Happy holidays! Marcos Martin (comic artist:"Batgirl Year One") and Muntsa Vicente (fashion illustrator) are now back home in Barcelona after enjoying being New Yorkers for three months. We met in October and quickly became close friends. Marcos was kind enough to come into my class as a guest lecturer and encouraged second year cartooning majors at SVA to pursue their dreams. You were the best! Sunday brunch at Park or dinner at Florent won't be the same without you two!

Art for a good cause! Friend Sarah Crumb (associate art director, PC Magazine) is helping host Third Wave Foundation's Annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction. I have donated two original ink drawings from Village Voice (right and far right) for auction. Party/Auction takes place on Monday, December 6th at 7pm at 511 Gallery (511 W. 25th Street, 3rd Floor).

"Artistic Utopia" is a daily calendar featuring works by 36 illustrators designed by Murphy Design. (my piece on right) There will be a group show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles. Show opens on December 10, and the calendar will be available at the gallery. La Luz de Jesus: 4633 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027 reception: December 10(Fri) 7-10PM

Ellen Germain, an illustration major at Pratt Institute, did an interview with me. I got her permission to put it up on my site as the context I thought may be helpful for students who want to become professional illustrators in future. Read interview On the right are some photos from the opening party of "Psionic Distortion" show in Tokyo. Thanks Tim!

Three new books just came out. 1) "Imagemakers -- Cutting Edge Fashion Illustration" (by Martin Dawber from Mitchel Beazley, UK) features 50 fashion illustrators around the world including friend Marcos Chin and myself. Our images were shown at Liverpool Biennial art festival at John Moor's University Gallery between October 4-15. 2) "Manga -- 60 Years Of Japanese Comics" (by Paul Gravett from Harper Collins) is an extensive history book of manga. My work is mentioned as a Japanese comic artist working abroad, along with friend Paul Pope mentioned as a western comic artist doing manga in the US. 3) "Websites -- 100% Loaded" (from Feierabend, Germany) yukoart.com is included as one of the best designed artist sites.

Recently worked on two illustrations of amazing performances. Chicago Shakespeare Theater's "Rose Rage" (left) and Johannes Weiland's dance "One" (right). (both for The New Yorker Magazine) Thank you Jasen of Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Johannes for inviting me to the shows! The original print of Rose Rage illustration can be seen at the theater.

I will be in a group show in New York. "Beginning Here: 101 Ways" at Visual Arts Gallery (601W 26St floor 15, NYC) Reception is tomorrow September 9 between 7-9PM. It is a show of 101 alumni from School of Visual Arts. I am honored to be chosen to be a part of this show. (click icon to view the piece) Check out this week's The New Yorker. For the first time, studio-mate John Hendrix and best friend Marcos Chin and I are all in the same issue with a beautiful cover by our favorite illustrator Istvan Banyai :-)

New interview article on Altcult. Thank you, Greg :-)

Super fantastic designer duo Kaz Iwai, Gerald Mark Soto and I are on a mission! Kaz as art director, we are in process of re-designing "New York Walker", a bi-weekly free magazine full of interesting articles and listings about what is going on in the city for Japanese readers. Issue #04 is the first one with new design. Find my cover in Japanese book stores and major Japanese grocery stores around the city on Thursday, August 26.

Three weeks of Summer Pre-College Program at SVA went by so quickly and smoothly, thanks to the faculty team; Keith Mayerson (right), Gary Panter (left), Jonathon Rosen and Natalie Ascencios, guest speakers and all the friend artists who helped us make this happen. Also, thank you all the students who worked so hard and made this such a rewarding experience for us teachers. Hope we will see you again soon! In September a continuing education class: "How to Start Out in the Illustration World (Marketing 101 for Illustrators)" will begin. It is a 8 session class for those who are serious about becoming working illustrators. Please contact SVA for more info and bulletin.

SVA's Student Survival Guide 2004-2005 is out now. I illustrated wrap around cover as well as 5 spread pages and 15 spots. It was fun, but also a big challenge with a lot of work. Toward the end of the project, I had severe tendinitis, and both of my arms were covered with patches. I am happy with the result, and I feel more confident in my drawing skills after this intensive drawing marathon. The handbook will be given out free to all SVA students in September.

August 3, 04
Used to work at The New Yorker's art department and always extremely helpful, Maximilian Bode is now a full time freelance illustrator. Congratulations, Max!  I am jealous of his beautiful Modest Mouse (band of my obsession right now!) illo in this week's New Yorker.  According to a Rolling Stone article, a song that changed Isaac Brock's life was "Life Is Still Sweet" by White Hassle, which is the band lead by friend-illustrator-musician Marcellus Hall. What a small world we live in, eh?

I just found out that "NY Times Travel Section" cover illustration (left) has gotten into Society of Publication Designers 39th Annual SPD Awards. Also illustrations from "Entertainment Weekly" (right) and "The New Yorker" (far right) has been accepted to SPD SPOTS Competition.

1) Happy birthday to me...(July 15), but I was working from morning till night making set designs for yet another fashion photo shoots with Cleo Sullivan. The results can be seen in new "SHOP etc. Magazine" second issue, on newsstands October 1.    left: me drawing snowflakes to backdrop.    right: my former student and amazing assistant    James Bragden and me with our dogs.

2) I talked about my illustration process on Polish design site Webesteem Magazine. I often get e-mails from fellow artists asking about my medium and process, so I was happy to work on this project showing my sketches and ideas as well as finals. It was fun working with you, Dorian. Also, Thank you Kai Kiuchi for taking my portrait.

July 8,04 Yukoart.com is chosen as "website of the day" by Asian design site TAXI (www.designtaxi.com).

July 6, 04
Thanks Erik of Sumo Shop (www.sumoshop.com) and Rhett of Heavy-Backpack (www.heavy-backpack.com) for featuring my work on their design sites. They both have good line up of artisits featured on the sites, so please check them out!

June 23, 04
Thank you YEN Magazine of Australia for making my drawing into a large format poster. In the latest issue, available in Australia.

Peter Hamlin of HAMBOT just sent me photos from DFN Gallery group show opening. Thanks Peter! If you haven't checked out the show yet, please do visit. I promise it worth your time. I am not saying this because I am in the show, I am saying this because the show is goooood. Artist in the show include such well known fine artists as: Kojo Griffin, David Humphrey, Julie Heffernan, and also well known illustrators such as; Mark Ryden, Clayton Brothers and Ruth Marten. DFN Gallery 176 Franklin St New York, NY 10013

I had a wonderful time at Art Directors Club's Annual Illustration Portfolio Review. Marcos Chin and me at our table (left). With my new "fake brother" Shingo Shimizu at a sake bar (right). Those who are new to the field or working toward becoming an illustrator, make sure you check out the web site by Shawn Barber. His FAQ is just amazing! Also, don't forget to visit Red Nose Studio site . Thank you for a wonderful time, and see you all next year!

June 6, 04
1) I will be in a group show in NY. Opening reception is this Wed, June 9. Come see, come see!
DFN Gallery 176 Franklin St New York, NY 10013 June 9,  6-8pm
2) Also on June 10, I will be participating in Art Directors Club's Annual Illustrators Portfolio Review. I will be sitting with my best friend Marcos Chin and studio-mate John Hendrix. Everyone who is in position of hiring illustrators are welcomed to the event. Art Directors Club 106 West 29th Street, June 10th, noon to 6 pm

June 2, 04 New interview by Spanish web No Magazine (www.nomagazine.com). Thanks Sandra!

May 31, 04
Marcellus Hall made my (holi)day by sending me a "Yuko-style" drawing. Cracks me up! So, what is up with that chu-chu train, Marce? To see what Marcellus actually draws, go visit his site.

May26, 04
Happy one year anniversary to SHY STUDIO, which my studio-mates, John Hendrix (illustrator, art director), Katie Yamasaki (muralist, art teacher) and I started when we finished grad school. "SHY" is named after first letters of our last names.
Also, I just moved back to Upper West Side in Manhattan from Greenpoint, Brooklyn where I lived for past 3 years. Although it was a bit sad to leave my memories behind with 99 Sutton St. loft, May was a month of new begginings.

May 19, 04 I am a lucky person to have friends like you who inspire me and stimulate my creative brain as well as my "play brain"! (left: comic superstar Paul Pope, amazing illustrator and musician Marcellus Hall and me) It has been a year since I graduated from SVA MFA Illustration program. It is my friend Ai Tatebayashi's turn. She is a very talented illustrator with a great sense of humor. Keep watching her progress! (right: after her thesis show)

May 18, 04 1) Indonesian design site Creative Behavior was kind enough to do an interview article on me. Thanks Yul.

May 8, 04
1) Sorry for not up-dating my site for a while... My schedule has been crazy.
Right now, I am working with amazing fashion photographer Cleo Sullivan for the second time. M.A.C. Cosmetics promotional film directed by Cleo, set design by Yuko. For their new fall make up line.
2) Another school year has just ended at SVA, but this time, me as an instructor. On May 5, my senior students had open studios and it was so much fun. I cannot express in words how much I learnt from teaching them, and how much they encouraged me to keep going. Thank you guys. I will miss you all a lot!