Kai/gallery

I am Kai Nakashima. I am a versatile artist and writer of everything from novels to poetry, and children’s books. I am fascinated and inspired by dreams, the mind, music of many kinds, nature, and animals – particularly birds. My art styles vary from realistic nature, to manga style, bizarre beauty, and surreal fantasies. I am open to many mediums, genres, and concepts.

In 2019, I released a digital book on our blog each month, and intend to continue to do this so long as I have one to share. I often collaborate with Arianna, so you can find her work in many of these books as well.

You can read my Short Stories and Poetry Here!

You can find my children’s books here!

And you can find my Novel series here!

GALLERY

Sonya and Sophia are red fox kits brought to life through mix-media. You can find this picture in my animal-themed poetry book, “GRATITUDE”.

Twitter Art Exhibit-Australia-2018. These manga-style characters came to life in ink and were painted with water color on mix media paper.

“Subarashii” means “splendid” or “wonderful” in Japanese. This anime-style boy was painted in acrylic on canvas board. At first this acrylic piece was going to be in full color, but the “watermelon” effect was far too enchanting.

Anime-inspired boys. This piece was created on water color board with acrylic paint. ”Hohoemi” means ”to smile” in japanese.

Dear Apache Tear was the result of a message from a dream and a gemstone; inspiring the image of this gentle desert, and wise crystal skull.

”So Sweet” was a portrait request for two beautiful cats. It is an acrylic piece.

A portrait of my adorable rosey Bourke parakeet, Gypsy. This acrylic painting appears in my poetry book, “GRATITUDE”.

Painted in acrylic, the ”Jungle Ace”; a Mitred conure, rules his awesome world.

”Made It” was inspired by the idea of random acts of kindness. It was painted in acrylic on stretched canvas.

A dreamscape, both literally and figurativly. These ghosts were captured in acrylic on stretched canvas.

Twitter Art Exhibit-UK-2017. Mix media of a sulfer-crested cockatoo.

Here is my version of the Easter Bunny. She was painted in acrylic on stretched canvas.

All bits and pieces of this work came from dreams I had. If there’s anything I’d hope you can take from this vision, it would be the brilliance that is within us all. Empress Brilliant was captured in purely water color.

I have to say, I really struggled with Melody’s lighting, but here she is. This enlightend owl holds many wise secrets that she is ready to share with the world.

A black and white watercolor dedicated to a time we trusted birds with our lives.

This water color image depicts both the beauty and harshness of change. This painting wasn’t really about birds, but rather a spirit that can’t stop coming back.

“The Curse of His Creativity” is a piece in honor of the musical artists that work so hard to get their life-reviving masterpieces to us. This acrylic painting was inspired by the wacky, but beautiful gothicness of J-Rock style music. I hope that “The Curse of His Creativity” really resonates with other artists. I know I’m not the only one that can’t sleep at night due to a good idea!

This is another installment of the “warbirds” series. It is entirely black watercolor. This particular piece is a tribute to the famous Cher Ami and the men whose lives she saved.

Here is a J-rock inspired vampire. He was painted in acrylic on canvas board.

“Guitar Boy” was painted in acrylic on stretched canvas. He rocks out on a pink electric guitar and lives in the sound!

“Gen Sings” is a sketch that I did with black colored pencil on bristol board. I wanted to capture the power and intensity of a rock artist making his point.

I was feeling a little down when this image came to me, because everything about it; From the hummingbird, to the young boy, to the fleeting cherry blossoms, are all things many people see as fragile and impermanent… But to me, these things have a power that nothing else ever will. Innocence is its own power.

This began as a pencil sketch, which I later “painted” with marker and a little watercolor. My favorite part is the Queen’s expression.

Chibi-style watercolor.

My Polymer Clay work

These figurines and dolls were sculpted in polymer clay and painted with acrylics. The dolls clothes and hair were handmade, and the figurines have stone applications.