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Layering Imagination onto Reality: The Making of Our Spring Key Visual

Published onJuly 27, 2026

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- For the new key visual on our website, we invited an artist to breathe new life into a photograph by layering hand-drawn illustrations over the scene. In this interview, she shares her creative process, the stories behind her motifs, and where she finds inspiration in everyday life.
- What was the first thing you focused on when creating this key visual? (What did you feel when you first saw the photograph? What drew you to it?)

When I first saw the photograph, I felt a sense of excitement, as if winter had just ended and spring was about to begin. I was also drawn to the girl’s gaze, which seemed full of dreams for the future.
What I kept in mind was how to naturally connect the elements in the photograph with the illustration, while also emphasizing the sense of fantasy that illustration can express.
- What kind of world did you want to express by layering your illustration over the photograph? (For example, reality and imagination, everyday life and the inner self)

I wanted to depict the girl's imagination unfolding endlessly. Although she is actually inside a room, I imagined her sitting under a blue sky, holding a pen as she listened to birdsong and the gentle sound of a stream, and thinking about her future.
-What meanings or emotions did you put into the motifs and colors you added?

Cherry blossoms:
Since this is the website of SAKURA Color Products Corporation—and sakura means cherry blossoms in Japanese— I wanted to use cherry blossoms as a visual bridge between the photograph and the illustration. I mixed several shades of pink to create depth and variation.
Birds and musical notes:
When I think of spring, I picture the warmth in the air, the scent of flowers, and the sound of birds singing. I wanted people to feel the “sound” of spring as well, so I included these motifs. For the birds, I chose a color that contrasts with the pink of the cherry blossoms so they would stand out clearly and add energy to the composition.
- Wings on the girl’s back:
- The wings symbolize the girl's imagination taking flight. I also added cherry blossom petals to the wings so that the whole composition would feel unified.
- -What was it like creating this piece?
  
  This was my first time combining a hand-drawn illustration with a photograph, so at first it was hard to imagine what the final piece would look like. I spent some time thinking about the design, but once I started drawing, I was able to work freely and enjoy the process.
  In the end, it reminded me that rather than overthinking, I enjoy creating most when I just pick up my materials and make something with my hands, which is something that always brings me joy.
  
  -What do you feel inspiration arises in your daily life?
  
  When I have a vague idea of something I want to create or draw, but I am not yet sure how to shape it, I become more observant and open to inspiration. In that state, anything around me can become a source of inspiration—even a small branch lying by the side of the road.
  For me, inspiration often comes from small things that can easily go unnoticed if I am not paying attention, especially familiar elements of nature. That is why I believe it is important to stay creatively engaged and curious.

Kay Sadaoka

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読み込み中...

Birds and musical notes:

When I think of spring, I picture the warmth in the air, the scent of flowers, and the sound of birds singing. I wanted people to feel the “sound” of spring as well, so I included these motifs. For the birds, I chose a color that contrasts with the pink of the cherry blossoms so they would stand out clearly and add energy to the composition.

Wings on the girl’s back:

The wings symbolize the girl's imagination taking flight. I also added cherry blossom petals to the wings so that the whole composition would feel unified.

-What was it like creating this piece?

This was my first time combining a hand-drawn illustration with a photograph, so at first it was hard to imagine what the final piece would look like. I spent some time thinking about the design, but once I started drawing, I was able to work freely and enjoy the process.

In the end, it reminded me that rather than overthinking, I enjoy creating most when I just pick up my materials and make something with my hands, which is something that always brings me joy.

-What do you feel inspiration arises in your daily life?

When I have a vague idea of something I want to create or draw, but I am not yet sure how to shape it, I become more observant and open to inspiration. In that state, anything around me can become a source of inspiration—even a small branch lying by the side of the road.

For me, inspiration often comes from small things that can easily go unnoticed if I am not paying attention, especially familiar elements of nature. That is why I believe it is important to stay creatively engaged and curious.

Layering Imagination onto Reality: The Making of Our Spring Key Visual

- What was the first thing you focused on when creating this key visual? (What did you feel when you first saw the photograph? What drew you to it?)

- What kind of world did you want to express by layering your illustration over the photograph? (For example, reality and imagination, everyday life and the inner self)

-What meanings or emotions did you put into the motifs and colors you added?

Cherry blossoms:

Birds and musical notes:

Wings on the girl’s back:

-What was it like creating this piece?

-What do you feel inspiration arises in your daily life?

Layering Imagination onto Reality: The Making of Our Spring Key Visual

- What was the first thing you focused on when creating this key visual? (What did you feel when you first saw the photograph? What drew you to it?)

- What kind of world did you want to express by layering your illustration over the photograph? (For example, reality and imagination, everyday life and the inner self)

-What meanings or emotions did you put into the motifs and colors you added?

Cherry blossoms:

Birds and musical notes:

Wings on the girl’s back:

-What was it like creating this piece?

-What do you feel inspiration arises in your daily life?