Yusuke Watanabe
@artofyusuke.bsky.social
*Available for work* Children’s Book Author/Illustrator TURTLE ON THE TARMAC(Abrams '27) Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_yusuke/ Portfolio: https://yusukewatanabe.com/
Just started my Substack! ✨ I didn't start drawing seriously until I was an adult. So what was I doing before then? I wrote about my winding career path in this post. I'd love for you to check it out! Every Detour Leads Somewhere open.substack.com/pub/artofyus...
Every Detour Leads Somewhere
Who am I?
open.substack.com
Called a friend to catch up, and he told me he's been using a phone charger with only about a 2-inch cable. This keeps him from using his smartphone in bed, and he's been able to reclaim that time for reading before going to sleep. What a life hack!
New Substack post📗⭐️ I often wonder how other authors spend their days. Do you have a set routine, or do you just wing it? I've always been a “wing it” kind of person, but lately I've been wondering if a routine might bring a little more peace of mind.
Winging It vs. A Routine
Greetings from hot, unbearably humid Tokyo.
open.substack.com
Hello #PortfolioDay! I'm Yusuke Watanabe & I illustrate books for kids. I love whimsical stories and mixed media! I'm available for picture books, board books & covers! Thank you! Portfolio: yusukewatanabe.com Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social #kidlitart #kidlit
The proofs are here! 🎉 I can only share a small sneak peek for now, but TURTLE ON THE TARMAC, the picture book I illustrated, is coming out next year! More to come soon! #newpicturebook #picturebookproofs #picturebookart #picturebookillustration #childrenbookillustration #childrenillustrator
A little late for Father’s Day, but Happy Father’s Day! I hope everyone has a wonderful day! Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social More at yusukewatanabe.com #fathersday #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartis #海外絵本作家
AUTHORS! Do not, without the explicit permission of an illustrator, upload the art from your book into any AI system to create content like trailers for your book. I cannot believe this needs to be said AND HERE WE ARE.
I feel so satisfied and fulfilled. I love creating, reading, and talking about picture books. Being able to share that passion with my friends and my agent means so much to me. I feel grateful to be surrounded by people who love picture books just as much as I do.
Ever since art school, I’ve been thinking about how character design and life drawing somehow became disconnected, even though I feel character design should exist as a natural extension of life drawing. Redesigning older figure drawings I did feels like one step toward reconnecting them.
Some life drawings from today! It’s been a while, but I’m hoping to do this more often this year! #lifedrawing #figuredrawing
It’s #KidLitArtPostcard day but I want to share this one. The only thing I pushed myself to do in this painting was to take as much time as possible, and it was truly enjoyable. Sometimes we all need to take a break from self-critique. I believe ideas expand and creativity deepens when we slow down
Crunching through making a book dummy this week, hopefully I’ll have time to hit the gym next week! (and maybe get back to playing hockey… if I can find the motivation)
I absolutely love drawing houses, it’s one of my all-time favorites! If you’re planning a picture book project featuring many charming homes, I’d be happy to connect! Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social More at yusukewatanabe.com #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartis #海外絵本作家
It’s simpler and more spacious than usual, but I really like how it turned out. I’ll do more like this! Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social More at yusukewatanabe.com #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartis #海外絵本作家
We're saying goodbye to our Second Chance Inbox and introducing a new query policy: Creators may now query more than one ABLA literary agent as long as you query us one at a time! Check out the SUBMISSIONS tab on our website for more info. We look forward to considering your work!
Sketching on the train is always fun and a great chance to go with the flow! The models stay still, which makes it even better. I never travel without my sketchbook! #cafesketch #cafesketching #sketchbook #watercolors #kidlitart #kidlitartist #sketchbookart #kidslit
Cafe sketch using watercolor brush pens ☕🎨 #cafesketch #cafesketching #sketchbook #watercolors #kidlitart #kidlitartist #sketchbookart #kidslit
Can’t share anything just yet, but all the final artwork for TURTLE ON THE TARMAC (story by @annettepimentel.bsky.social) is done! I’m so excited to see the finished book come out!
I'm busy again this week with the PB project so here's my piece for #kidlitartpostcard day this month!
Yusuke Watanabe@artofyusuke.bsky.social · 8mo agoHi #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Yusuke Watanabe, a Japanese author/illustrator who loves whimsical stories and mixed media. I'm available for picture books, board books & covers! Thank you! More at yusukewatanabe.com Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social
Hello #kidlitartpostcard ! I am Charlene Chua & I illustrate for kids. 🌟 Available for books + other kids-related projects 🌟 Portfolio - charlenechua.com Rep' by Tracy Marchini Literary #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration
Morning sketch at Priscilla's Coffee while ago. It was really cozy and so much fun to draw. People felt more open and vulnerable there! #cafesketch #cafesketching #sketchbook #watercolors #kidlitart #kidlitartist #sketchbookart #kidslit
Cafe sketch! Playing around with shapes in watercolor is never boring! #sketch #kidlitart #watercolor #illustration #sketchbook #childrensbookillustration #kidlitillustration #picturebooks #海外絵本 #海外絵本作家
I'm a bit busy this week with a small gig for TV so here's my piece for #kidlitartpostcard day this month!
Yusuke Watanabe@artofyusuke.bsky.social · 7mo agoIt's first #kidlitartpostcard day of 2026! I’m Yusuke and I’m a PB author and illustrator who loves whimsical stories and mixed media. I'm available for picture books, board books & covers to illustrate! Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social More at yusukewatanabe.com
Here is another one of my favorite pages I illustrated for “A FISH CALLED ANDROMEDA” written by Cynthia C. Huijgens! #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebook #illustration #childrensbooks #illustragram #childrensbookillustration #kidlitillustration #bookstagram #picturebooks #海外絵本 #海外絵本作家
Had an absolute blast illustrating this picture book “A FISH CALLED ANDROMEDA” written by Cynthia C. Huijgens, and here is one of my favorite pages! www.amazon.com/Fish-Called-... #kidlitart #picturebooks #picturebook #illustration #childrensbookillustration #kidlitillustration #海外絵本 #海外絵本作家
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Yusuke, a Japanese illustrator who loves whimsical and fun stories! 2026 is the Year of the Horse, so I painted チャグチャグ馬コ (Chagu Chagu Umakko), a traditional horse festival in Iwate Prefecture, Japan! Portfolio yusukewatanabe.com Rep’d by @jemiscoe.bsky.social
Something from my sketchbook. Last year, I didn’t travel much. It might have been the least I ever have. This year, I’m hoping to spend a little less time at home and more time on the road, traveling around, though it might be easier said than done😅 #sketchbook #sketchbookpage #drawingaday
