Yoko Kobayashi’s artwork embodies all the timeless qualities of a classic picture book. It has a warm, comforting familiarity to it, as well as a sense of magic and adventure. Her simple aesthetic is reminiscent of Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House and Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline–both creations of artists whom she admires deeply–but her use of bright, bold colors delivers a modern twist that creates a style completely her own.
Born and raised in Shizuoka, Kobayashi loved to draw ever since she could remember. In middle school, Asako Nakase’s Non-chan Journal illustration series in the fashion magazine Olive opened her eyes to the possibilities of becoming an illustrator. Upon graduating from design school, she worked at a character merchandising company where she was put in charge of designing Disney products. In 2013, after six years with the company, Kobayashi left to focus on a freelance career, fulfilling her desire to create worlds and characters uniquely her own. Though the transition was intimidating, she relates that it was completely worth it.
One of her earlier projects was designing artwork on cake boxes for a packaging company, with whom she still works on a frequent basis. Kobayashi was introduced by a good friend who was working there. The company distributes the cake boxes to multiple stores, so Kobayashi often comes across her artwork unexpectedly in places like Quatre (the French pastry shop), or even Loft and Tokyu Hands.
Kobayashi now lives in Yokohama with her husband and ten-year-old son. Balancing work with motherhood has had its challenges, but her family has always played an important role in her career. When Kobayashi struggled to find her place as an illustrator, her husband encouraged and helped her find her own, unique style. Her son also plays a part in her design decisions. When asked what advice she’d give to aspiring artists, Kobayashi answers, “Illustration is a fun, but very tough career. It’s important that you come into your own as an artist, and find a specialty or style that will stand out among the crowd of other illustrators.” As of now, Kobayashi plans to focus on writing and illustrating her first picture book–a project that’s long been in the works. Her book could very well become an instant classic, cherished by both children and adults alike for years to come.
