A wrinkled pillow case sewn together with different fabrics Nicholas Kawaguchi, September 2019)

Upon receiving the request to bring materials to be scanned, my mind came up drawing blanks. At first, I thought of scanning a sketch of some kind, but I realized that I had left my sketchbooks back at home. Looking around more, I managed to pick out a few items that seemed to have unique textures and patterns that could accentuated by scanning rather than photographing it. I decided on bringing a small pocket bible, a knitted pillow case and a Japanese cloth. The pocket bible contained lettering that had a reflective surface and the outer cover was a unique texture that resembled a reptile’s scales.

As for the knitted pillow case and Japanese cloth, each holds value in where they came from. The pillow case was knitted by my grandmother with materials that have designs that tie back to my home and the Japanese cloth was created in a way where each seam, some more uneven than others, can be distinctly seen with the addition of some dog fur stuck on it as well. 

Scanned image of a “Maui Jim” sunglasses case Nicholas Kawaguchi, September 2019

After seeing what everyone else had brought to the table to scan, the scope of ideas was broadened somewhat. Rather than sticking mainly to cloth materials, I could branch out in other directions such as scanning a cartridge for a game that has digitally created graphic on the front but a complex, technological design on the back.      

I can also consider using the braided design on my sunglasses case that has the logo “Maui Jim” engraved into it. Taking that engraved word and possibly utilizing it in some written text for the comic could work out nicely or simply using the whole thing as a background could work as well. I may even consider scanning some pages from an old tablet that I used for taking Japanese notes five years ago. The edges of the paper are slightly browning from age and the ripples on each create a good texture. The writing on it as well is not completely uniform as well so it could be used in the same way that Lynda Barry’s “What it is” incorporated handwritten elements from her lifetime with some printed text too.