Japan Earthquake Art

I first read on Facebook that a massive earthquake had hit Japan (weird how that's my best news source these days), and throughout the day I've had a certain image come to mind whenever I heard updates on the situation or anything like that.

I feel weird and helpless being over here, and unable to do anything for those that are suffering... just like when previous disasters have struck elsewhere around the world. I don't really have any extra money to donate, and I can't go globe-trotting to do any real service, so I guess I'm doing what little I can to increase awareness and make a tribute to the nation of Japan. I have Japan to thank for giving me Dragon Ball, Anime/Manga in general, many of my very favorite video games, and great friends and acquaintances (shout-out to the BYU Asian Ward!). 

Looking over this post as I'm about to publish it makes me feel very cheesy and embarrassed by my crappy art, but I guess cheesy, crappy art is what I'm all about! I read this article about art and motivation a while ago, and it made me feel better about myself.

If I was 1/10th as awesome as the Great Jake Wyatt, I'd do something like he's doing, but you should TOTALLY check out his charity prints he is selling through his blog/deviantart:
http://jake-paperlife.blogspot.com/2011/03/charity-prints-help-heal-japan.html

Here's a handy link on how you can help with the relief efforts:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/11/tsunami-aid-and-relief-how-you-can-help/
For the "latest" news from CNN: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/11/live-blog-japan-earthquake/

Thank you to everyone who checks out my blog regularly, especially my sisters and parents. And to those with family or loved ones in Japan I wish you all the best and hope that you'll enjoy peace and comfort throughout this emotional and tumultuous time.

UPDATE: (I copy/pasted this from Dice Tsutsumi's site)

Artists Help Japan–earthquake & tsunami emergency fund from Dice TSUTSUMI (Art Director at Pixar)

Posted on Saturday 12 March 2011

Hello everyone

I hope you and your loved ones are safe in the catastrophic disaster in Japan.
The earthquake was the most powerful in the history and the outcome is devastating without showing any sign of calming down.
It took me and my wife to get in touch with our families in Japan. Some of our relatives are still out of reach in the hard hit areas.

Aside from it’s my home country, I would simply want to ask for your help.
As you may know, artists have done numerous charity projects such as Totoro Forest Project, Art Block for Ghana, Picture Book Project, and Sketchtravel.
Artists once again can get together to bring our inspiration together to respond to the immediate needs from far east.

Working with Give2Asia who we worked with for Totoro Forest Project to help preserve Sayama Forest back in 2008, we set up a simple fund called Artists Help Japan.

Artists Help Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Fund is responding to the immediate needs of survivors as well as short-term to long-term recovery projects undertaken by the affected communities.
Give2Asia has a local team based in Tokyo to assess the current situation and to obtain more information on the needs of survivors. Give2Asia helped Totoro Forest Project efficiently send fund to Japan and has a great reputation when it comes to humanitarian efforts in Asia as a part of Asian Foundation.

Having worked with them, I can trust the fund will be used wisely and efficiently to help people in Japan.
This may be just a small help we can only provide from far away but I hope our prayers will reach people in Japan.

>>>>DONATE NOW!
You might have already helped through other venues? Then please help spread the words on your blog and facebook!

***Give2Asia is a US 501 (c) (3) public charity, to which contributions are tax deductible (Federal Employer Identification #94-3373670).