Satoshi Hashimoto

You probably recognize his drawings from the pages of Monocle or GQ. Hashimoto’s work bleeds optimism and joy. It's the kind of drawing you want to look at after having read the news, yearning for a more cheerful and positive look at the world.

As you already might know, I had the luck to meet the master in person recently. We are both very busy so after a few months, he finally sent me the answers to my emailed questions. Today, almost a month later, I had a bit of time to put them all here so you can read and get to know him better.

Thanks Satoshi for this chance. Your work is revered and loved by many, yet we know very little about the artist behind the art. Can you give us a quick summary of your career so far?

After graduating from design school, I worked as a teacher at a preparatory school for art school entrance exams. After that, I became a freelance illustrator at the age of 25. Since then I have worked on advertisements, magazines, books, newspapers, websites, etc. both in Japan and overseas.

How do you describe your profession and what you do to a taxi driver? And to a someone you want to impress?

I simply say that I work drawing illustrations.

When I want to impress, I describe my job as thinking about how to convey what needs to be communicated in an easy-to-understand, simple, and fun illustration, and then draw it.

Tell me about, if ever, the first time you remember consciously understanding about the power of drawing or what you could do with it.

When I was in elementary school, my classmates would often gather around me to watch me draw. Already at that time, I knew that in the future I would probably get a job drawing something (although I didn't know specifically what kind of work that would be).

What would you do if your job wasn’t drawing?

Farmer or forestry worker? I am also interested in working and dealing with nature.

How often do you draw for yourself (not for clients or bosses)?

Almost never. I think that in order to illustrate professionally, I need to do other things and have different experiences outside of drawing, and I enjoy doing that. For example, reading books, volunteering, walking, bathing in onsen (Japanese bathhouses), driving, talking and drinking beer with friends, and cooking with wife 😄

Even without doing anything special, I can discover many things in my daily life, so I try to spend time on those things as well.

Is there any magic to drawing or is it something more earthly, you think?

There are beautiful but boring drawings, and there are also drawings that are not good but are still appealing. Do you thinks there is something magical about drawing?

Well, I think there is. It remains a mystery to me that sometimes a drawing attracts people and they'd remember it well and other times they dismiss it. The reason for that, the key to that magic, still escapes me. Did making art save your life? And if so, in what way?

Yes. My sister passed away in her 40s after a long illness. Even though it was a difficult and sad time, I had to continue my work of drawing smiling characters and happy scenes. At the time, I felt it was a hard job, but now I think that if I hadn't done it, I might have been in a much deeper state of sadness.

I feel like drawing has helped me find balance in my mind.

How much value would you give to art in the whole scheme of things in this world?

We take air and being able to breathe so for granted that we often forget this, but it would be a terrible thing if there was no air. We actually take all kinds of art around us for granted: paintings, fashion, music, design, film, architecture, cityscapes, etc. But it would be a terrible thing if there was no art. If so, what does remain?

What’s your favorite drawing medium and how did you arrive to it?

I'm currently working digitally, but I had been using acrylic gouache for a long time. It's still my favorite medium.

I arrived to this medium because I wanted to paint flat colours and that's the best way I know of to achieve them.

Imagine I am a genie and give you a lot of money right now, so much you wouldn’t need to work a day in your life, would you still be making art?

Yes... But only sometimes 😄

Tell us about something you are completely UNABLE to draw without a reference.

Something that needs to be explained precisely with illustrations and that I have never seen before. It's so obvious though.

If you were to make your last drawing, and you know it’s the last, what would you draw?

A self-portrait that expresses the feelings I have at that time. Maybe saying bye-bye and waving, smiling and a little tears?

Would you consider arrogant the artists who think art is immortal and that by making art they’ll never die?

I don't really understand such a thought, so when people say things like this, I don't feel anything for them…

Grateful to Satoshi for making the time for this.
I hope you like his work as much as I do and follow him on his instagram and website. If you are an art director or want to commission Satoshi, Dutch Uncle are his agents.