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December 1, 2011
Oh boy, it is December already. My kids book is about to get finished. (I should be able to talk more about it soon. ) So, I am finally taking an afternoon off and updating my site.
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thank you. my book is getting a great start!
Exciting news is that more than my family and best friends have picked up copies of my first monograph. So, those who you did, thank you thank you thank you thank you.
If you are planning on asking Santa, please visit publisher Gestalten's online store or Amazon.com in your country. Or, better yet, order at your local book store. I have heard of a sighting at MOMA book store, which is an exciting news for me!
If you are New York City (book) store and stock the books, and if you want me to do a signing, or simply to stop by to sign the copies, I will be more than happy to discuss the details, so please contact me.
exciting press!
Book is betting some exciting press too.
Thank you Huffington Post to for a write up about the book on their top page of ARTS section last week (Thank you Evelyne Politanoff), and The Atlantic for running an interview (Thank you Grace Bello) this week.
Also, trend watching Lost at E Minor (thank you Zolton), journalist Lisa Katayama's all things Japanese blog Tokyo Mango, comics blog The Beat, among other people who were kind enough to write about the book, thank you thank you thank you.
New York subway poster!
If you are a New Yorker, or recently visited New York City and took public transportation, you may have seen this poster around subway and train stations. I am excited to see my work posted around, friends taking photos and sending them to me, and sometimes see posters becoming the victim of graffiti. (ha ha, very NYC).
If you are interested in making this a holiday gift this season, you can purchase the poster from MTA Arts for Transit store. and the proceeds go to make your train stations nicer. So, that is a good way to get a creative gift and also contribute to NYC!
other updates
NEW ILLUSTRATION section got updated with 12 new images.
Also, I have a new blog post and creative process today, so please take a look.
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October 6, 2011
ILLUSTRATION update
Hello everyone! Fall has been very busy, with gallery openings, school year starting (teaching yet another two classes at SVA), and working on the first children's book, deadline is coming up in a month...
I haven't been able to find time to update my site, but with the help of Shigeko, twelve new images are now up online. More to come soon.
So, please do go visit NEW ILLUSTRATION section to check them out.
YUKO SHIMIZU BOOK update
On the right is a photo You Byun took in Switzerland during her recent trip to Europe. It looks like the book is already published in Europe. They should be coming to the rest of the world, including US and Asia, this month. You can read more about it , and make purchase, all on the publisher Gestalten's site.
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September 7, 2011
September 1, 2011
ILLUSTRATION SECTION updated!
Finally, finally finally, NEW ILLUSTRATION SECTION got updated. Hurray. Ten new illustrations. But because I had been so busy for the past one year or so, and therefore this section has been neglected for just as long, I have many many more images to post stored on my hard drive. Thanks to very kind help by Shigeko Okada, this section will get updated again soon with lots more images.
On the other hand, I am starting to work on getting my website completely renewed by the awesome guys at SIDEWAYS. We are hoping the new site would be up by mid-Autumn. Stay tuned. |
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August 19, 2011
two group shows in September
I will be participating in two group shows both opening in September in New York City: one featured various illustrators works published in Rolling Stone Magazine Album Review section over the years, and another is a show of SVA female alum and our mentors.
Please read more about them in SHOWS & EVENT section. And hope you can come to the opening. |
August 15, 2011
back to work
Just got back from another great experience teaching a workshop in Venice, Italy. I am hoping to blog about it soon.
As for now... Yuko is back in business. Hope your summer has also been going well. |
August 2, 2011
STUDIO IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
Yuko's studio is currently closed due to illustration workshop in Venice, Italy which will be starting this weekend. I will be back to the studio on August 15. Hope you will have a good summer as well.
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my big 'personal project' on New York Magazine site
New York Magazine recently featured my apartment, which I had spent last year and half working on, as my 'personal work'. Thank you Wendy Goodman and Leonor Mamanna!
You can see the slide show on NY Magazine Home Design page, and you can read the back story on my blog.
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Jonathan LeVine Gallery 2011 Annual Summer Invitational (exhibition)
Jonathan LeVine gallery: 529 West 20th Street,
9th Floor, New York City
I will be participating, for the first time, in a show at acclaimed Jonathan LeVine gallery showing three ink drawings on paper. Opening Reception is on Wednesday, August 10, 6—8pm. I will be in Venice, and will miss the opening, but it will be a fun show, so if you are in New York, please do stop by!
Click on the image to visit the gallery website, where you can check out other participating artists and details of the show. |
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group shows, group shows!
So far, two (possibly three) more group shows are scheduled in the month of September.
I will post more details when I am back from Italy. |
July 21, 2011
San Diego Comic-Con special charity event!
On Friday, July 22, one night only charity exhibition/auction will take place during San Diego Comic-Con.
Artists have created one of a kind original piece inspired by Ak ira Kurosawa movies. I am donating a new work to this event. Bid on them, own a new piece of art and support a good cause.
For details, please see my blog post.
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July 5, 2011
the very first monograph from Gestalten
It is official! My very first monograph is coming out from acclaimed German design/art publisher Gestalten in fall. They have just recently announced the release on their website. It is my dream come true. Hope you will pick up a copy! Below are the cover image as well as sample spread pages. |
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some new interviews
some new interviews are online. Please check them out. Thank you for having me on your site!!!
1) Japan Cinema 2) Alila Magazine Asia issue
only a few more slots left: join Venice Illustration Workshop 2011
Illustration workshop in Venice Italy in August is almost full! Come join today.
Small group workshop of six days taught by me. This is the year of Venezia Biennale art festival. Don't miss it. More details here.
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June 28, 2011
summer is for.... teaching!
I just finished a very rewarding and fun one week as a guest instructor at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) MFA Illustration course last week. Now I am getting ready for more teaching.
It is summer, and school's been out since early May, and I always ending up teaching more in the summer. More, but also different, and it's always fun that way.
1. Venice illustration workshop, back by popular demand!
Only a few more slots left. I am scheduled to be teaching one week hands-on, small group workshop in Venice, Italy in August. Venice, one of the most beautiful and enchanting old cities in the world, and did I mention that this is the year of the famous Biennale art festival? So, come join! Let's spend a fun week together!
Read more details and download application form in SHOWS/EVENTS section.
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2. 3x3 Nuts & Bolts Conference
Next week, I will be speaking at 3x3 illustration magazine's conference geared toward young illustrators and newly graduated. My lecture topic is about self promotion.
More details, schedule and list of speakers are on their website. |
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June 15, 2011
Broadway Musical Pacific Overtures opens in Japan
Stephen Sondheim and Amon Miyamoto's Tony award nominated Broadway musical Pacific Overtures revival show opens at Kanagawa Art Theater (KAAT) in Yokohama Japan on Friday.
I have collaborated with Amon Miyamoto to create poster and flyer images. If you are in Tokyo/Yokohama area, please go see the show.
More details on their official site.
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new 1800 Tequila Essential Artists site
has been up! You can see my bottle design, as well as those of 5 other artists in this series. Watch video of me working on the actual piece, etc, etc. |
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May 24, 2011
May 20. 2011
all the Unwritten covers added to illustration section
Thanks to help by sweet Shigeko Okada, all the Unwritten covers, incuding not yet published ones, are up on the Illustration section.
Have a great weekend everyone. |
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May 13, 2011
first monograph in works!
I am happy to announce that my very first monograph is currently in works with a German design publisher who has been putting out a lot of great design and illustration books. I will announce more details soon, so please stay tuned. I am very very excited about this!
FAQ Section update
I look back the school year just ended and I realize that there are questions I often get asked from students and aspiring illustrators but were not on FAQ page yet. So, I added about inspirations, influences, favorite artists and about my first job... etc, on there.
Also, I have never announced but I have been selling my original drawings for Vertigo covers. I have added the details on FAQ page too.
new website in works
Finally finally started working on getting a new website. I am working with the talented guys at Sideways, NY based web developer. In the meantime, I will make more updates on the current site. My assistant is in works updating the illustration section right now.
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May 10, 2011
April 7, 2011
panel at MoCCA Festival this weekend
Museum of Comic and Cartooning Art Festival is happening this weekend in New York City. I will be speaking on a panel on Sunday, 4:30PM, moderated by my friend Jeff Newlt. If you have time, please come stop by.
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thank you for Eisner Award nomination!
The Academy Awards of comics: 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards nomination just got announced. It is my very first nomination, for The Unwritten covers for DC Vertigo series I have been working for about two years.
I am very excited to be nominated, so thank you so much for those who put my name up, and for the nice people I have been working on this great project with.
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March 22, 2011
My thoughts are with those who are affected by the recent tragedy in Japan, directly or indirectly. Even in the areas that are far from the center of the quake, tsunami, or nuclear reactor failure, everyday life of the people are very much inconvenienced. I hope you keep them in your thoughts too, and please do not overreact or panicked by misleading information coming from some irresponsible media. I am talking to my family and friends every day, and although they are experiencing inconveniences, they are carrying on their everyday life in a calm manner. I believe in quick recovery of the country, although directly affected areas may need a lot of support from kind people around the world in the years to come.
Thank you. |
poster 1: Takashi Miike's new film 13 Assassins
My first job this year was to go see the film 13 Assassins at Magnolia Pictures' office in midtown Manhattan. On and off for about two months, we worked on this poster, and it is now officially announced. 13 Assassins is a new samurai film by Takashi Miike who is well known for his horror flicks.
poster 2: MTA Arts for Transit poster
This one was worked on at the end of the year. I feel like I have been working on a lot of posters recently. (I am working on a theater poster right now). This one is a completely different idea, for New York Metropolitan Transit, with happy kids in Grand Central Terminal. To read more about it, please check out my blog. You can purchase the poster here. |
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February 17, 2011
I am done (for now) with business trip circuit. Two more lectures left in New York, and this school year's lecture and school visit will be done. Weather in New York has been life spring, and everyone on the steet looks so happy. Hope we can keep this weather for a while.
In the meantime, heading out to School of Visual Arts MFA Illustration to lecture there tonight. |
February 9, 2011
yuko is on business trip
I am visiting Cleveland Institute of Art in Ohio and spending some time with students there. I will be back to my NY studio on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone.
open to public event in Cleveland Institute of Art
If you are in the area, I will be participating in a panel discussion at Aiken Auditorium at Cleveland Institute of Art on Friday, February 11 from noon to 2PM. This event is open to public and welcomes your visit.
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February 4, 2011
Hello everyone. OK, so, I am in a big trouble. I have not updated this website since September!!!
I think it needs a bit of explanation, or more like, apologies, or maybe excuse... you name it. But honestly, I am terribly embarrassed! Because I go visit schools and lecture the importance of updated websites!!
so, what's yuko's been up to??
Since the last show (see the post below from September), my schedule has been crazy busy.. I have visited and lectured in Detroit (College for Creative Studies), Birmingham UK (British International Comics Show), Philadelphia (University of the Arts), then I just came back from Kansas (University of Kansas) and on the way to Ohio (Cleveland Institute of Art) next week.
On the illustration world, some of the projects I have been working on are: the very first children's book, a NY City subway poster which should come out to stations near you sometime this year, iPhone cover designs, a tequila bottle design, a few new book covers, a really fun movie poster and also just about to start working on a Japanese theater poster.
It's been fun, and I shouldn't complain, but it is true I had zero time to update my site, and my blog has not been updated much either..
I finally gave up trying to have 'one person office' and found someone to come help me once a week. It's still new, but it has given enough time for me to rest, sleep, cook and clean my apartment.
now showing....
The latest news is that the annual Society of Illustrators show is currently up and I have 8 projects accepted into it this year. Currently up is Book/Editorial category, and I have three pieces in this one. When you have a chance, please go visit. It will be up till February 17th. Below are the images that got accepted. Two of the Unwritten covers and a double page spread I recently finished for Playboy Magazine.
I will post more soon. Well, now I have a help, she will start helping me update the site, more often. So, please stay tuned...
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September 14, 2010
Thank you for the full house opening! (and other announcements)
Thank you so much for those who came to the opening of Blow Up. It was a full house event. We all had a fantastic time.
For those who has not seen the show, or have any questions to three of us, we have scheduled a casual gallery talk event on September 25 (Sat), so RSVP now and come next weekend!
new interview in Canada and Chile (and UK and Japan...)
There are a few new press coming out during this event. Those who read English, here is interview with Assembly Line Collective of Canada, and those who reads Spanish, Chilean Anormal Mag has a interview in Spanish (well, translated from an interview conducted in English. Unfortunately, my Spanish is pretty bad...) Thank you both for kindly featuring my work on your sites!
Press coming up in Varoom! Magazine of the UK, and Illustration Magazine of Japan soon. I will post here once they are out.
back to school!
Fall semester officially started at SVA, and I am already enjoying working with my Sophomores and Seniors in Illustration Department. It means school visit season has started too. My first trip of the semester is to Detroit's College for Creative Studies next week. See you soon, students.
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September 1, 2010
August 25, 2010
Blow Up show updates
We have started hanging the show this week. Upstairs' main gallery is pretty much done, but we cannot show any photos, because that's a surprise till the show opens. We worked some on downstairs today. Here are some snapshots. More photos on my Facebook page. |
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August 20, 2010
I have been working hard...
We are hanging the show on Monday. Last few weeks I was basically being a hermit getting new works done for the show. I posted some progress photos on my Facebook page, but for those who are not on Facebook, here are some of them.
Come see the result at The Society of Illustrators starting September 1. Opening reception on September 10. |
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August 13, 2010
| a bad news...,
some good news...,
and..............an exciting event announcement. |
So, let's start with a bad news.
Unfortunately, this summer's illustration workshop in Venice, Italy has been cancelled.
I am sorry for those who have already resister ed, and those who have contacted me to get more details. Yes, I wanted to meet you too.
I hope we can make it work again in the future.
Next, some good news..
1) two of my works will be show in London, UK, at Association of Illustrators Images 34 show. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the award ceremony and opening party but the show will be open to public from September 8 to 14, 2010, so if you are in London area, please stop by.
2) but I AM coming to the UK, in October, for British International Comic Show. In fact, the WHOLE The Unwritten team is going there together. So, I will see you dear comic fans, in Birmingham in mid-October! I can't wait.
I will post more about it as the date approaches
3) Not in the US, or UK, but in Mexico? Workshop is over, but the exhibition is still going on at Amarillo Centro de Diseño in Xalapa, so please stop by before it closes in early September.
and, exciting new event announcement
It is official and just announced!
Tomer Hanuka, Sam Weber and I will be in a three person show at the Society of Illustrators in New York in September. Opening reception on September 10th (Friday). Please see details on the flyer.
We will all be SO so happy if you could be able to make it.
It felt like it was never going to work out at first. Now, images are in hands of a great printer, new works being created, funding in order, and we are close to ready to hang the show toward the end of the month.
We want to thank Mr. David Rhodes for his generosity without which this may not have happened. Big thanks to Attack guys at Wieden + Kennedy who created this kick ass flyer for us. And, everyone at the Society of Illustrators and Tim O'Brien for giving us opportunity and being patient with us all along the way.
Hope to see you on September 10th.
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July 28, 2010
some updates on FAQ section
It is summer and students graduate, and I have been getting so many inquiries on US work visa stuff! But you know what? I had a visa long time ago, therefore my experiences are not so relevant....
Having said that, I just added visa section on my FAQ, only something universal I can share with everyone. So, if you are one of those recent graduate with student visa status or just being curious, maybe you want to check this out... |
July 26, 2010
no, I was not at ComiCon...
More than a few people had asked me if I was at ComiCon which happened this weekend in San Diego, no, I wasn't there. (My editor was.) I was in LA last weekend for ICON 6.
It really took me one full week to recover from the marathon travel. I even caught cold! Who catches cold in July?? And I seldom get sick.
Here is some photos of what I did last week (despite my not feeling great). The Unwritten, which wad nominated for multiple Eisner Awards this year, is already proceeding to issue #19 on my cover schedule. I just finished this, so my editor can see it when he comes back from ComiCon.
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| And, here are some photos during my talk at ICON 6 with partner-speaker Fernanda Cohen, who was also the vice chair of ICON board. We each talked about self-promotion. Thank you for the full house audience! (oh, and I was in love with that cute pug!) |
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July 20, 2010
Thank you Mexico, thank you LA.
I am now back to my studio in New York.
It felt like I was constantly on the way to places. New York to Mexico City to Xalapa to Mexico City again to Los Angeles, then finally back to New York in one trip during 10 days. I am not jet lagged, but it sure feels that way...
Today is my first day back in the studio and I am completely out of it. Important work stuff has to wait till tomorrow to get started. (Thank you for your kind understanding, dear clients!)
Thank you everyone who came to the workshop and/or exhibition opening at Amarillo Centro de Diseño in Xalapa, Mexico. The show is up till September 3, so please please go stop by and say hi to all the nice and friendly Amarillo people (+ a doggie).
Also, thank you everyone who came and/or organized ICON 6 (Illustration Conference) in Los Angeles. It was a quick 24 hour stopover, but hope my talk was at least useful in some way.
I will make a blog post about Mexico within the next few days, but for now here are some photos from the show and the workshop. (and see cool guerilla posting of my fake lucha libre posters on the top page.)
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July 8, 2010
YUKO SHIMIZU STUDIO IS CURRENTLY CLOSED:
I am away to Xalapa, Mexico to teach a workshop whole next week (please see the post on July 1) and a show opening, then fly directly to LA to ICON Illustration Conference to speak on the last day. I am back to my studio on July 20th.
Till then, stay cool (ah, thank god the heat wave is gone for now in NY!) and enjoy your summer. |
July 1, 2010
Xalapa, Mexico Amarillo Centro de Diseño illustration workshop and show
Right after July 4th weekend is over, I am heading back to Xalapa, Mexico for illustration workshop hosted by Amarillo Centro de Diseño (Amarillo Design Center).
I had a lecture and show there in March 2009, which was a wonderful experience. They are inviting me back again this time to their brand-new space for 4 day intensive illustration workshop from July 12th to 15th. They are also hosting a show of Drawger style illustration creative process of my work, but with works I have never talked about on Drawger.
And, I am really excited to have my birthday in Mexico. This year's birthday party is the opening party for the show!
I just finished making this invitation poster which Amarillo people are silk screening in large format. (If you visit Amarillo store, you can purchase this poster while supplies last). For those who cannot visit Amarillo, we made the poster into computer wallpaper for fun, and giving it away free for the limited time. Please click on the photo below to download the file.
Wallpaper size: 1440 x 900 fits perfectly to your MacBookPro. Please adjust if you have PC or screens in different sizes.
¡¡Queridos amigos en México, esperando a ver en menos de dos semanas , ya sea en la exposición o en el taller!!
And, last but not least.... this workshop is intended for Mexican illustrators only, but if you are interested in attending a summer workshop with me, I have another one coming up in Venice, Italy, which is open to participants of all nationalities. Please see the post of June 24th below.
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June 30, 2010
Venice illustration workshop date change!
Please see the image below for the date change of the workshop. The new schedule is August 30 to September 4.
We have decided to change the date because the original date fell on the peak tourist season which may cost a lot more for the participants to travel. And, we announced it late this year, which doesn't give participants enough time to arrange the travel. Besides, the hottest season of Venice may be done by then (well, hopefully), and maybe my favorite enoteca is back open because Italian vacation season is over. (I always go there at least once for lunch with my students.) Also, for Americans, you can take advantage of the long Labor Day Weekend in Italy.
Please read more details about the workshop below.
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June 24, 2010
PLEASE NOTE: THIS YEAR'S WORKSHOP IS CANCELED
it is official!!: come to Venice Illustration Course 2010
I am really excited to announce that illustration workshop in Venice, Italy is officially coming back this summer!
It is a six day long workshop for illustrators and aspiring-to-be in any level, takes place in Venice, Italy. Yes, one of the most beautiful and magical cities in the world! And last two years I had been teaching, I just had a complete BLAST. So much fun.
The Course is limited to about 15 students. I teach, advise and guide each student according to your level, interest and personality. It is a workshop with specific assignment(s), but there is also a lot of one-on-one personal advising.
I met some wonderful people over the past two years, but what was even better was that a lot of the students found friendship that would most probably last for a long time.
If you are interested, please read the details on the organizer Teatrio's website and contact them for enrollment and questions.
You can also learn about last year's workshop, and see the students' fantastic works and photos on my blog. There are some comments from the happy students, so please check that out as well.
I hope to have another memorable summer, with you!, in this beautiful historic city.
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June 19, 2010
| I'm (re)learning to be better at updating this news page. So, here goes a summery of this week.... |
MOBY for Illustration Magazine Japan
The highlight of past week: interviewing musician MOBY to write an article in イラストレーション, a well respected illustration magazine published in Japan. I have been a regular contributing writer for more than a year now.
I normally interview illustrators (you can read about past interviews on my blog here), but after my studio mate and Moby's former art collective member Sara Varon and I saw him speak at WNYC last month and learned about his passion for art, comics and illustrations, we came up with an idea of interviewing him from a visual art point of view.
I have a huge respect in him. All I could think of while I was there was to not do or say anything stupid. He was VERY nice and had some great stories to tell.
The article, along with features of three of his former artist collective members (Sara Varon, James Kochalka and Alex Eben Meyer) will come out as a big feature in イラストレーション at the end of July. I am currently working on editing the story.
Photo by David Neff.
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new book on your summer reading list
I just received a sample copy of Ryunosuke Akutagawa's The Beautiful and The Grotesque in mail from publisher WW Norton. I have contributed to this book with wrap-around cover as well as six black and white interior drawings.
Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) was one of the most celebrated writers Japan has ever had. Many of you may know his work, Rashomon, through a world famous film by Akira Kurosawa. This book includes some of less known, but just as powerful, short stories by the author.
The book is not out yet, but will be out sometime over the summer. Please add this to your summer reading list.
ISBN 978-0-87140-192-2
One of the best thing about working on this project (other than that I drew a cover for Akutagawa!) was that I was able to work with one of the most talented contemporary book designers: Rodrigo Corral, whom I have been a big fan of for a while. Also, big thank you to nice and sweet Albert Tang, my art director from WW Norton.
This cover has won Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators this year. For those who are interested, you can read more about it here.
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June 15, 2010
summer (+ fall) event schedule
first of all, I have updated SHOWS & EVENTS section and added some upcoming summer and fall event schedule.
If you are interested in joining a workshop in Xalapa, Mexico or in Venice, Italy, or come join hundreds of other illustrators for Illustration Conference in LA, or maybe waiti for a comic con in England in October, all the organizer links are all up! So, come join me at one of those events? That would be fun :-)
I have to apologize again that last two to three months were so busy and everything feels like a big blur to me...., so I have missed posting some fun events that's already ended, like Heiti relief charity show in Baltimore and my debut in Bogota, Colombia in an illustration exhibit. But I will back post those past events and links there too.
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The Unwritten issue #14 cover talk....
DC Vertigo monthly series The Unwritten issue #14 came out last week (image on the right).
I am hoping to blog about it at DRAWGER soon. This is probably the most time-consuming cover I have done so far (and I am about to finish up #18 as I write this).
The team (my editor, writer and interior artist) wanted "Where is Waldo" for this. Yap, Where is Waldo. When they came to me with the idea I said "Ummmm.....Let me think about this... I am not an artist who does great drawing small people everywhere on the page, so I have to come up with my own style of Where is Waldo". And this was my answer. My images don't work well unless there is depth and interesting camera view. So, the result is the main character: Tom in the middle and fill up the rest of the space with pretty much almost every single characters who's ever appeared in the series.
I personally don't love "busy". I think I pulled it off by limiting the color palette.
If you are a loyal Unwritten reader, enjoy the game of guessing every single one of them, including some obscure side characters I threw in. Oh, and there is one character who is NOT from the series but from the team's former iconic series from Vertigo. Can you guess? Even Mike and Peter took a while to figure everyone out. :-)
Earth: Fragile Planet Show at The Society of Illustrators
I was at the Society of Illustrators earlier today to give lecture to SCAD students who were in NY for school trip. I had missed the opening for current Earth:Fragile Planet show that's currently on view, so I decided to check it out on the way back. It is, a really strong and beautiful show. Lots of original works by illustrators. (I have one piece in this show as well.) So, please go check out. This summer show will be up till end of July.
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June 7, 2010
June 5, 2010
Updates on updates....
So, this time, I am dead serious. Updates for ILLUSTRATION SECTION is happening by Monday. Shigeko helped me a lot last week, and I worked on them more today.
Early this afternoon I finished some important sketches for a product design job which I spent most of this week on. So, instead of moving straight onto the next project, I decided to have a bit of change before the weekend and really got into fixing my site.
So, have a great weekend, and please check back again on Monday! |
Interview on NONSLICK
NONSLICK is a blog run by young and talented illustrator Pete Ryan which features different illustrators' interviews. I had to put off his kind offer for a while because of my work schedule, but I was finally able to fill the questionnaire out during Memorial Day weekend downtime. It is now online.
I am quite happy with this interview. Probably because Pete works in the same field so he knows interesting questions to ask, which were fun for me to answer, but most importantly, the interview was able to provide some information to help young and aspiring illustrators of tomorrow.
So, I would be happy if you can check it out . And big thank you goes to Pete!
Back to Mexico, in July! Estaré de vuelta a México en julio!
Amigos mexicanos! Voy a enseñar un taller en Amarillo Centro De
Diseño en Xalapa, Veracruz en julio! Para más información, póngase en
contacto con Amarillo. Graciaaaas!!
It is official. I am coming back to Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, to Amarillo Design Center to perform a workshop in mid-July. If you are interested in participating, please contact Amarillo directly. See you there!
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June 2, 2010
it is June.....
... and then May went by like that. With school year ending, deadlines looming, family and friends visiting from around the globe, website updates have been put off yet again.
I often visit art schools and talk to illustration students and aspiring illustrators about how to utilize website, and I always say "websites that are not updated often are worse than not having websites". So, what am I doing? (or not doing??) I really need to get to work!
I think I am about to get out of the long tunnel of crazy schedule of working 7 days a week. Memorial Day weekend came and went, that means, my main clients: magazines, go into more laid back summer schedule.
I also came to realization that there is no way I can do everything by myself, and (finally) hired a very reliable and trustworthy assistant; my former student and young illustrator Shigeko Okada, to help me with web updates. She is working on getting images ready to be added to ILLUSTRATIONS SECTION, so the major update is really really happening soon. |
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please check out LISTEN
In April, I had closely collaborated with Point Five Design to work on the cover and double page spread (with 15 portraits!) for a new magazine called LISTEN. Unless you are a hardcore classical music fan, you may not have seen or heard about this magazine. It was, until this issue, only send directly to the subscribers. From this recent issue (photos below), they are officially available at Barns & Noble near you!
Point Five Design is a wonderful design studio located here in New York City, and they have been giving me projects since very early years of my career. But it was the first time we actually had the real face-to-face meeting and came up with concept and ideas from scratch. We are all quite happy with the results. Hope you can take a look at LISTEN too.
I am planning on making a blog post about it soon.
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SLANTED Magazine in Germany
hallo Freunde in Deutschland, schräge Magazin mit meinen Illustrationen veröffentlicht habe!
well, OK... I actually don't speak German... But all my German friends tell me that I am 'German at heart', so... I am excited to be in this new and beautiful SLANTED, design magazine from Berlin. It is a blacktype and heavy metal issue, and endpapers I created for Alphabet Project made it into the issue. You can purchase this beautiful magazine online.
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ESPN Brazil
And, last but not least... but just for the fun of it. An illustration for ESPN the Magazine (US version) made it into ESPN Brazil edition. As far as I can remember, I think this is the first time my work got published in Brazil, which is, for me, very cool and exciting. So, just sharing the photo. I have only been to Brazil for about 2 hours, when I went to see Iguazu Falls. I am hoping to go visit the cities, one day, some day.... (By the way, you have to see Iguazu Falls at least once. It is mind-blowing. Niagara is like a joke once you see Iguazu.)
Esta revista tem um monte de artigos sobre futebol!
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May 12, 2010
hello, hello...
Did I just write that April was flying by? Well, it looks like so's May!
I don't want anyone to think I stopped updating my website often. Well, I do, it is just April and May are TOTAL CHAOS. I promise I will be back with more soon. (and yes, ILLUSTRATION SECTION needs serious update...)
In the meantime, I update quick news flash often on FACEBOOK, so please check it out as well.
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The Unwritten No.13 in stores now
The Unwritten issue 13 (near right) is coming out today. And congratulations to the team for 3 Eisner Awards nominations!
I am very excited, as a person taking a small part in this fantastic ongoing project.
The Unwritten Vol.2 in progress
The second collected graphic novel (issue No.6~12) is getting edited now for the summer release.
The great news is that The Unwritten is doing so well, we are doing a brand new wrap around cover for this!
Picture on far right is a sneak peek screen grab of the work in progress as of two nights ago.
Hopefully it gets finalized soon (especially because I have been constantly sleep deprived for about a month or so already).
In the meantime, I have just started working on the ideas for No. 17 cover.
Visit to RISD and teaching stuff
I have just finished teaching for this school year. Congratulations to all my SVA students for graduating (seniors), and moving onto the third year of their studies (sophomores).
I also took a one day business trip up to RISD in Providence last week. Thank you for a warm welcome.
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April 21, 2010
Audience of 700 in Savannah
Did I not write any news for about a month? Ah, I am terrible. April is just flying by!
I had to finish up deadlines so I can fly out to Savannah, GA to attend SCAD's Illustration symposium panel, back to New York and finishing up school year at SVA, while getting hit by massive pollen attack. Anyway, all the rest is good.
At SCAD's symposium, organized by Professor Julie Lieberman, was consist of a dream team of panel members: Anita Kunz, Christoph Niemann, Red Nose Studio, and two art directors: Bridgid McCarren of HOW and Tyler Darden of Virginia Living.
Thank you for the warmest welcome by full house audience of 700 students across the different majors. Hope you had much fun as we did.
Writer Matt Porter documented the event on a blog.
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Weather was just perfect; sky was blue and flowers were everywhere. Savannah was just so lovely and so were the people there. I hope I can go back there again soon.
Savannah recommendations:
Paris Market: Anita and I went crazy over this amazing store with mixture of antique and contemporary home decoration.
Gryphon Tea Room: Officially my favorite cafe. old pharmacy converted into a tea room. Just stunningly beautiful, and of course, great food and selection of teas. |
March 25, 2010
Thank you for the full house audience!!
at FIT lecture last night. I had so much fun with marcos, Fernanda, Fred and Zina, and of course, with all of you who came and stayed in that packed room.
You can see the photos from the events on Heidi's blog.
I am currently on the tight deadline finishing up The Unwritten #15 cover, but I will post more upcoming events and news next week. |
March 18, 2010
panel discussion at FIT next week – open to public –
I am writing this onboard the flight out to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where I will be visiting University of Wisconsin Eau Claire for the next couple of days. (Then to spend a weekend in Minneapolis with a friend illustrator, talented Erik T. Johnson and his family.
Next week, when I am back to New York, I will be taking part in a panel discussion/talk at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) with fellow illustrators Marcos Chin, Fernanda Cohen, Fred Harper and Zina Saunders. The talk is titled: How I Got My First Job; basically we hope to encourage young illustrators/students by embarrassingly revealing our humble starts in the field. If you have extra time, please come stop by. |
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March 9, 2010
The Unwritten 14 cover preview
DC Vertigo series The Unwritten is at its' 11th issue now (issue #11 comes out tomorrow), but Vertigo cover artists actually work a lot ahead, even more ahead than interior art, and sometimes on script that is not even finalized yet.
So, even the day before #11 is out, I am actually currently working on #15 cover. Yes, that's how ahead we work.
#14 cover just got the approval bit more than a week ago. Usually they don't reveal the cover for another month or so, but this time, Vertigo editing team decided to go ahead and post it on their blog way early.
This is a special cover. Creators Mike and Peter, as well as editor Pornsak had been discussing for a while about how they wanted me to create "Where is Waldo" cover. I have been putting it off, off and off.... till I had no more reasons to put it off anymore! Ha. So, I decided to finally dive into it in the idea.
All the loyal Unwritten readers, you may not be able to spot all the characters because a few of them are future characters who will not appear until issue #12. Also, there is one character thrown in there who is not from this series but from another series by Mike and Peter. Mike and Peter took the quiz too, and of course, they were able to spot everyone. Now, can you?
school visits!
I am finally settling down into my new home, and slowly starting to travel out again.
I was invited to New Jersey City University last week (Thank you for the warm welcome!), and heading out to University of Wisconsin Eau Claire next week, FIT lecture toward the end of the month and SCAD in Savannah, GA in April. Looking forward to seeing you all the students!
new blog post
trying to post more... new one today.
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March 2, 2010
WooHoo! New York Times Best Seller list!!
How exciting!! the first volume of The Unwritten, the collection of the first five issues of the DC Comics vertigo series I have been illustrating the cover for, is so far, ahem, on the week 6 of New York Times Best Seller list!
On the right is the current best seller list in graphic novel category.
I cannot stress enough! The Unwritten is a very well written, mysterious, intellectual and interesting story. Definitely not your kids' comic book. And, I am not saying this because I do the covers. It is REALLY good.
Every issue, I research and learn about historical fiction I have read or not read in past.
I have just finished the cover for issue No. 14. No.11 coming out this month. And, we may be able to have a brand new cover for collected volume No.2, so stay tuned :-)
New Blog Post
on Drawger today. If you have time...
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February 18, 2010
| Introducing: TutorMill –– the new way to study illustration –– |
It is official!
A completely new way for aspiring artists to study illustration, online illustration mentoring course TutorMill has just launched.
It is run by the same people who makes Drawger and Illoz happen, and the idea was conceived by illustrators and good friends: Gary Taxali and Thomas Fuchs.
We love teaching, but it is limited to a few classes in the cities we live in, and occasional school visits and workshops outside. Now with TutorMill, students can be living anywhere in the world to study with us. You choose a class you are interested, two instructors you like, and whether you want 3 week quick course, or 6 week long-duration course.
My former studio-mate and best friend Marcos Chin is also on TutorMill. (and we are already picked to teach a student together.)
TutorMill soft-launched this week, and students already started enrolling. I had conversations with some of my students, and having a great feeling on starting the courses.
To learn more, read class descriptions, look through the bio of the instructors, please visit TutorMill.com
(on the left is my page on TutorMill)
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February 9, 2010
I had to take a while off from work to pack my whole apartment and move. My new place is great, but still a big mess with boxes everywhere and there are many things I cannot find. Did I loose them or they are still in the boxes?? I have no idea...
But anyway, as you can see, I am finally (close to) back to a regular schedule. |
Society of Illustrators Book/Editorial Show now open
Society of Illustrators' Annual Book/Editorial show is now open. If you are in New York, don't miss all the original paintings and drawings that got accepted into this competition. I am taking my SVA students up there for a class trip next week and they are very excited. The show is up till February 20th.
Reception and award ceremony was held last Friday. I was excited to receive gold medal for this piece (photo right). Thank you judges and thank you ADs. I am really really honored.You can read my recent blog post about the creative process of this image.
But actually, what excited me the most was that my high school classmate and talented Tatsuro Kiuchi flew in from Tokyo to this cold-cold New York to receive his Silver Medal! We kept in touch, but haven't seen each other since our graduation. Wow.
On the photo, from left to right: Ai Tatebayashi, Hiromichiito, me, Tatsuro Kiuchi |
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Live Your Dream Art Contests for kids
I have been helping judge Soroptimist.org's Live Your Dream Art contest. The purpose is to inspire young girls to have female role models and live their dreams. Young girls from all over the world is participating in this art contest. Finalist are just announced. Please cast your vote and spread good fortune! |
and some site update....
Bad habit! I had left alone SHOWS & EVENTS for a long long time. I finally updated with some new info.
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January 21, 2010
| How can this be possible that it is already two-thirds into January??? I have just been completely swamped between deadlines and personal stuff (I am moving to a new apartment at the end of the month). Here are some great news to catch up on... |
MORIBITO 2 receives Batchelder Honors!!
On January 18, American Library Association announced this year's literary award winners, and Moribito 2: Guardian of the Darkness (written by Nahoko Uehashi, translated by Cathy Hirano, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine) received Mildred L. Batchelder Honors. I have illustrated both of the Moribito books (both covers and interiors) and had so much fun on the project. I was amazed by how deep and meaningful the book was, so it is a fantastic news.
If you have not read it yet, this book is not just for young readers. I highly recommend it. Below is a part of wrap around cover illustration.
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I guess January is the time of the year for the "best ... of 2009" lists. Lucky Yuko has a few more announcements. Thank you SO much everyone!
Freistil (Germany) chooses Yuko as the best international illustrator of the year 2009
Wow, who voted for this? Thank you those of you who did.... Berlin-besed illustration organization Freistil has chosen the best of 2009, and they gave me the "best international illustrator" title. thank you SO much.
For the rest of the results, see their blog.
Comic Book Resources: The 50 Best Covers of 2009
The Unwritten (DC Comics Vertigo) issue No.7 cover was chosen as one of the 50. Thank you So much. There are some really nice covers on the same list. My favorite is one by Rafael Grampa.
featured on BibliOdyssey
PK from a fantastic blog BibliOdyssey kindly wrote a post on my work process. Thank you!
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