Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimizu

Award winning Japanese illustrator based in New York City and instructor at School of Visual Arts.

Does This Print Well?

The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Covers
Illustration job does not end when I send out my finals. Actually the real result, or more like the judgment day, comes when I receive the actual printed samples.Sometimes, what I thought was a nice piece does not print so well. Or, what I felt was so so looks great in print. It is a constant learning lesson as a commercial artist to figure out what works in print and what doesn’t. Of course, how well an illustration looks also has a lot to do with how well the whole ‘package’ is designed.

I just got samples of a new book in mail. I talked about this book multiple times in past, so, I am sorry if you are sick of it. Japanese classic: Ryunosuke Akutagawa‘s The Beautiful and The Grotesque. A great title, a fantastic book, published by WW Norton. Fabulous design by Rodrigo Corral (BIG fan!) and my sweet AD was Albert Tang.

This project actually  didn’t have an easy path. It started two summers ago, when Rodrigo contacted me to work together (hell yah I’m a fan). Then, it was on hold when economy went south all of a sudden. Last summer, the project revived with six interior illustrations. And another long one year has passed, and now I am holding the physical book! Happiness is even more.

I put a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of love into this project, and with the great work by Rodrigo and Albert, it looks awesome (At least I think so). I am really really proud, and wanted to share this with you. (Although, I know, you have seen it many times before. But at least you have not seen the interior illustrations though.)

The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Sketches
Sketches for interior illustrations. Deadline was short, and Albert was “do whatever you want!”. (yay.) I think I finished one or two final illustrations a day to meet the deadline. It was just a blast for me though.
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Hina Dolls For Girls Day
This was a story about Hina Dolls for Girls Day (March 3). In Japanese tradition, you take out the dolls only once a year for the holiday. This looks like the doll I grew up with. My mother still have them.
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Hina Dolls For Girls Day - Spread
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Kappa
Kappa is a mythical creature believed to live by the streams.
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Kappa - Spread
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Saigo Takamori
Saigo Takamori is a famous Japanese historic figure everyone is familiar with (in Japan, that is…)
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Saigo Takamori - Spread
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Woman's Body
Woman’s Body is the only story in this book that takes place in China. Very short but very powerful tale.
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Woman's Body - Spread
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: The Badger
Japanese badger looks more like a raccoon. It was believed they perform magic and trick people.
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: The Badger - Spread
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: The Robbers
For the main and the longest story The Robbers, the interior illustration was a revival of one of the killed cover ideas. It was nice to be able to finish this idea.
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: The Robbers - Spread
The Beautiful And The Grotesque: Wraparound Covers
Wrap around cover in actual ‘package’. 満足。(very satisfied.)