36 Comments
User's avatar
Valerie Parizeault's avatar

I think you've nailed looseness in your sketches with neocolors, which is not an easy thing to accomplish! Also the colors are really interesting in those sketches and less traditional in a sense, which I really like :)

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Aw, thank you, Valerie! I want to experiment with neocolors to make a full page illustration! Maybe I'll look up tutorials first 😄

Expand full comment
Valerie Parizeault's avatar

I would just go for it! You're already doing it with the smaller sizes!

Expand full comment
Beth's avatar

Your sketches are wonderful, and maybe more than sketches. The very zen lion with coffee, who doesn't love a paddleboarding penguin, and the volleyball-playing girl stand out to me. The idea you hit on is brilliant... taking sketches and using them in a larger piece. I understand how that made the goal less daunting. It reminds me of what language teachers call chunking. I am currently studying a new language and I would say it is much the same concept. I learn pieces/phrases that can be used, altered and used, and then combined to make a whole new "thing." Your meta thinking about your art, and your devotion are the combination! I wish you much success and enjoyment ahead.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Beth! 🥰 It's cool that you can apply the same concept to learn a new language too! Chunking sounds a bit comical, lol. What new language are you learning, Beth? Thank you for your continued encouragement and support in my art journey!

Expand full comment
Annie Parsons's avatar

Loved seeing how your daily sketching practice set you up for an awesome final here!

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you, Annie💕I appreciate your kind words!

Expand full comment
Jennifer M Potter's avatar

This is a really strong piece! Well done! 👏👏👏

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Aw thank you, Jennifer! Your kind words mean a lot 😊

Expand full comment
Ingrid Cox's avatar

Such beautiful drawings!! And you can really see a narrative developing… That’s really interesting insight to start with the sketches and see what stories evolve out of the characters! By the way do you draw from life (in which case you must draw so quickly! Except for the shy kids hesitating before diving! 😅) or from photos, or imagination?

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you for your kind words, Ingrid! I didn't draw sketches of kids from life. I used reference photos. I'd like to do some live sketches of kids though! I have done live sketches for my travel journal. When I use references, I try to simplify shapes and make it my own version.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

I’m sorry I accidentally deleted your comment instead of mine! Thank you for your encouraging comment, Ingrid 😊

Expand full comment
Annette van den Bosch's avatar

Zet je die ook op Substack?

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

I might share it with my note :)

Expand full comment
Annette van den Bosch's avatar

I think that would be lovely. The children in your sketchbook are so cute. I also adore your animals in their context.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Aw, thank you, Annette😊 For a change, I sketched a landscape piece today!

Expand full comment
Elena's avatar

Your sketch of the girl dancing is super awesome, I can really feel her movement!

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Aw, thank you so much, Elena💕It means a lot!

Expand full comment
Annette van den Bosch's avatar

I do like your sketches a bit more than the Procreate version because the diversity of the kids is more in it and the one with the cap is really touching. The Procreate version is very good but your own sketch has a special style (that is just my opinion ofcourse). Thank you for giving an Insight in your creation process. I wish you great succeses.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you for your kind feedback, Annette! I agree with you. I like my sketches better too😊 I’m thinking about making a finished illustration piece in my sketchbook style!

Expand full comment
Amy Gardner's avatar

Breaking a larger composition into bite sized sections of the story is such a brilliant approach. The simplicity is really elegant, systematic design thinking, allowing a removal from the pressure of making the larger piece make sense from a start. Like a storytelling jigsaw. I’ll be giving this a try for my next projects

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Amy! I’m excited to hear that you are going to give this a try for your project! Can’t wait to see it😊

Expand full comment
Nell Cummins Illustrates's avatar

Ooh, Yumiko, your sketchbook is delightful! I totally agree with what you said about the worried/nervous kid. They're all great. I particularly love that group of boys at the back, who seem to really be enjoying each other!

Love this! x Nell.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Aw thank you for taking time to read and comment, Nell! Your kind words means a lot! I’m glad you liked it❤️

Expand full comment
Milena Milak's avatar

This is amazing! Thanks for walking us through your process, Yumiko!

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you, Milena! I'm glad you enjoy it 🥰

Expand full comment
Dani Williams's avatar

I always love your sketchbook pages, they’re so fun and dynamic.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Aw thank you, Dani😊I want to bring the same energy into my finished pieces, but it’s not quite the same. Do you have any advice?

Expand full comment
Erika Tovi's avatar

I don’t have any advice, but I will say I’ve always thought many of your “sketches” (especially the ones shown in this newsletter) already look like final pieces to me. They have a loose quality that shows you’re just immersed and enjoying the experience of drawing!

I had no idea the swimming piece was taken from these sketches! So fun to see all the “puzzle pieces” come together!

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you, Erichan, for your encouragement! It gave me a courage to make sketches as final pieces. I want to try once at least 😄

Expand full comment
Dani Williams's avatar

😄 I wish I did! My finished pieces are always so stiff compared to my sketches.

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Maybe we need to make our sketches as final pieces! (As my daughter, Erika hinted in her comment 😉)

Expand full comment
One_n_onyi's avatar

This is soooo cute!!! I love it!!

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you❤️I’m glad you liked it!

Expand full comment
ArtxAlgeriaxAfnan's avatar

Your passion shows through~

Expand full comment
Yumiko Kitazono's avatar

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment! It means a lot.

Expand full comment