gradation

In his illustrations of deformed humans and animals, Naoto Kawashima explores the perfect balance between the awkward and the catchy, which the artist himself describes as "YABAMI (Crazy)" and "KAWAIMI (Cute.)"

By setting technical restrictions, using only the Illustrator pen tool and the mouse for much of the drawing process, he breaks free from all sorts of personal touches that an artist may have - from happy accidents when drawing lines, to hinting certain emotions, to exerting one's original drawing style. The challenge is to express the organic "Human touch" with inorganic, digital lines.

Simplified expressions and playfulness dwell side-by-side in Naoto's world; the result is an intuitive piece of art that can be enjoyed among everyone, from children to adults.