I was born and raised in Japan and went to an art school there. I have never heard of his name nor seen his art until I see this video. Thank you Pete.
@@petebeard We all counting on that. Hope you find time to investigate the work of other less known but equally good illustrators from other countries such as mine, Portugal. Once again, thanks for you work.
I honestly didn't know Takeo Takei work until this video, I'm sorry to say. From the look of his work, and based on the background you presented, I would guess that he was self-taught, and therefore, he didn't know about many of the artistic rules and conventions. I was self-taught. For the first 24 years of my life, I hand no formal art education, yet my art was good enough to win the Dark Horse Comics Scholarship at the Joe Kubert School of Art, so I can relate to not knowing the "rules" of art. I think in Takeo Takei's case, his not knowing (and possibly not caring about) the rules and conventions that makes his art special. There's a child-like charm to it that makes it instantly relatable and ideal for children's books. There's simplicity to it, but there is the natural clarity to the storytelling all the same. I quite like it! It's visually different because the rules of composition, line work application and inking theories don't necessary apply to his work. It elevates his illustration into the realm of the unique, making it stand out amongst other notable artists.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comments about this enigmatic illustrator. He did have some formal art education (you must have missed it in the narration) in what the source refers to as "western style painting". Which doesn't really help. I'm convinced - with no real evidence - that it wasn't that he didn't know but that he didnt care.
@@petebeard He probably didn't care, one way or the other, but my point is that when you learn on your own, you get kind of set into you own comfort zone.
@@lostonwallace1396yes, that’s true. In the (mostly) unrelated field of counseling, I worked for 10 years sharing my own hard-won perspectives before I took my first class. I used say during that phase that I was “unencumbered by knowledge.” 😂 I have finally gone back to school (in my late 50’s/early 60’s) to get a formal degree, and I can see how doing that first would have funneled me down certain paths in my thinking. Even now, with my greater knowledge base, I tend to combine many techniques, and to discard certain conventions in favor of a more free-form style. I can well imagine how that might have been so for Takeo Takei in his art, similarly. It does produce a striking and unique style in his work.
Did you read the article in the March 2013 edition of Print Quarterly "Gyre and Gimble: The Artist Books of Takei Takeo (1894-1983)"? It is available free online. If not, you will love it. There is a lot more biographical information, some brief descriptions of stories and much more. I had to find out why he used RRR. The RRR signature comes from his story of Roi Ram-Ram (Ramu-Ramu Ō or King Ram-ram), a shape-shifting boy on a quest for a magical obsidian fishhook. The character was said in the story to have died in the place and on the day of Takeo Takei's birth and the story stated he was to be reborn. Takei lost three sons. In 1939, the year that he lost his third son, he stopped using RRR as his signature. The fire that destroyed his home and studio was, of course, the American fire-bombing of Tokyo. Takei was credited with the invention of the Japanese word for children's illustrations - dōga or douga. He minimised his contribution, saying it was merely based on pre-existing words. His work is an incredible mix of styles and media, each masterfully rendered. Totally original but comfortable with incorporating old motifs. Thank you for spotlighting this marvellous artist. I had seen a few pictures before but never knew they were even by the same person.
Hello again and thanks for your comments and explanations of aspects I had missed. I'll look for the article and really wish I had found it when making the video.
Thank you for the explanation of “RRR” - I had wondered as well. How sad that a man who specialized in children’s books lost three sons. No wonder he turned to more adult themes in his later years. That had to have been very difficult to bear. And so sad about the loss of his work to firebombing. War has been responsible for so many losses of great art worldwide. It is a persistent failing of humanity, and one I truly wished would “grow out of.” Thank you for your excellent comment.
Thank you for the added information. I definitely see the Klee influence all through his career. I am truly sorry his art was lost due to the greed and desire for power by the Emperor and all his allies.
Man, to be honest this is one of the best and most important chanels that i ever come across in the internet, you talk about art in a special and unique way, and im really grateful for your work. Congratulations for your marvelous contribution to art.
Many thanks for your appreciation of the channel content, and my efforts to present it sensibly. It really makes my day when viewers such as yourself create favourable comments.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation of Takei's work. As I indicated in the video not understanding them is very much part of the pleasure for me.
What an unusual mixture of japanese and western style. No hint (to my eyes) of japanese influence in the illustrations of the Anderson fairytales or indeed some of the other children's books. He effortlessly combines and then divorces the different styles. Fasconating and entirely new to me. Thank you for another entertaining episode
Thanks again for your appreciation and support of the channel. I would like to feature more Far Eastern illustrors but getting information is far from easy.
Last sunday we've gone to the Museum of World's Cultures in Barcelona, facing Picasso Museum' at El Born. Seeing precolombian art, I tryed to explain to my son my admiration about the whole imaginery of these ccultures....they created a style, a language, an identity to show the world when they live......without words, certainly.....and then, today you've aired this beatiful video of Takeo Takei and you say, in words, the feelings I suscribe watching another drawing point of view....far away....from Japan.....thanks again for your work, and for making us think different ( it isn't a slogan ) and also watch different!
Hello again, and that sounds like a fascinating exhibition. As I said in the video I find Eastern culture rather impossible to understand - but that doesn't stop me enjoying it. I would like to do more but informationand images are very hard to come by.
Hi Pete, Liam here one of your students. I've been the illustrator for Mr Men & Little Miss for six years now, and wanted to thank you for all of your wise words during my time at university.
Hello to you, and it's good to hear from you - and that you are in gainful employment in the business. All that Bolton stuff seems such a long time ago now. I threw in the towel in 2016, completely sickened by their determination to make the course ever more academic, and less professionally inclined. Anyway more power to you and thanks a lot for the subsciption too.
@@petebeard Thanks Pete means a lot :) Really enjoying your videos, I have them on whilst I draw the pages for the books I'm illustrating. Nice to learn about traditional artists and see all the amazing different talents, especially in this weird time where Ai is becoming a threat to the creative industry, too depressing for me to approach in thought. Thanks again and I will continue to enjoy your videos.
A surrealist children's world! Absolutely outstanding graphic work and painting. Mystical, ineffable, and so fun to behold. Blown away! Thank you, yet again, Mr. Beard for another education.
Mr. Beard, thank you for your unyielding commitment to bringing lesser known artists as well as famous ones to the public eye. I am certain that the artists appreciate it, and as an uninitiated admirer of art, I certainly do. You are truly an educator and an unbiased commentator who deserves praise for showcasing talent rather than sensational, well-known folks.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation, once more. And it's good to know that the lesser known figures can have an impact on viewers whose minds are open enough to consider them.
wow, thanks mr. Beard. A Japanese illustrator for a early 20th century children's magazines. I can visualize Japan's children looking forward to the next edidition much like I did each month for Humpty Dumpty in the 50's. All just kids around the globe with alike needs and artistic expressions...
Excellent video, once again Pete. Takei is very popular in Japan Town in San Francisco, His prints were for sale and replicas of his books, as the first editions are very pricy indeed these days.
Thank you for a most interesting video, Pete. It is very interesting to see illustration outside of the Western world's way of seeing. Takei's quantity of works and his sophisticated aesthetic humbles me greatly, as I sometimes take many hesitant months to just finish one drawing.
Thanks for your appreciation again. It sounds like you are over-thinking your work (if you don't mind me saying). Speed is every bit as important as talent in illustration. Only artists don't have deadlines.
For me, it is a treat to look at illustrations without a real understanding of the message they are conveying. My imagination is allowed free reign. Another great video, good sir.
Thank you for showing us a very exotic and rather peculiar artist! Some of his work looks very surrealistic, but captivating at the same time. Compliments to you for finding this artist, also once again compliments for your choice of fitting and enjoyable music.
Thanks for the comment, and peculiar is as good a word as any to describe his output. I still haven;t been able to find out whether the Japanese kids would have been as puzzled by it as I am.
Thanks, Pete. An extremely enjoyable video looking into the work of Takeo Takei. Mysteries do not always need an answer and I, for one, am happy with that. I find his art style intriguing with a mixture of elements and a fantastic imagination. I can see why he was so loved by children. It's unfortunate that he is not as well known in the west as think he would be just as appreciated here as in is own country.
I think of your content as an art class. I greatly respect the elaborate work you put into those incredible videos, Mr. Beard; I'm very grateful for them. I always learn a lot but when I see the artists that inspired me to be an illustrator, I get a little emotional. Takei-sensei is one of them!
Hello Pete, thank you for sharing this with us, I had never heard of Takeo Takei, his art has a whimsical, fantasy that is so beautiful and original, they don't have to make sense as long as one enjoys them, like Edward Gorey 's illustrations, so bad that the majority of his originals were lost, your series of artists is wonderful, keep up the amazing work ☺️
What a fascinating and tragic story about Takei using and stopping the RRR signature. I did notice that his later work featured a traditional stamp with his name. Thank you for directing me to this comment.
As with everyone else in the comments, I have never seen this art before. Yet it seems to me to be perfect for children's books, especially that wild pen and ink line work. Thanks for the video, I really would have hated to miss out on this.
A wonderful episode, and a new artist to me. His work has a delicacy and elegance that typifies much of Japanese culture, and which I greatly admire. Thanks for another entertaining and enlightening episode Pete.
Thanks a lot for your favourable comment, and if I can lay claim to being entertaining and enlightening I reckon I'm doing quite well with the channel.
I like many styles of art and have enjoyed the stylized art from Japan, but I have never seen this artist before. i really like his abstract cartooning. He really had his own art style. Some of it reminds me of the wallpaper that was in my parents house from the 50's.
Enchanting! Thank you, Pete Beard, for this curious confection of an illustrator's work, set to music - I appreciated your making references to Klee, Lear, and a mention of anime-to-come ~
Another excellent, informative video by PB. All of these are so much fun to watch, and Pete's research is always remarkably comprehensive. One note -- Takei's name is pronounced "Tah-kay", as in George Takei of Star Trek fame. Thanks much, brilliant work.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation. And for the correction of my pronunciation.Always a problem, especially as i didn't know the actor of the same name. Mr. Sulu, I'm guessing.
@kayerin5749 0 seconds ago Greetings! What a wonderful programme. Most of what I've viewed of your videos on You Tube seem focused on Western European, (with some Eastern European) and American artists (when I say American I refer to the whole continents) I really enjoyed this one, and must admit I held my breath when you began with his first job at 25, hoping he survived the war! I agree, you don't have to understand the words to enjoy the pictures, any more than you need to read music in order to appreciate it. It so intrigued me that I looked around and found a 1941 copy of "Children's Days in Japan" which was pricy but reasonable, and a copy of his contemporary's (Shigeru Hatsuyama) illustration of "Swan Lake." I would like to know more of his work too, Most of my fascination with art began pre literacy and even preverbal, so looking at books and pondering them is a most relaxing and mind expanding pleasure. I remain, a loyal student of the Pete Beard Y.T. University!
Thanks again for your appreciation. I would happily cover more oriental illustrators but despite my searches it does seem to be a closed book. Art - yes - but illustration is very under-represented. I am planning on featuring Shugeru Hatsuyama in a solo spot if I can gather enough material. But the jury is out so far.
This guy could do both childlike and sophisticated precision. It's a strange but happy world he created. Thank you Pete, I appreciate the work you put into your videos and narration. Some day could you please spotlight Heinz Edelmann? There's a dearth of information on him it seems.
Thanks for another favourable comment. And regarding Heinz Edelmann you are right that he would make a good subject for a video, but I've tried researching him before and not come up with enough material to make it possible. I'll take another look and see if there's been more in the interim.
Thanks a lot for the comment. And I must admit when I find one I imagine it feels like archaeologists must feel when they dig something valuable out of the ground.
I appreciate your openess about how you feel about sone art as even though I enjoy the visual, I don't always comprehend the back stories. Another well researched lesson about a great, but obscure artist.
Another wonderful video on an artist I would never have known about (...or probably never want to) ... not my cup of tea as it were, but interesting none the less. I appreciate your efforts to bring hither to unknown artists into the spotlight, regardless of their mass appeal or not... this is a lesson to me to keep looking at new imagery. Thank you!
Thanks for your comment, and I really don't expect every viewer to like the work of every illustrator in the series - I certainly don't. But I'm glad you are among those who unerstand there's always something of value/interest on offer in their work.
Hello Again. It’s a funny thing … the art looks and feels so familiar.. could it be I came across at some point in my life ? Beautiful art and wonderful presentation yet again Pete ❤
Excellent work and your expertise in this process with introducing me and other people to see the magnificence of primarily unknown artists who have such artistry and their imagination displayed in their own creative passion and expressions . Thanks Pete Beard for helping us to learn about the most amazing and so creatively inspiring people and their style and work of artistic abilities. Your indepth study is a great blessing and a gift to us all .❤ Mind blowing, Takei's work is unbelievably incredible and very captivating 🌾💚🤎💜💫💯🫶👍🎋✨️⭐️😊
The level of your appreciation of my efforts with the channel is really overwhelming, and makes me very happy indeed. To be able to introduce viewers to marvels such as Takei is a genuine labour of love for me.
Hello again, and naturally enough I absolutely concur with your assessment of his work. I can't think of another who has me so conflicted in my opinions.
A real treat! Takei seems to have 'Japanized' many contemporary Western artists in something analogous to the way the Impressionists brought Japanese techniques and themes into their work!
Thanks for the comment, and whichever way you configure it the cultural collision of east and West seems to have produced a large volume of fascinating outcomes in art and illustration.
As a boy I was always looking art books and illustrations at the library. My plan was to be an artist. I remember seeing a few books of these drawings. I'd look at page after page and started to wonder if I would go insane like this guy.
HIs cultural artwork and line work are new to me. I can't say I enjoyed them. But, do appreciate his changing styles. I also enjoy his more representational work. Your voice inflections surprised me. And wonder if they are an English (British)? As always, I learned more about the trade. Tnx!
Hi again, and it would be too much for me to expect everyone to like every illustrator I feature. I certainly don't and I can see that Takei's work isn't for everyone. I had always assumed that all viewers understood that I'm English by my accent so I'm a bit surprised your'e asking. But guilty as charged.
Trying to understand, colours,patterns and texts (subjects) of illustrations is the best way to develop brain activity and aesthetic norms.. Thank you very much.🍃 PS: Sorry for my English😔
👏 Bravo 👏 I am nearly brought to at the Powers of Illustration to convey an Uncanny Balance of Mystery & Legibility. This is why I have often wondered at the Live Action Films and the Lack of Photos in Children’s Literature. While the powers of Animation remain obvious, yet barely explored. 🥂
Thanks for your comment. In all my searches I didn't find any evidence of it. There may have been some but I get the feeling he would not have felt inclined to be that commercial. Just a guess on my part.
Hello and thanks for the name Daniel Mróz - I had never encountered him before. A quick look indicates he will make an ideal subject so I'll see what I can uncover. Don't hold your breath though - he's joining a very long queue.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion, and I will add him to the ever lengthening list of possibles. But I must stress it won't appear any time soon as I have in excess of 50 others in various stages of unfinished, and I intend to clear some of that backlog away before taking on any more. Otherwise my head will undoubtedly explode.
Wonderful, whimsical illustrations. As much Cubist as they are Art Deco in style and would have no trouble being right at home in Russian, Polish or Czech graphic design from those and even later periods. An illustrator he also reminded me of is Wanda Gag, of "Millions of Cats" fame. But for all the similarities and possible influences one could list, he remains very unique and it was a pleasure making his acquaintance through your essay. Another Japanese illustrator whose work is perhaps more familiar to Western audiences, is Chizuko Kuratomi, who created a series of books entitled Mr Bear, a character resembling Monsieur Hulot in his well-meaning but bumbling actions which often create more chaos than he intends.
Hello again and thanks a lot for the comment and appreciation. I must admit that having made the video other similarities hit me, including Wanda Gag, and even more so with Tom Seidmann Freud. Regarding Chizuko Kuratomi, who I had never encountered so thanks a lot,other than some picures of the bear books there is zero information to be had.
Vivo en Japón pero lamentablemente no puedo leer kanji, katakana o hiragana. Gracias a este muy interesante video me informo sobre la vida y obra del ilustrador Takei Takeo.
Hola y muchas gracias por tu comentario sobre este vídeo. Siempre es un placer saber que estoy presentando a estos ilustradores a los espectadores por primera vez. Y espero presentar al menos un par de ilustradores japoneses más en el futuro.
@@petebeard well, two playlists are listed on your YT page. Might be auto-curated by the algorithm, or you might have created them at some point. Since you have a lot of videos, it helps to group them by theme or series and watch them in order. For those of us autistic enough to care. 😄
@@araucariapasquale1 Hello again, and I certainly have no memory of making any playlists - never really understood what they were for. But when I get some time (don't hold your breath) I'll see if I can make some more.
I was born and raised in Japan and went to an art school there. I have never heard of his name nor seen his art until I see this video. Thank you Pete.
Hello and in that case I'm particuarly pleased to have introduced you to Takei's fascinating work.
Another hidden pearl uncovered by Mr. Beard. Continue to dazzle us, that’s all I ask. Cheers.
Thanks for the comment. I cant promise to dazzle but I can promise to keep making the videos for the foreseeable future.
@@petebeard We all counting on that. Hope you find time to investigate the work of other less known but equally good illustrators from other countries such as mine, Portugal. Once again, thanks for you work.
I honestly didn't know Takeo Takei work until this video, I'm sorry to say. From the look of his work, and based on the background you presented, I would guess that he was self-taught, and therefore, he didn't know about many of the artistic rules and conventions. I was self-taught. For the first 24 years of my life, I hand no formal art education, yet my art was good enough to win the Dark Horse Comics Scholarship at the Joe Kubert School of Art, so I can relate to not knowing the "rules" of art. I think in Takeo Takei's case, his not knowing (and possibly not caring about) the rules and conventions that makes his art special. There's a child-like charm to it that makes it instantly relatable and ideal for children's books. There's simplicity to it, but there is the natural clarity to the storytelling all the same. I quite like it! It's visually different because the rules of composition, line work application and inking theories don't necessary apply to his work. It elevates his illustration into the realm of the unique, making it stand out amongst other notable artists.
Apology accepted
@@sajaans
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comments about this enigmatic illustrator. He did have some formal art education (you must have missed it in the narration) in what the source refers to as "western style painting". Which doesn't really help. I'm convinced - with no real evidence - that it wasn't that he didn't know but that he didnt care.
@@petebeard He probably didn't care, one way or the other, but my point is that when you learn on your own, you get kind of set into you own comfort zone.
@@lostonwallace1396yes, that’s true. In the (mostly) unrelated field of counseling, I worked for 10 years sharing my own hard-won perspectives before I took my first class. I used say during that phase that I was “unencumbered by knowledge.” 😂 I have finally gone back to school (in my late 50’s/early 60’s) to get a formal degree, and I can see how doing that first would have funneled me down certain paths in my thinking. Even now, with my greater knowledge base, I tend to combine many techniques, and to discard certain conventions in favor of a more free-form style. I can well imagine how that might have been so for Takeo Takei in his art, similarly. It does produce a striking and unique style in his work.
Did you read the article in the March 2013 edition of Print Quarterly "Gyre and Gimble: The Artist Books of Takei Takeo (1894-1983)"? It is available free online. If not, you will love it. There is a lot more biographical information, some brief descriptions of stories and much more. I had to find out why he used RRR. The RRR signature comes from his story of Roi Ram-Ram (Ramu-Ramu Ō or King Ram-ram), a shape-shifting boy on a quest for a magical obsidian fishhook. The character was said in the story to have died in the place and on the day of Takeo Takei's birth and the story stated he was to be reborn. Takei lost three sons. In 1939, the year that he lost his third son, he stopped using RRR as his signature. The fire that destroyed his home and studio was, of course, the American fire-bombing of Tokyo. Takei was credited with the invention of the Japanese word for children's illustrations - dōga or douga. He minimised his contribution, saying it was merely based on pre-existing words. His work is an incredible mix of styles and media, each masterfully rendered. Totally original but comfortable with incorporating old motifs. Thank you for spotlighting this marvellous artist. I had seen a few pictures before but never knew they were even by the same person.
Hello again and thanks for your comments and explanations of aspects I had missed. I'll look for the article and really wish I had found it when making the video.
@@petebeard I have started using AI-free searches and the results are so much more useful. Look for udm14.
Thank you for the explanation of “RRR” - I had wondered as well. How sad that a man who specialized in children’s books lost three sons. No wonder he turned to more adult themes in his later years. That had to have been very difficult to bear. And so sad about the loss of his work to firebombing. War has been responsible for so many losses of great art worldwide. It is a persistent failing of humanity, and one I truly wished would “grow out of.” Thank you for your excellent comment.
@@DawnDavidson Thank you.
Thank you for the added information. I definitely see the Klee influence all through his career. I am truly sorry his art was lost due to the greed and desire for power by the Emperor and all his allies.
Man, to be honest this is one of the best and most important chanels that i ever come across in the internet, you talk about art in a special and unique way, and im really grateful for your work. Congratulations for your marvelous contribution to art.
Many thanks for your appreciation of the channel content, and my efforts to present it sensibly. It really makes my day when viewers such as yourself create favourable comments.
These illustrations are fantastic!
I too don't know what some of them are about but I just love the designs.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation of Takei's work. As I indicated in the video not understanding them is very much part of the pleasure for me.
When I was kid, I liked watching his pictures. What a sweet memories, thank you.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation.
What an unusual mixture of japanese and western style. No hint (to my eyes) of japanese influence in the illustrations of the Anderson fairytales or indeed some of the other children's books. He effortlessly combines and then divorces the different styles. Fasconating and entirely new to me.
Thank you for another entertaining episode
Thanks again for your appreciation and support of the channel. I would like to feature more Far Eastern illustrors but getting information is far from easy.
Last sunday we've gone to the Museum of World's Cultures in Barcelona, facing Picasso Museum' at El Born. Seeing precolombian art, I tryed to explain to my son my admiration about the whole imaginery of these ccultures....they created a style, a language, an identity to show the world when they live......without words, certainly.....and then, today you've aired this beatiful video of Takeo Takei and you say, in words, the feelings I suscribe watching another drawing point of view....far away....from Japan.....thanks again for your work, and for making us think different ( it isn't a slogan ) and also watch different!
Hello again, and that sounds like a fascinating exhibition. As I said in the video I find Eastern culture rather impossible to understand - but that doesn't stop me enjoying it. I would like to do more but informationand images are very hard to come by.
Hi Pete, Liam here one of your students. I've been the illustrator for Mr Men & Little Miss for six years now, and wanted to thank you for all of your wise words during my time at university.
Hello to you, and it's good to hear from you - and that you are in gainful employment in the business. All that Bolton stuff seems such a long time ago now. I threw in the towel in 2016, completely sickened by their determination to make the course ever more academic, and less professionally inclined. Anyway more power to you and thanks a lot for the subsciption too.
@@petebeard Thanks Pete means a lot :) Really enjoying your videos, I have them on whilst I draw the pages for the books I'm illustrating. Nice to learn about traditional artists and see all the amazing different talents, especially in this weird time where Ai is becoming a threat to the creative industry, too depressing for me to approach in thought. Thanks again and I will continue to enjoy your videos.
A surrealist children's world! Absolutely outstanding graphic work and painting. Mystical, ineffable, and so fun to behold. Blown away! Thank you, yet again, Mr. Beard for another education.
Hello again, and I'm very pleased you appreciate the various qualities of Takei's strange world. Once seen, never forgotten, I think.
Thank you for presenting this artist. His work is amazing and gorgeous.
Thanks a lot for your comment, and I'm pleased you appreciate Takei's work.
Mr. Beard, thank you for your unyielding commitment to bringing lesser known artists as well as famous ones to the public eye. I am certain that the artists appreciate it, and as an uninitiated admirer of art, I certainly do. You are truly an educator and an unbiased commentator who deserves praise for showcasing talent rather than sensational, well-known folks.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation, once more. And it's good to know that the lesser known figures can have an impact on viewers whose minds are open enough to consider them.
wow, thanks mr. Beard. A Japanese illustrator for a early 20th century children's magazines. I can visualize Japan's children looking forward to the next edidition much like I did each month for Humpty Dumpty in the 50's. All just kids around the globe with alike needs and artistic expressions...
Many thanks for your appreciation and I'm very pleased you enjoyed Takei's work.
Your content always makes this illustrator both inspired, and happy. Thank you again Mr Beard.
Thanks, and I'm glad you enjoyed Takei's work.
Excellent video, once again Pete. Takei is very popular in Japan Town in San Francisco, His prints were for sale and replicas of his books, as the first editions are very pricy indeed these days.
Hi Albert. Thanks a lot fir the comment, and I must admit I was shocked to see how much those Kampon can fetch these days.
Takei is such a treasure with such a slightly surrealist touch. Wonderful. I had forgotten about him, thank you for bringing him back!
My pleasure. Thanks for the favourable comment.
Your channel is such a treasure trove of information! Thank you so much for what you do.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation. You are most welcome.
Thank you for a most interesting video, Pete. It is very interesting to see illustration outside of the Western world's way of seeing. Takei's quantity of works and his sophisticated aesthetic humbles me greatly, as I sometimes take many hesitant months to just finish one drawing.
Thanks for your appreciation again. It sounds like you are over-thinking your work (if you don't mind me saying). Speed is every bit as important as talent in illustration. Only artists don't have deadlines.
For me, it is a treat to look at illustrations without a real understanding of the message they are conveying. My imagination is allowed free reign. Another great video, good sir.
Thanks for the comment, and there;s nothing wrong with a bit if mystery as far as I'm concerned.
Thank you for showing us a very exotic and rather peculiar artist! Some of his work looks very surrealistic, but captivating at the same time. Compliments to you for finding this artist, also once again compliments for your choice of fitting and enjoyable music.
Thanks for the comment, and peculiar is as good a word as any to describe his output. I still haven;t been able to find out whether the Japanese kids would have been as puzzled by it as I am.
Thanks, Pete. An extremely enjoyable video looking into the work of Takeo Takei.
Mysteries do not always need an answer and I, for one, am happy with that. I find his art style intriguing with a mixture of elements and a fantastic imagination. I can see why he was so loved by children. It's unfortunate that he is not as well known in the west as think he would be just as appreciated here as in is own country.
Many thanks for another favourable response to a new video. I'm very pleased that you appreciate Takei's strange but fascinating work.
I love his work. Thank you so much for this video. On Large screen TV, just can appreciate it so much. 😁
Thanks a lot for your comment and I'm pleased you appreciate his work.
You're right. When the subject matter is mysterious and unknowable it does give another dimension to enjoying art. Thank you!
Hello and I'm glad that you agree with me about the mystery all being part of the pleasure of his work.
Thank you for this wonderful video introducing me to this artist. I love his work and his style! ❤
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation of Takei's remarkable work.
I think you're right about Klee. At least there's the same kind of feeling: a language we all once knew and shared - and then forgot. Thank you!
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation. I was halfway through making the video before it dawned on me that there was a distinct similarity.
I think of your content as an art class. I greatly respect the elaborate work you put into those incredible videos, Mr. Beard; I'm very grateful for them. I always learn a lot but when I see the artists that inspired me to be an illustrator, I get a little emotional. Takei-sensei is one of them!
Many thanks for your appreciation and I'm pleased you find the content valuable.
Hello Pete, thank you for sharing this with us, I had never heard of Takeo Takei, his art has a whimsical, fantasy that is so beautiful and original, they don't have to make sense as long as one enjoys them, like Edward Gorey 's illustrations, so bad that the majority of his originals were lost, your series of artists is wonderful, keep up the amazing work ☺️
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video and the channel in general. A great morale booster.
His signature of RRR is mysterious and interesting, popping up in fun ways.
Take a look at Pat the Planter's comment - the explanation of its use is there. I had no idea.
What a fascinating and tragic story about Takei using and stopping the RRR signature. I did notice that his later work featured a traditional stamp with his name. Thank you for directing me to this comment.
As with everyone else in the comments, I have never seen this art before. Yet it seems to me to be perfect for children's books, especially that wild pen and ink line work. Thanks for the video, I really would have hated to miss out on this.
Many thanks for your favourable response to the video - it's appreciated.
A wonderful episode, and a new artist to me. His work has a delicacy and elegance that typifies much of Japanese culture, and which I greatly admire. Thanks for another entertaining and enlightening episode Pete.
Thanks a lot for your favourable comment, and if I can lay claim to being entertaining and enlightening I reckon I'm doing quite well with the channel.
A true unique imagination he sported for sure....and quite prolific. Thanks for the insight Mr Beard
You are most welcome, and thanks for your appreciation.
Adding my thanks to Pete for informing us of Takeo Takei’s work . How refreshing and imaginative! Thank you so much!
Hello, and your thanks are very welcome. It has to be said Takei's work is about as close to unique as any other I can think of.
Wow! I'm amazed by the depth, breadth, and style of this artist. Thank you very much for your rich introduction to his work.
Thanks a lot for your comment, and I'm pleased you appreciate the scope of his rare talents.
Didn't know this artist, with such a peculiar way to draw. This is amazing to be surprised, to discover.
Thanks for the discovery.
Thanks for your comment. In the case of Takei I think it's a case ofonce seen never forgotten.
I like many styles of art and have enjoyed the stylized art from Japan, but I have never seen this artist before. i really like his abstract cartooning. He really had his own art style. Some of it reminds me of the wallpaper that was in my parents house from the 50's.
Many thanks for your comment, and I'm very pleased that you find Takei's work as fascinating as I do.
Enchanting! Thank you, Pete Beard, for this curious confection of an illustrator's work, set to music - I appreciated your
making references to Klee, Lear, and a mention of anime-to-come ~
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
What a challenging artist to cover. Such a different culture but at the same time his visual work is understandable. Another great video.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation of Takei's work and my efforts in making the video.
Another excellent, informative video by PB. All of these are so much fun to watch, and Pete's research is always remarkably comprehensive. One note -- Takei's name is pronounced "Tah-kay", as in George Takei of Star Trek fame. Thanks much, brilliant work.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation. And for the correction of my pronunciation.Always a problem, especially as i didn't know the actor of the same name. Mr. Sulu, I'm guessing.
I just remember George - whilst taking a dig at William Shatner - saying, "Takei, rhymes with toupée!"
Pete, I love the way you ended this presentation with Japanese music while showing the concluding prints. Cheers,, Frank
Hi again and thanks for another favourable rseponse.
Seemingly simple art that stays with you. I thought his later bird images were beautiful. Thanks, Pete.
Thanks for the comment. I must admit if I had the money I wouldn't mind a couple of those prints.
@@petebeard Ok. Gotcha. (wink wink)
Really interesting style, thank-you for sharing. Loved the Japanese music at the end.
Hello again and I'm glad you enjoyed this look at Takei's work. I'd like to be able to tell you who the music was by but I honestly couldn't find out.
I love this style of work and the music that you chose to share this artist. Thank you!
Thanks a lot and I'm pleased you enjoyed the video and takei's work.
Thank you for sharing it! 🙏🏻💛 Very imaginary and pure!
I'm glad you enjoyed Takei's work. Thanks for the comment.
Thank you for this! I’m happy to see a non-European and non-US illustrator.
Thanks for the comment. I'd do more but there's very little information or visual material to be had, unless it's the later Manga stuff..
What a delight. So interesting, Thank you!
I'm glad you enjoyed his work. Thanks for the comment.
Another great history lesson on art from the world. Thank you.
Many thanks for your appreciation. Always a pleasure.
Amazing variety of styles. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video.
Fantastic. What a wonderful channel you present Pete Beard.
Thanks very much for your appreciation. It's always welcome.
Thank you Pete! What a find. I am most definitely drawn in by all these fascinating pictures.
Thanks a lot for your comment and I'm pleased you find his work interesting too.
Fabulous! I had never heard of him.
Them I'm pleased to have made the introduction. Thanks for the comment.
@kayerin5749
0 seconds ago
Greetings! What a wonderful programme. Most of what I've viewed of your videos on You Tube seem focused on Western European, (with some Eastern European) and American artists (when I say American I refer to the whole continents) I really enjoyed this one, and must admit I held my breath when you began with his first job at 25, hoping he survived the war!
I agree, you don't have to understand the words to enjoy the pictures, any more than you need to read music in order to appreciate it. It so intrigued me that I looked around and found a 1941 copy of "Children's Days in Japan" which was pricy but reasonable, and a copy of his contemporary's (Shigeru Hatsuyama) illustration of "Swan Lake." I would like to know more of his work too,
Most of my fascination with art began pre literacy and even preverbal, so looking at books and pondering them is a most relaxing and mind expanding pleasure.
I remain, a loyal student of the Pete Beard Y.T. University!
Thanks again for your appreciation. I would happily cover more oriental illustrators but despite my searches it does seem to be a closed book. Art - yes - but illustration is very under-represented. I am planning on featuring Shugeru Hatsuyama in a solo spot if I can gather enough material. But the jury is out so far.
Oh my what a treat Thank you so much Pete.
Thanks a lot and I'm glad his work impresses you.
This guy could do both childlike and sophisticated precision. It's a strange but happy world he created. Thank you Pete, I appreciate the work you put into your videos and narration. Some day could you please spotlight Heinz Edelmann? There's a dearth of information on him it seems.
Thanks for another favourable comment. And regarding Heinz Edelmann you are right that he would make a good subject for a video, but I've tried researching him before and not come up with enough material to make it possible. I'll take another look and see if there's been more in the interim.
Thanks, Pete. Very interesting review of an artist whose work I would never have been otherwise exposed.
Thanks for the comment, and I don't know about you, but I rather enjoy finding out about illustrators way outsde my own experiences.
❤😊
Another wonderful episode! 🙏🏽 Thank You 😎
Glad you enjoyed his work. Thanks for the comment.
A master! I love his figure work. There's something so exciting about seeing familiar tales depicted in a unique way.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and comment about this video.
Is there anything better than finding a new inspiring artist? I don’t think so. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for the comment. And I must admit when I find one I imagine it feels like archaeologists must feel when they dig something valuable out of the ground.
I appreciate your openess about how you feel about sone art as even though I enjoy the visual, I don't always comprehend the back stories. Another well researched lesson about a great, but obscure artist.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. He's certainly an illustrator that's hard to forget - as near to unique as I can think of.
Another wonderful video on an artist I would never have known about (...or probably never want to) ... not my cup of tea as it were, but interesting none the less. I appreciate your efforts to bring hither to unknown artists into the spotlight, regardless of their mass appeal or not... this is a lesson to me to keep looking at new imagery. Thank you!
Thanks for your comment, and I really don't expect every viewer to like the work of every illustrator in the series - I certainly don't. But I'm glad you are among those who unerstand there's always something of value/interest on offer in their work.
Hello Again. It’s a funny thing … the art looks and feels so familiar.. could it be I came across at some point in my life ? Beautiful art and wonderful presentation yet again Pete ❤
I had a similar response to his work when I first saw it. But then I gave up trying to fathom it and just immersed myself in his strange world.
wonderful video!! Never heard of this artist and I'm in love with his style now! Thank you for this!
Thanks a lot for your appreciation, and I;m very pleased to have introduced you to the wonders of Takei's drawings.
Thank you. Love this.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Excellent work and your expertise in this process with introducing me and other people to see the magnificence of primarily unknown artists who have such artistry and their imagination displayed in their own creative passion and expressions .
Thanks Pete Beard for helping us to learn about the most amazing and so creatively inspiring people and their style and work of artistic abilities. Your indepth study is a great blessing and a gift to us all .❤
Mind blowing, Takei's work is unbelievably incredible and very captivating 🌾💚🤎💜💫💯🫶👍🎋✨️⭐️😊
The level of your appreciation of my efforts with the channel is really overwhelming, and makes me very happy indeed. To be able to introduce viewers to marvels such as Takei is a genuine labour of love for me.
Thank you for featuring this amazing artist. Incidentally his last name is pronounced Tak-ā.
Thanks for the appreciation - and pronunciation.
Very interesting. thank you for sharing this with us.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Takeo Takei is just delightful!
Thanks for your comment, and I'm glad you share my opinion of his remarkable work.
❤😊
very inviting. feel respectful and conversational at a slightly challenging and mysterious level.
Many thanks for your comment, and Im glad that you find his odd work fascinating, as I do.
Oh, these are amazing! And yes, very affecting!
Hello again and thanks for your comment. And I'm glad that you also find Takei's work fascinating.
💖💕💖💕💖💕 Thankful 🙏❤
Many thanks for your appreciation.
This is amazing. Thank you
Thanks a lot or your appreciation. I'm glad you are impressed with Takei's work.
Thanks Pete. Interesting work, some I love, others I like less, but fascinating overall. A wonderful exploration, as usual.
Hello again, and naturally enough I absolutely concur with your assessment of his work. I can't think of another who has me so conflicted in my opinions.
@@petebeard Well worth examining. Thanks for this introduction, as always.
A real treat! Takei seems to have 'Japanized' many contemporary Western artists in something analogous to the way the Impressionists brought Japanese techniques and themes into their work!
Thanks for the comment, and whichever way you configure it the cultural collision of east and West seems to have produced a large volume of fascinating outcomes in art and illustration.
Thanks Pete, beautiful art!
Many thanks for your comment.
Another excellent video!! I had not heard of him but some of the illustrations for the Children's Days in Japan book look familiar..hmmm..
Thanks for the comment and appreciation, as usual.
Such perfect whimsy 😊
Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Love the global nature of this....a new one on me...cheers, Pete....ps hope you are feeling better...E
Thanks again for the appreciation - and good wishes. I'm pretty much over it but a cough persists. My own fault - half a century of tobacco abuse.
@@petebeard....king Edward Imperial was my downfall ...
武井武雄（Takeo Takei）、蕗谷虹児(Kouji Fukiya)、初山滋(Shigeru Hatsuyama)…この時代の挿絵画家さんは本当に素晴らしい👍
取り上げてくださってありがとうございます💖
私たちの財産です💖
こんにちは、そしてあなたのコメントに感謝します。初山茂さんもこの後、動画シリーズで紹介しますので、ご安心いただければ幸いです。深谷浩二さんのことは知らなかったので、情報ありがとうございます。私は何が見つかるか見ていきます。
Thank you 😊
My pleasure.
Pete - can you please review the illustrations of Japanese artist Torii Kontondo - and especially his print' combing hair'? thanks
Thanks a lot for the name Torii Kontondo - I had never heard of him. But I'll investigate and see what information and visual material is available.
As a boy I was always looking art books and illustrations at the library. My plan was to be an artist. I remember seeing a few books of these drawings. I'd look at page after page and started to wonder if I would go insane like this guy.
Thanks a lot for your comment, although I'm not sure I would categorise his boundless creative imagination as "insane". Insanely fascinating, perhaps?
Very nice, thank you.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Thanks for the introduction.
You are very welcome.
HIs cultural artwork and line work are new to me. I can't say I enjoyed them. But, do appreciate his changing styles. I also enjoy his more representational work.
Your voice inflections surprised me. And wonder if they are an English (British)?
As always, I learned more about the trade. Tnx!
Hi again, and it would be too much for me to expect everyone to like every illustrator I feature. I certainly don't and I can see that Takei's work isn't for everyone. I had always assumed that all viewers understood that I'm English by my accent so I'm a bit surprised your'e asking. But guilty as charged.
Trying to understand, colours,patterns and texts (subjects) of illustrations is the best way to develop brain activity and aesthetic norms..
Thank you very much.🍃
PS: Sorry for my English😔
Hello again and thanks for another favourable comment. And please trust me - there's nothing wrong with your English.
👏 Bravo 👏
I am nearly brought to at the Powers of Illustration to convey an Uncanny Balance of Mystery & Legibility.
This is why I have often wondered at the Live Action Films and the Lack of Photos in Children’s Literature. While the powers of Animation remain obvious, yet barely explored. 🥂
Thanks again for your comment, and appreciation of the channel content
Thank you !!!!
My pleasure - thanks for the comment.
So interesting! Did he ever do any advertising work?
Thanks for your comment. In all my searches I didn't find any evidence of it. There may have been some but I get the feeling he would not have felt inclined to be that commercial. Just a guess on my part.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Hey, I'd love to see what you could dig up on Daniel Mróz. He did some wildly imaginative illustrations for Stanisław Lem and Stanisław Mrożek books.
Hello and thanks for the name Daniel Mróz - I had never encountered him before. A quick look indicates he will make an ideal subject so I'll see what I can uncover. Don't hold your breath though - he's joining a very long queue.
I would love to see a video on Eric Carle if you haven’t already done one, he is one of my favorite children’s authors.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion, and I will add him to the ever lengthening list of possibles. But I must stress it won't appear any time soon as I have in excess of 50 others in various stages of unfinished, and I intend to clear some of that backlog away before taking on any more. Otherwise my head will undoubtedly explode.
Wonderful, whimsical illustrations. As much Cubist as they are Art Deco in style and would have no trouble being right at home in Russian, Polish or Czech graphic design from those and even later periods. An illustrator he also reminded me of is Wanda Gag, of "Millions of Cats" fame. But for all the similarities and possible influences one could list, he remains very unique and it was a pleasure making his acquaintance through your essay.
Another Japanese illustrator whose work is perhaps more familiar to Western audiences, is Chizuko Kuratomi, who created a series of books entitled Mr Bear, a character resembling Monsieur Hulot in his well-meaning but bumbling actions which often create more chaos than he intends.
Hello again and thanks a lot for the comment and appreciation. I must admit that having made the video other similarities hit me, including Wanda Gag, and even more so with Tom Seidmann Freud. Regarding Chizuko Kuratomi, who I had never encountered so thanks a lot,other than some picures of the bear books there is zero information to be had.
You got a like the font in the title card for this. Anyone know what it is?
It has the somewhat stupid name Mountains of Christmas and it's available free from 1001 fonts.
Vivo en Japón pero lamentablemente no puedo leer kanji, katakana o hiragana. Gracias a este muy interesante video me informo sobre la vida y obra del ilustrador Takei Takeo.
Hola y muchas gracias por tu comentario sobre este vídeo. Siempre es un placer saber que estoy presentando a estos ilustradores a los espectadores por primera vez. Y espero presentar al menos un par de ilustradores japoneses más en el futuro.
@@petebeard Espero ver más de las ilustraciones que usted presente. La información que da en sus comentarios es muy interesante.
Is he related to George Takei, the actor? A great-uncle, perhaps?
I hadn't heard so, and I think it's quite a common name in Japan, but who knows?
A remarkable discovery. Does anyone know the meaning of the triple R that appears on each piece? A signature most likely…
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. And yes - check out the comment from regular viewer pattheplanter. I had no idea either.
❤
👍
I see so many resemblences in Paul Klee’s work. I wonder if Klee had seen and studied his beautiful work?
Funnily enough it's the other way around, apparently. He saw Klees work and absorbed the influence.
Could you please update your playlists?
As far as I'm aware I don't have any playlists. I don't even know what purpose they serve.
@@petebeard well, two playlists are listed on your YT page. Might be auto-curated by the algorithm, or you might have created them at some point. Since you have a lot of videos, it helps to group them by theme or series and watch them in order. For those of us autistic enough to care. 😄
@@araucariapasquale1 Hello again, and I certainly have no memory of making any playlists - never really understood what they were for. But when I get some time (don't hold your breath) I'll see if I can make some more.