Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimizu

Award winning Japanese illustrator based in New York City and instructor at School of Visual Arts.

THE UNWRITTEN

OK, so I had posted that teaser before, but it is now official. The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross, the new series all the graphic novel fans have been waiting for, will be released in May from DC Vertigo.I am teaming up with this genius duo, along with the fantastic editor Pornsak (he was also my editor for The Sandman series), to create covers for the series. The first cover is also on the cover of the latest PREVIEWS (right). You can see it in the comic book stores near you.I have just finished the second cover and got the approval today (yay!), and just about to start working on the third cover. In the meantime, Peter is about five pages to get the third issue done. (I think he is working on the best scene of the issue right now!) I have read about five issues worth of script now, and I have to say it is really gripping. I am hooked. I bet you will be too.

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY, MAJOR UPDATE ON ILLUSTRATION SECTION

Yes, finally! I spent some time over the past few days and added 15 new images to RECENT ILLUSTRATION SECTION. Also, worked on some older post, and added all the actual covers along with the original illustrations to The Sandman The Dream Hunters (DC Comics Vertigo) images.

Well, from now on, I will try to be more up-to-date on the regular basis…

I am hoping to update PRESS section soon as well and let you know once that is done.

A LITTLE SURPRISE AT SPD LECTURE SERIES

Hey illustration fans! There will be a great lecture, Do It WIth Illustration, at FIT in New York City next Tuesday (March 3, 2009)No, I am not one of the speakers this year (I did it last year and it was fun), but it will be a great lecture to go to to begin with, and also, American Illustration is giving away special presents to some of the lucky audience including signed American Illustration 25 cover/posters which I illustrated for them. So, come by, listen to the lecture and get inspired, and bring home a poster to decorate your room. RSVP for the event here.

BERLIN POSTER UPDATE

Thank you my good friend Harrifor sending photos of random posting of my posters in Berlin.I have posted a new topic on my blog talking about this process. If you are interested in killing five minutes of your time, check it out. And yes, I have posted some of the really bad sketches before I reached the final idea. I have no secret. Yes, I do come up with bad ideas too. As long as it reaches to a good idea at the end, I think it is a necessary evil in the process.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING! THANK YOU FOR COMING!

Thank you thank you thank you everyone who came to my talk at Washington University, Sam Fox School in St. Louis, Missouri yesterday.To my surprise, the auditorium was full house including many of you standing in the back for full one hour +. Wow. I was so honored. I had fun talking with all the senior illustration students in their classes, faculty and staff members, and those of you who came up to talk to me and share your thoughts and experiences after the talk. I have was touched by the energy of the future illustrators. Now I am back in New York energized more than ever.

Special thank you goes to: my former studio-mate and Wash faculty John Hendrix, and Ms. Lori Turner who organized and arranged this trip. And, everyone who made this possible, whom I met during last two and half days, who came to the talk. Thank you again.

Next stop is: Xalapa, Mexico in March. Hasta el mes que viene!

YUKO IS OUT OF TOWN

I am out of town to spend some time with the students of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. If you are in the area and interested in coming to my talk, it is open to public. Information is on their website.

I will be back to the studio on Friday, February 20th. Thank you!

SANDMAN SERIES IS COMPLETED. WHAT’S NEXT (In The Comic Book World)?

The last issue of Sandman The Dream Hunters (by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell) came out last week. You can now find all four issues at comic book stores near you. (I even saw them in a store in Berlin, Germany!)Ah, the comic book people are so nice, I loved working with them, especially my sweet editor Pornsak Pichetshote.

So, guess what? Pornsak and I have just started working on covers for a new series!

Last week, I met up with the team for a dinner, the talented and sweet Mike Carey and Peter Gross. comic fans know them well as the geniuses behind Lucifer series.

I cannot tell you much more now, but to the right is a sneak peek of what I am working on right now.

AND, SANDMAN COVERS IN SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS BOOK SHOW

And, the first and second Sandman covers (top row in the above photo) got accepted into the book category of the Society of Illustrators 51st annual competition show, which has just opened. I also have two illustrations in the editorial category of the same show.

This is a great show to see original artworks by different illustrators in a single space. Please go visit if you are in New York City.

Museum of Illustration at The Society of Illustrators 128 East 63rd St., New York City. Show runs through February 28th. <hours: Tues: 10-8  Wed-Fri: 10-5  Sat: 12-4  closed Sun>

FUN COVER AT NYT BOOK REVIEW

This is the cover of The New York Times Book Review from yesterday. 6 artists illustrated Lincoln with the same exact color scheme in 6 completely different ways.You know they are all Abe, yet, each image is completely different. This is why illustration is so fun.  On my blog, I have posted this process and every illustrator’s name and web links. (You can even read about how I gave Abe a Photoshop facelift.)You can also see the slide show of all the illustrations on NY Times site.

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