FEATURED ILLUSTRATOR Yu Kito Lee
From a small town in Japan to a small town in New England
Hello! My name is Yu, but I usually go by
Yuey (I know, it can get quite confusing).
I grew up in a small town nestled between two
beautiful rivers in Gifu, Japan. It wasn’t a straightforward path to get here,
but looking back, it seems obvious that I would become a children’s book
illustrator.
My childhood was all about drawing. I would scribble on any available blank paper, doodle in textbooks, and draw manga after school, heavily influenced by Sailor Moon and the CLAMP series. Although I dreamed of becoming a manga artist during elementary school, I always considered drawing more as a hobby rather than a career option.
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| Yu as a child at a local festival |
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| Yu's hometown |
At the age of 16, I decided to study abroad in the US I attended a boarding school in New Hampshire with barely enough English communication skills. Although it was my choice to be there and the experience was invaluable, the early days were challenging, to say the least.
The only time I really felt like myself was
during art class. It was liberating to have something other than language to
express myself and communicate with others. For the first time, I realised that
art could be more than just pretty images; it could be a powerful communication
tool.
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| Yu's boarding school in the fall |
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| A still life painted during art class |
The motion graphics era
I went on to study at Otis College of Art and
Design in Los Angeles. After finishing my foundation year, I chose to study
motion graphics instead of illustration. I was fascinated by this new field
where picture and animation meet.
After graduation, I worked as a motion
graphics designer for various companies and agencies for about 10 years.
During this time, I learned a great deal about designing images to convey
specific messages and emotions.
Motion graphics might seem quite different from illustrating children’s books, but they share a lot of the same discipline for storytelling. Another benefit from this era is how comfortable I am working digitally. I usually start with very rough, scribbly sketches on paper, but most of my work is done in Photoshop. I love the ability to experiment easily and combine the discipline of graphic design with my illustration.
Early days of my illustration career
After having my first child in 2017, I wanted to try something different and
re-explore my love for illustration. I wasn’t drawing much during my motion
graphics days, but I slowly reconnected with pen and paper. I took a lot of
online courses to understand the illustration market and where I might fit in.
During the sleepless days of early
motherhood, I developed my first illustration portfolio and signed with an
illustration agency in 2019. With the support of the lovely agents who took a
chance on this unripe illustrator, I worked on various projects in publishing
and licensed products, including stationery, greeting cards, toys, and games.
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| Examples of Yu Kito Lee's illustration work |
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| More illustration work by Yu |
A new path to children’s book illustration
I really enjoyed working on a wide range of projects, but my love for children’s books grew as my own stack of children’s books got taller with the addition of two more kids. I discovered a whole new meaning in children’s books while reading them to my own children. They are not only beautiful and imaginative but also very helpful in encouraging my kids to navigate big emotions and challenging situations.
For a look at more of Yuey's work:
Yuey's website: www.studio-yuey.com/
Yuey's Instagram: www.instagram.com/studio_yuey/
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