In Jin Kitamura’s minimalist drawings you’ll encounter cute dog bottoms and rotund geese

“I find inspiration in everyday life, the simplicity of ordinary yet beautiful things that surround us,” says the illustrator.

Date
6 March 2024

Share

In the vast world of illustration, sometimes focussing on smaller, seemingly ‘insignificant’ things is most compelling. Many of our favourite illustrators find the most beauty in simple moments and expression; like Morgane Fadanelli’s drawings of slow living, or Shiori Tamura’s adorable depictions of cake and ketchup. Now added to that lovely list is Jin Kitamura, an illustrator who revels in capturing the quotidian.

With bright crayons Jin keeps things minimalist. Simple shapes and block colours almost give Jin’s work a graphic feel, but look a little closer and you’ll see the slightly uneven edges of the crayon. Jin has a particular penchant for animals, with fuzzy cats, bemused dogs and dabbling geese all making an appearance, made even cuter by the inclusion of cute bottoms and rotund bodies. Born in Tokyo, Jin studied at Tokai University, before beginning life as a freelance illustrator in 2006. For the past five years the illustrator has lived in Kamakura city, “surrounded by beautiful nature”, which sometimes pops up in works like Winter Afternoon, where three buildings are mirrored by three trees, the dusk sunshine’s pinky hues and long sweeping shadows.

Above

Jin Kitamura: Cry and Laugh by Turns (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: Start (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: Bloom (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: Vessel (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above
Left

Jin Kitamura: One can see one’s breath (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Right

Jin Kitamura: One’s place in the world (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: One’s place in the world (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: Winter Afternoon (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: Secrets (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above
Left

Jin Kitamura: White (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Right

Jin Kitamura: White Chair (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: White Chair (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: I've been waiting (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Above

Jin Kitamura: Moon (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Hero Header

Jin Kitamura: Autumn is Coming (Copyright © Jin Kitamura, 2023)

Share Article

About the Author

Olivia Hingley

Olivia (she/her) is associate editor of the website, working across editorial projects and features as well as Nicer Tuesdays events. She joined the It’s Nice That team in 2021. Feel free to get in touch with any stories, ideas or pitches.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.