Japanese illustrator Kinuko Craft

Persephone, formidable, venerable majestic queen of the underworld, who carries into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Japanese illustrator Kinuko Craft was born in 1940 in Kanazawa, Japan. She graduated from The Kanazawa Municipal College of Fine and Industrial Art in 1962. Kinuko Y. Craft moved to the United States at the age of 24. She continued studying painting at the Art Institute in Chicago. Kinuko Craft worked in Chicago art studios for several years. By the end of the 1970s her work was in high demand and she and she started her successful career as a free-lance illustrator. Japanese-born fantasy artist Kinuko Craft considers herself a story teller. She illustrated book covers of many well known fantasy authors, opera posters, fairy tale books and covers for many national magazines

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, illuistration by Japanese fantasy artist Kinuko Craft on a comedy play by William Shakespeare. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Kinuko Craft passionately loves European fine art, and has a deep knowledge of its history. Her main inspirations are the works of Leonardo da Vinci, the Pre-Raphaelites, and Symbolist painters.

Angel With Lyre. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Japanese fantasy artist Kinuko Craft has received numerous awards for her work, including several gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators, New York. She has been nominated five times as a Best Artist for the World Fantasy Awards. Her work can be found in the collections of National Portrait Gallery (United States), the Museum of American Illustration in New York City, the National Geographic Society, and other corporate collections.

Anthony and Cleopatra, on a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Aphrodite. Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Athena – the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics and skill. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Aucassin and Nicolette – an anonymous medieval French chantefable, or combination of prose and verse. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Bards of Bone Plain. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Basilisk. Legendary reptile, the king of serpents with the power to cause death with a single glance. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Biting the Sun. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Chinese Angel. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Cinderella. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Cybelle’s Secret. On the fantasy novel by Juliet Marillier. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Eclipse. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Eleanor of Aquitaine. one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in western Europe during the High Middle Ages, a member of the Ramnulfid dynasty of rulers in southwestern France. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Flora – goddess of flowers and the season of spring, a symbol for nature and flowers. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Heléne. In Greek mythology – the most beautiful woman in the world. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Madam Butterfly. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Marsh King’s Daughter. On Hans Christian Andersen. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft

Medusa. In Greek mythology – a monster, a Gorgon, having the face of a hideous human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Illustration by Kinuko Y. Craft