• There is such a calm and tranquil feeling in the work of Korean illustrator Han Yoomi. I happened upon their work on Twitter, and I was instantly struck by their use of negative space and color. Like the first piece below, which captures an idyllic farm scene, a woman feeding a rooster with vegetation framing them, creating an intense intimacy. I’m also so impressed with their range, as far as illustrative styles go. The second piece below is ethereal and dreamy, a young girls vivid imagination brought to life, while the third piece is rather realistic, like a portrait done with pastels in nature. Really beautiful work here, so glad I came across their work.

    Han Yoomi Illustrates Calm Worlds of Beauty and Tranquility
    Han Yoomi Illustrates Calm Worlds of Beauty and Tranquility
    Han Yoomi Illustrates Calm Worlds of Beauty and Tranquility
    Han Yoomi Illustrates Calm Worlds of Beauty and Tranquility
  • Japanese artist Yasuo-range considers herself a “graphical illustrator” which is a pretty apt description. Her work, which seamlessly blends digital and physical mediums, has influences that wander between abstraction, influences of the Bauhaus, and Japanese minimalism. There’s something so lovely about how she abstracts objects into these colorful still-life scenes. She gives our brains just enough information to start to pick out particular items, but in some cases, not quite enough, giving you time to look over the pieces trying to discern what is what.

    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
  • An illustrator based in Japan, born in Tokyo and graduated from the Department of Graphic Design at Tama Art University, Taku Bannai works in a broad range of areas such as advertisements, books, magazines, and artwork for record covers. He captures our everyday scenes in a papercut, minimalist style, which creates a “blank space,” as he calls it, which allows the viewer to imagine their own stories. I find his work so calming, and I love all the small imperfections that can be found throughout.

    Art and illustration by Taku Bannai
    Art and illustration by Taku Bannai
    Art and illustration by Taku Bannai
    Art and illustration by Taku Bannai
  • If you haven’t heard of Close it’s a coming-of-age film about “two teenage boys whose close friendship is thrown into disarray when their schoolmates notice their intimacy, causing a rift between them.” It’s been highly regarded critically, winning the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival, amongst many other nominations and prizes.

    Old friend of TFIB Matt Lyon, an illustrator based just outside of London, has created a sublime poster for the movie, drawing on the visuals of flowers that permeate the film. I love Matt’s use of halftones and textures, as well as his unexpected twist of racking the focus of the flowers to bring in some interesting depth to the piece. And that color palette (which is a signature of Matt’s work tbh) that really works so well here. Incredible work.

    Close film poster illustration by Matt Lyon
  • There’s something so wonderful about the carefree illustrations of Tokyo-based illustrator Nori Okawa. To me, I see a spontaneous mixture of manga and pop art combined into some new form of expression. It’s zany and over-the-top, yes there’s something to these pieces that keeps drawing me in, I keep seeing more details and nuances that I missed in my first impression. I wish I had a giant, painted version of one of the pieces below hanging on the walls of my apartment.

    Nori Okawa
    Nori Okawa
    Nori Okawa
    Nori Okawa