Memories of Festivals by Tatsuro Kiuchi

Ahoy, collectors silver and gold! (We know there are quite a few newcomers among you, welcome!) Today's edition marks the fifth time we've collaborated with the utterly charming illustrator, Tatsuro Kiuchi. Tatsuro's work, aside from its charm, is also very human, celebrating and aptly capturing everyday moments that are at once broadly appealing and deeply resonant: baseball, photography, bicycles, reading and (now) a night of festivities—fitting, considering Tatsuro has released several editions perfectly befitting celebrations!

Memories of Festivals is enchanting in that it's unclear if the couple depicted are about to meet up for a night of festivities, or if they've just parted after a night of...well, partying. Either way, it's full of the possibility of romance; of first dates; of holding hands under a sky lit by fireworks... you get the picture.

Tatsuro himself has plenty of reasons to be in a festive mood. I sing his praises often (as I'm wont to do with all the amazing artists we work with), but it seems others can't stop talking about him, either. His artwork was selected by a jury of his peers for the annual Tokyo Illustrators Society exhibition (of which Tatsuro is a member). And he opened up a studio, Pen Still Writes, with fellow illustrator, TIS member and former pupil Hiromichi Ito. The clincher: If you're in Japan in late summer, you should definitely check out Tatsuro's work, which will be part of a group show at Tokyo's Creation Gallery G8, presented by the TIS, from August 30th to September 30th, 2011.

With that, I'm off. But keep an eye on your inbox tomorrow, when we'll be releasing a photograph fit for a King, or four (hint, hint).

— Jen