Satoshi+Kitamura


 * [[image:crossingpaths/Satoshi-Kitamura-003.jpg]]

//"[In] a good book, honest work is the most important ingredient."//
Born in Tokyo in 1956, from a young age Satoshi Kitamura enjoyed reading comics and illustrated novels.

Without any formal training, at 19 he started his career working in advertising as an artist, eventually making his way to London.

His work also demonstrates an appreciation of music, which he has depicted in his art using bright lines and patterns. In a recent interview  with The Big Picture he said, "I’m very influenced by music, and I like musical instruments...My approach to illustrating music is spontaneous. Music and painting come from the same source. They are just different aspects of the same thing... I often listen to music while I work. I'm too lazy to put CDs in my player and just leave the radio on! I love all sorts of music: jazz, classical, contemporary music, pop, rock, Irish, Japanese and all sorts of folk music of the world... but most of the time I listen to BBC's Radio 3, that plays European classical music.

Sometimes I ask myself whether it is better to be an artist or a musician. If I could play a trumpet or clarinet perfectly, I'd rather be a musician than an artist. Sadly, I have no talent in music (I'm perfectly tone-deaf). So it may be in compensation for that that I have worked on quite a few picture books with musical themes! "

== =[|Some of his illustrations]=


 * Me and my Cat** was first published by Andersen Press in 1999.

It has been published in several languages including French, Spanish, Dutch and German. ||  ||

In late 2009, Satoshi Kitamura moved permanently back to Japan.

Satoshi translates all of his own work into Japanese and has also translated other authors' books for the Japanese market.

His **awards** include: =**2. Whould you like to read one of his books? Why?**=
 * National Art Library Awards (1999)
 * Smartie Prize: Bronze Winner (1997)
 * Children's Literature Choice List (1997)
 * Shortlisted for the Smartie Prize (1989)
 * The New York Times Notable Book of the Year Award (1989)
 * New York Academy of Sciences, Children's Book Award (1987)
 * Japanese Picture Book Award (1983)
 * The Mother Goose Award (1983)
 * ** Back ** ||