Yuka Matsuhashi
musako@gmail.com
Tokyo born Swiss based coloured pencil artist, illustrator and travel journalist.
I studied applied art at Tama Art University and, after graduating, I worked for a TV art production firm in Tokyo. I left Japan, studied glass art in Sweden and Scotland before settling in Switzerland.
My method of expression used to be painting on self-blown glass with enamels. However, during my study in Europe, I met various people, saw things, and recognised the reality of the environmental problem. Environmentalism became the most important issue in my art. Since then, painting with enamel material on glass no longer produced meaningful work for me. I had a conflict in my heart, and I started to suffer from it. Finally I took the decision to give-up glass and started to express myself though more sustainable, recyclable paper media that I could draw on with coloured pencils
I am currently working as a children’s illustrator, coloured pencil artist, and travel journalist; taking advantage of experiences studying and traveling in Europe.
Mixing the beauty of nature with my own imagination keeps me drawing. I wish to create a space with my drawings that can inspire hope and offer relaxation to others.
education
- Tama Art University, Tokyo / Japan (Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art)
- Konstfack Art college, Stockholm / Sweden (Guest Student)
- Edinburgh collage of art, Edinburgh/ Scotland, UK (Guest Student)
- Falmouth University School of Art / UK (Master of Arts in Illustration)
publications: 2004 ~
- Two children's books, Tokyo/ Japan & Munich/ Germany
- Seven illustrated travel guide books, Mates Pub., Tokyo/ Japan
- Four travel guide books with illustration/photos, Mates Pub., Tokyo/ Japan
- One children's magazine cover illustration, Hong Kong / China
- Twelve children's English Newspaper, illustration cuts, Hong Kong / China
- Children's Zine , Tokyo, Japan
- Single Music Images on Streaming Service such as YouTube, Spotify etc/ UK
- Modern Classical Piano Album: CD Cover Art, Lost Forest Records / UK.
- Pop Music Album: CD Cover Ar , Lost Forest Records / UK.
artworks 2002~
- NEO Zukan A Visual Dictionary of Fish for Kids, Shougakkan Tokyo / Japan
- Tani to keikoku magazine, Tani to Keikoku Pub. Tokyo / Japan
- Rurubu A Travel Guide Mook, Switzerland, JTB Pub, Tokyo / Japan
- Travel Tips in Switzerland, Mates Pub. Tokyo / Japan
- Student Standard Kids' English Magazine, Hong Kong / China
- ES Lite Kids' English Paper, Economic Times Pub., Hong Kong / China
- Images for children's literature, Hong Kong / China
- Travel Tips in Switzerland, revised version, Mates Pub. Tokyo / Japan
exhibitions
- Degree show in Applied Art, Spiral Aoyama, Tokyo / Japan
- Glass Art Exhibition, Sagamihara Gallery, Sagamihara / Japan
- Original Drawing Exhibition from the travel guide book, Budapest / Hungary
- Art Shopping, Carrusel du Louvre, Paris / France
- Solo Exhibition, Budapest / Hungary
- Solo Exhibition, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo / Japan
- Village Art Festival with Calligraphy, Brittnau / Switzerland
- Group Exhibition, Yoyogi, Tokyo / Japan