Charlie Yellow

Charlie Yellow is a Japanese-born illustrator based in Chicago who brings yurukawa (cute but quirky) to life. She celebrates everyday charm and the beauty of diversity—or even hidden thorns—through colorful illustrations, zines, and riso prints.

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Back to the Long, Long Drawing Board

Thanksgiving break is over, and it’s back to the reprint grind! One down, six colorful updates to go...

monthly recap

Monthly Charlie’s Playground: November 2025

November flew by! Wrapping up Osusowake Club and printing new risograph work—here’s a look back at my favorite creative moments this month.

Snowbound with Demon Slayers

Snowed in all day in Chicago, I canceled my plans and spent the afternoon reading Demon Slayer. A cozy, unexpected snow-day break!

Homemade Mac & Cheese for Thanksgiving

We brought baked mac & cheese and Japanese chocolate to a family gathering—and our layered, cheesy dish was a total crowd-pleaser!

Happy Thanksgiving from Charlie Yellow!

Celebrating Thanksgiving with mac & cheese and a festive turkey illustration. Hope your holiday is cozy and full of cheer!

inspiration

A Street Sticker That Sparked a Flashback

A random sticker brought back memories of the strange but iconic No More Eiga Dorobo video from Japanese movie theaters.

inspiration

Why I Can't Stop Reading Demon Slayer

Reflecting on what keeps me hooked on the manga Demon Slayer: it might be the breathtaking battles, but even more so, the heartbreaking humanity in every demon's backstory.

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Procreate Tip for Risograph Prep: Select & Cut Saves the Day!

Using Procreate’s Select & Cut tool to prep clean layers for risograph printing—game changer

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Bit by Bit: Color Tweaks for Something Long

A quiet day, but I still got one small step done on Something Long—repainting one illustration in risograph colors. One layer at a time!

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Sailor Moon Like You’ve Never Seen

A dazzlingly powerful version of Sailor Moon illustrated by @totesferosh—equal parts magical and magnificent!

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Reworking the Color Separation for “Something Long”

I pulled out my “Something Long” project to redo the color separation. This time, I’m aiming for bolder, more satisfying risograph colors!

inspiration

My Holiday Treat: Finally Bought All of Demon Slayer!

After much hesitation, I finally gave in and bought the entire Demon Slayer manga set! Time to binge-read my holiday reward!

inspiration

When You Need a Laugh (and a Good Cry)

Obsessed with Butter Biscuit, a YouTube channel turning wild Harry Potter mistranslations into laugh-out-loud animations!

Because… It’s the Holidays!

It’s been raining in Chicago since this morning, and the skies have been gray all day. I didn’t have anything scheduled today except for a quick delivery of the cat postcard order this morning—so I decided to take it easy! I mean, I’ve been going nonstop

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Reprinting Everyone: Back at Spudnik Press!

I revisited a piece I made in 2020—Everyone—for a brand-new risograph reprint, now in a vibrant 4-color palette!

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Taking a Breather After the Big Send-Off

Four days after mailing out my Osusowake Club packages, messages are rolling in—even from Montana and Hawaii!

inspiration

A Visit to Staple + Stitch at the 55 Hotel

We stopped by the Staple + Stitch art book fair at the 55 Hotel in downtown Chicago—an inspiring afternoon surrounded by zines, photo books, and risograph prints!

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Reprinting the Cat for extra Osusowake!

Got a surprise order for the Osusowake cat postcard—did a solo reprint session and made some color improvements, too!

portfolio

Thanks Y'all!

A farewell card project featuring a cowboy cactus and a whole lot of Texas spirit—created for my friend and business coach Sanae as she wrapped up her time in the Lone Star State.

news

Osusowake Club: All 45 Sets Are on Their Way!

I just mailed out all 45 sets of my Osusowake Club holiday postcards! Hoping they arrive safely and spark some joy at the start of the season.

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Warming Hearts Through the Osusowake Club

While prepping Osusowake Club mailings, reconnecting with old friends warmed my heart more than I expected.

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Osusowake Club: Packing Up the First Batch!

Getting ready to ship the first batch of Osusowake Club mail—red envelopes and all! The holiday joy is almost on its way.

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A Studio Visit with Perfectly Acceptable Press

We visited the studio of Perfectly Acceptable Press for a Chicago Printers Guild meetup and got a real look behind the scenes—from risograph magic to community insights.

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A New Holiday Ornament Joins the Collection

Stopped by a local Chicago shop to pick up a stained glass holiday ornament by artist Ben Houtkamp. After a lot of pacing and indecision, one special piece came home with me!

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The Osusowake Club: Let the Sharing Begin!

The very first Osusowake Club sets are starting to go out—some by mail, others hand-delivered. It’s finally time to share the joy!