Explore the international trend of kawaii and find inspiration for your own cute illustrations with tips from eight pro artists.
Roughly translated, kawaii means “cuteness” in Japanese, but it’s so much more than that. As a cultural phenomenon, kawaii has been around for decades, beginning with iconic and adorable characters like Hello Kitty and Pikachu. It’s since expanded to all kinds of art forms, from cosplay to typography.
Today, you can find kawaii characters on the walls of fine art galleries around the world, and even on your own phone screen. Emojis are a great example.
This year, the “culture of cuteness” reached new heights as it appeared as one of Shutterstock’s rising trends of the year. Searches for “cute illustration” are up 192%, while searches for “kawaii” have risen by a whopping 911%.
Why is this style so popular? “We live in a very busy world,” the Belarus-based illustrator Maria Skrigan explains. “We need a little something to help us through the day. Life is easier and better when you smile.”
We asked eight illustrators to tell us the stories behind some of their most adorable illustrations. Along the way, they shared helpful tips for emerging artists. Take one look at these pictures, and you’ll get a sense for why kawaii is taking the world by storm.
1. “Stay focused. If illustration is your passion, don’t give up.”
EuGeniaArt
Image by EuGeniaArt
What’s the story behind this illustration?
I’m very concerned about global warming and the animals who suffer because of it, so I created this minimal polar bear design. I wanted to express an emotion with as few elements as possible.
As you can see, the face of this lady bear has no boundaries. It expands through the whole canvas, as if she’s melting because of the heat. She stares at the viewer, with no expression and no mouth. She is muted. Animals are voiceless, and we have to speak for them.
Finally, I added this Hello Kitty-inspired bow because kawaii is my favorite style. In the end, it was kind of paradoxical. On the surface, it’s just a cute illustration, but there’s a lot of meaning behind it. We need to defend animals around the globe.
Image by EuGeniaArt
Pro Tip
Stay focused. If illustration is your passion, don’t give up. Everybody around you might work in an office from 9 to 5, but illustration can offer a different way of life. I quit an important job as an administrative assistant, and now I make a living with my art. I wasn’t easy, but I wish I had known years ago how important it was to pursue what made me happy. I wish someone had told me that illustration was not just a “hobby” for the weekends.
2. “Draw every day, and become your own best critic.”
penguin_house
Image by penguin_house
What’s the story behind this illustration?
This kawaii sushi is the most popular picture in my portfolio. It sells several times every day. When I first drew it and showed it to my friends, they asked me, “How can we eat sushi now?” I said, “Just check before eating it. Make sure that no one is talking in there!” We all need an imaginary island of joy and happiness in our daily lives.
Image by penguin_house
Pro Tip
Draw every day, and become your own best critic. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of paper. Find inspiration in your travels, street art, fashion designers, and cultures that are different from yours. Visit museums and photo exhibitions.
3. “Look around you for inspiration, and have fun in the process.”
Maria Skrigan
Image by Maria Skrigan
What’s the story behind this illustration?
Everything looks cute with a kawaii face, but even more so if you add cat ears. So, in an attempt to create something extremely cute, I drew a series of everybody’s favorite foods. This serious “catcake” is a proud member of a friendly family, which also includes, among others, ice cream, a burger, and a cup of morning coffee.
Image by Maria Skrigan
Pro Tip
Work hard. Create a lot. Get to know your tools. Look around you for inspiration, and have fun in the process. I know, it’s all been said a million times before, but enjoying the process and having fun is why I do what I do in the first place.
4. “Try not to overthink it, and don’t worry about the final outcome.”
tereez
Image by tereez
What’s the story behind this illustration?
By the time I created this one, I already had several unicorn illustrations in my portfolio, and they were quite popular. I tried to mix up two trends: the cute kawaii style and the magic of unicorns.
[sstk-mosaic]
Pro Tip
Try not to overthink it, and don’t worry about the final outcome. It took me almost half a year to start drawing because I feared that I’d draw poorly. I watched hours of tutorials, read books, and searched for inspiration. The whole time, however, I was postponing the actual drawing. The more you draw, the better your drawings get.
Inspiration is everywhere, but over the years, I’ve found that the most helpful things are watching various thematic drawing challenges on social networks and reading design trends summaries for the current year, like the Shutterstock Creative Trends Report.
5. “The most important things for an illustrator to have are motivation and imagination.”
Gabriyel Onat
Image by Gabriyel Onat
What’s the story behind this illustration?
I always listen to the voice of my “inner child” before getting started on a draft. My interest in Japanese and Korean culture is also one of the big reasons I’m attracted to “kawaii” theme. When designing something new, I always take my travel sketches into consideration.
I generally prefer to design asymmetrical illustrations with these cute elements, but I always make sure they are organized and ordered. In this design, I worked on each detail separately, with kawaii lovers in mind.
Image by Gabriyel Onat
Pro Tip
The most important things for an illustrator to have are motivation and imagination. I recommend starting with subjects that genuinely make you happy! Another important step in this line of work is to spend time perfecting your designs. Learn how to use various programs, and stay open to innovation and improvement. Illustration is a lifelong journey, and our designs are our companions on this long road.
6. “Devote as much time as possible to practicing your craft. At the same time, deepen your knowledge base.”
Marianna Pashchuk
Image by Marianna Pashchuk
What’s the story behind this illustration?
All of my characters are inspired by my beloved cat. Cats are interesting, charismatic, and unpredictable. It’s impossible not to be inspired by them! If I make people smile with my work, I’ve achieved my creative goal.
Image by Marianna Pashchuk
Pro Tip
The main thing is to work a lot. Devote as much time as possible to practicing your craft. At the same time, deepen your knowledge base. Study the work of artists you admire, and put your soul in what you do. For beginners, my best tip is to have patience. Don’t get discouraged and leave your projects halfway finished.
7. “The first step is to explore and figure out what styles and subjects you really love.”
Vividdiy8
Image by Vividdiy8
What’s the story behind this illustration?
Most of my characters come from my everyday routines and my family, especially my niece. I often imagine what it would look like for my characters to go about their daily activities. I think it’s fun, cute, and relaxing.
[sstk-mosaic-2]
Pro Tip
The first step is to explore and figure out what styles and subjects you really love. The second step is to combine that love with knowledge. Research the market on Shutterstock, and keep up with trends. The last thing is to never stop drawing and improving. It’s all about adapting to new trends, not staying in one place or mindset.
8. “Draw what you like, and draw what you’re good at. Above all, keep practicing.”
EkaterinaP
Image by EkaterinaP
What’s the story behind this illustration?
Otters are good swimmers, so after I drew these characters, I decided to add some waves. The gray animal faces blended perfectly with the pink water. In our modern world, people grow up quickly. Funny characters and pastel colors bring us back to our childhood.
Image by EkaterinaP
Pro Tip
Draw what you like, and draw what you’re good at. Above all, keep practicing.
Top Image by Gabriyel Onat
Want to learn more about illustrating for a living? Check out these articles:
- Artist Series with Offset Illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg
- 2019 Creative Trends
- 14 Illustrators on the Future of Designing Stock Imagery
- 14 Illustrators Share Their Top Tips for Emerging Artists
- 11 Leading Stock Illustrators on How the Industry Has Changed
ContributorsCreative TipsDesign InspirationDesign TipsDesign TrendsDesignerInspiration
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