Saraku Yuzuyama

2010 - Began working as an illustrator
2013 - Won the 8th Colorful Board Award
2014 - Chosen for the “300 Book Covers Exhibit”
2014 - Won Best Work in Aozora Bunko’s “Famous Novel Cover Artwork Contest”
2014 - Won the Graphic Prize in the New Year’s Greeting 2015 Design Award
2014 - Participated in fine art group exhibit at M50 in Shanghai
2015 - Started design brand SocksOwl with illustrator Hitomi Zabieru
2015 - Directed illustrator Hitomi Zabieru’s solo exhibit “OJIYANFOREST” at a Harajuku cafe
2015 - Held a collaboration event with a children’s clothing brand with a bookstore who shows my work. From this, SocksOwl works began also being sold in bookstores in Shinjuku Isetan Main Store, Hankyu Umeda Main Store, Senri Hankyu, Osaka Takashimaya, Daimaru Kobe, and Hakata Hankyu
2015 - Participated with SocksOwl at an event held by a general store in Taisho, Osaka
2015 - Won the Tokyo Otaku Mode Award at Sakura Exhibition
2016 - Directed SocksOwl collaboration event with bookstore at Tokyo Metropolitan University
2016 - Offered illustrations for the anniversary event of the Tokyo Metropolitan University bookstore
2016 - Directed joint event between SocksOwl and Daikan-yama jewelry brand

I originally had absolutely no interest in drawing, and until I was 19 I had never drawn at all outside of my art class at school.

When I was 19 I bought Adobe Photoshop thinking that I would use if for something completely different from drawing, but my motivation died out immediately. I thought it would be a waste since I went to the trouble of buying such an expensive software so I searched for any area it would be useful in. Somehow or other, that’s how I first got into doing something I never had an interest in: drawing.

I’ve had the opportunity to draw for various different genres, and it’s been really fun creating my own art for each, so I would say I’m particular about not getting attached to any one genre. For someone like me who never had an interest in drawing, I didn’t have a yearning when it came to drawing, like wanting to draw this type of artwork for a certain genre...I think that’s the stance I take when drawing. Though I’m still learning about design.

It varies depending on the genre, but for my award-winning work, those done in the style called Impasto, the fastest is about two days, whereas an illustration that requires meticulously detailed work can take between 1-2 weeks.

Regarding artwork that I can create freely, I aim to draw what pops into my mind while being conscious about the balance of the art without thinking much about the concept or meaning. For that reason, I worry over being asked about the title and other aspects of such work.