Smoko

Acrylic, Canvas, Ready to hang

122cm (W) x 91cm (H) x 4.5cm (D)

Certificate of Authenticity Included
A$2,620

Artwork Description

“Smoko” is inspired by a vivid memory from my time living in Japan... a rainy night in Akihabara when, while searching for a retro video game store, I turned down a dim alleyway and saw a young woman in French maid attire squatting to smoke, surrounded by neon reflections rippling across wet surfaces. The image stayed with me as a quiet, cinematic moment of contrast between fantasy and fatigue, and it has become emblematic of my broader artistic intention: to elevate the familiar otaku/anime aesthetic into the realm of high art through meticulous, large-scale hand-rendering. This 48-inch canvas, created entirely with 5 mm POSCA acrylic paint pens over six months of small sessions, transforms a fleeting urban snapshot into a richly textured, gallery-ready statement that brings atmosphere, pop, and nostalgia to any room.

Artist Bio

Tommy spent two years living on minimum wage in Japan, where he passed his free hours nursing bottomless coffee at the local Denny’s, studying how-to-draw manga books cover to cover. What began as hand-painted skateboard decks gradually evolved into larger-scale canvas works, reflecting a steady expansion in both scope and ambition.

His art blends esotericism with the surreal, drawing inspiration from psychedelic experiences, divination, and dream logic. Yet, no matter how abstract the intent, curvaceous anime heroines often find their way into the frame... uninvited but never entirely unwelcome.

When not painting, Tommy can often be found reading tarot or casting I Ching hexagrams for strangers at his local pub. His work aims to evoke mystery, movement, and myth... balancing the cosmic with the comical, the profound with the pop.