional design.
Ughayon is considering more college or university courses. Maybe, she might even become an animator in the future.
