Meet Ms.Holly
Hello! I'm Miss Nami. I was born in Honolulu, HI and raised between Honolulu and Aichi Prefecture, Japan. I hold a Bachelor of Design in Science of Design from Musashino Art University, where I studied a wide range of design fields. During my studies, I enjoyed working with diverse materials such as wood, clay, and 3D modeling, which gave me a strong foundation in both creative thinking and hands-on making.
I began my journey as a teaching artist at this studio in early 2025. I am passionate about supporting young artists in discovering their creativity and developing their hands-on building skills.
My Story
I am Japanese and born/raised in East Oahu. I started drawing and painting as far back as I can remember, always working to grow as a self taught artist. In high school I was the Chief Illustrator of the news writing department, where I assisted in design aspects and created most of the comics and illustrations in our monthly releases. Later in college (2019), my digital illustration work was chosen as the top winning entry in a popular South Korean game art contest, and another of my digital illustration works was chosen again the following year.
As a teacher at Art Tent, I use my teaching experience, as well as my knowledge of Japanese culture/language and psychology to better understand and communicate with our young artists of various backgrounds as they learn to embrace and hone their skills in the diverse world of art. My favorite part of being a teacher at Art Tent is having the opportunity to see our young artists enjoy that spark of creativity and expression as they experience creating new art pieces and learning more about art.
Another thing about me is that I love learning about my Japanese heritage and the mindsets/cultures of other countries too (hence why I majored in Japanese and Psychology)! Having stayed for a month in Japan, South Korea, and New York, I learned so much about the art, language, and different nuances of those cultures. There is truly something special about experiencing another culture that just brings me closer to feeling connected to the world. Thanks to my travels and my heritage, I am heavily influenced by Japanese art styles old and new.
When I am not in the Art Tent Studio, I am working on a new digital, ink, or watercolor art piece, or I am cozy with my cats at home with a PS5 or Nintendo Switch controller in my hand! Or, you might find me trying out new restaurants or bakeries with a friend.