Animals often play the leading role in Aiko Fukawa’s drawings, and a case in point is the cheerful garland the Japanese illustrator created for the Flow Book for Paper Lovers 5.
“I made the animal parade that’s featured in the Flow Book for Paper Lovers using watercolor paints and then edited it on the computer,” says Aiko. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved to draw animals. They are my favorite subject, be they cats, dogs, a fox or bird—and more recently, bears too. I’ve just created some illustrations for the children’s book The Three Bears.”
Do you have animals yourself?
“Yes, I have two cats that used to be strays.”
What does your work mean to you?
“I really love to draw, and I hope that the sense of pleasure and joy that I get from it is reflected in my work. Ever since the birth of my daughter, I have had less time to dedicate to work, so I am a bit more selective when it comes to choosing my projects nowadays.”
What are your plans for this new year?
“I am currently working on my fourth children’s book, which is an old Polish tale. I am also going to make a drawing for the hall of a hospital. 2018 marks a decade of me being an illustrator, and I’m really looking forward to what the next ten years will bring.”
What do you do on a day off?
“I like to visit my family, to read picture books with my daughter, and to have naps with her. I also like to go for walks on the beach and see the ocean, or to visit exhibitions of my artist friends.”
Photo Aiko: Kawacolle
- Aiko regularly shares photos of her work, cats and life on her Instagram account.
