I love the craziness of New York City.

First of all, could you introduce yourself?

Jason.: I am an artist from Mishingan , and moved to New York City right after college. . I have been doing art since I was a little girl, but in the last 12 years I have started to take it more seriously.

. What is your favorite thing about New York City?

Jason.. sometimes I think it's crazy. Especially compared to my home state of Michigan, where the time seems to go by much faster. . . But I think the charm of this city is that I can love the crazy parts of it.

. In fact, when I am traveling and relaxing, I sometimes miss the hustle and bustle of New York City. When I was drawing for this book ("Every Person in New York"), I was able to draw thousands of people just by spending a day at the edge of the city. I think it is only in New York that there is such a mix of different races and people.

How do you decide which subjects to paint?

Jason.. Usually, I just draw people I find interesting at the time, such as someone playing an instrument on the street, or someone walking quickly, etc. I also do "2-minute drawings," in which people who want to be drawn tell me where and when they want to be drawn. I also do "2-minute drawings," in which people who want to be drawn tell me where and when they will be in the city.

I go over there and draw for about two minutes, but most of the time they don't know that I am drawing. I don't even tell them that I will be there in the first place, and I draw at a distance so that they don't notice me. For the people who are drawn, it is a surprise to be announced.

. first we came up with the title "Every Person in New York".

What kind of places do you visit?

Jason.. basically I ask them to choose a place that is convenient for them. I don't want it to be a burden for them either, so it really varies from a park near where they live, to a restaurant, to a meeting place with friends, etc. .

Through this project, I started going to places I would not have gone on my own, and I was happy to get to know the city of New York anew.

When and why did you start this project?

Jason.. I started around 2008 for a couple of reasons: first, I wanted to get better at painting, and second, I wanted to do something that involved other people. . I also wanted to do something that involved other people.

Actually, I first came up with the title "Every Person in New York". . then I started writing about people in the city. It is difficult to draw people passing by on the spot and complete the work, but I try my best to complete it as much as possible.

You have portrayed the people of New York City, but you have also seen the city and the rest of the world change.

Jason.: Yes, I think so. I think this project has made me aware of changes that I didn't even notice before.

I started to pay attention to many things, such as the small changes in the cityscape and people's clothes that change with the seasons. Since I basically spend most of my time in SoHo, this project has allowed me to learn about New York City that I did not know before.

I have become more attached to the city of New York than ever before.

Jason.. that's what I mean. However, having American parents and having grown up in the U.S., I can say that New York is a place that excites me just to be able to be near it.

I often hear that it is more difficult for artists to live in New York City today than in the past because of the high cost of living.

Jason.. in New York City alone, there are many areas where artists are living. . Recently, I have the impression that artists are beginning to live in Bushwick and Brooklyn.

. I think that the current situation is unavoidable, as rent will suddenly become more expensive. However, I don't think the location has much to do with it, but the people you are with and the environment you are in are important.

I am a big fan of Astro Boy , and I also love Yoshitomo Nara.

. Please tell us about your ongoing projects.

Jason.. I am doing a drawing project for The New York Times on a daily basis. It started a while ago, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. As for future projects, I plan to continue drawing more and more people.

What is your impression of Japan?

Jason.I visited Japan for the first time 2 months ago and since then I have been talking about Japan with my friends.

I am a big fan of Astro Boy and some of my favorite Japanese artists such as Yoshitomo Nara . . yet until I visited, I had no idea what kind of country Japan was. . I feel like I was given a nice surprise when I actually came here.

You recently launched a collaboration project with Uniqlo.

Jason.. I am relieved to finally be able to unveil the collection. . It was also very moving for me to come to Tokyo and witness the launch of the collection like this. I hope that many people will be able to pick up the collection, and I myself hope to make use of this meaningful experience in my future creative activities.