Makoto Funatsu

Ever wondered what the mix between an impressionist oil painting and a B&W photography of contemporary landscapes would look like? Well, Society of Illustrators award winner Makoto Funatsu’s distinctive artwork is at this crossroads – a unique combination of tradition and modernity. Over the last decade, Makoto’s wonderfully scenic illustrations have reached a balance between subtly peaceful colors and bold shades. Using photos of places she’s visited, she paints with a complex palette of nostalgia, serenity, joy and sorrow to depict landscapes and people that feel familiar and, well, as peaceful as we would so often like life to feel. Makoto Funatsu’s work ranges from conceptual illustration to advertising and from book covers to murals.