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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My First Time at Lincoln Park Zoo!

A sunny day at Lincoln Park Zoo filled with penguins, polar bears, and future family outing dreams.

work in progress

Quiet Week, Busy Brain

A quiet blog week filled with riso repairs, zine shopping, and designing thank-you cards for my upcoming baby shower.

work in progress

Lime Green Riso Experiment Day

Day five of nonstop riso experiments: lime green ink, mysterious blue marks, and another lesson from the chaos machine.

work in progress

Sunflower Ink Redemption Arc

Today’s riso challenge: sunflower yellow ink, gradient experiments, and one very speedy lemon.

work in progress

Fluorescent Pink Said “No.”

Fluorescent pink vs. me: 2 hours, zero progress, and one very stubborn ink.

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Mint Ink vs. The Chaos Machine

Mint ink day… featuring mysterious disappearing graphics and a slightly chaotic machine.

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Blue Ink Fever Day

A full-on riso obsession day—blue ink, trial prints, and a growing urge to make more colorful work.

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Taipei Art Book Fair 2026 – A (Slightly Late) Report

A (slightly late) recap of Taipei Art Book Fair 2026—huge crowds, vibrant chaos, and a mix of reflection and motivation.

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Watching Kokuhō in the U.S.

eflections on watching Kokuhō after finishing the 800-page novel—visually stunning, but missing some crucial layers.

work in progress

Finding My Way Back

After a quiet April, I’m finding my way back to art—through setbacks, small wins, and renewed confidence.

Back After a March Break

After a month-long pause, I’m back!!!

monthly recap

Monthly Charlie’s Playground : February 2026

February recap: perseverance, recovery, and finally completing the Spring Osusowake Club 2026.

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Spring Osusowake Club 2026 – Final Illustration Concept

Spring Osusowake Club 2026 concept finalized—Charlie eating cherry blossoms like cotton candy.

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Fire Horse at Riso Pop in Amsterdam

My Fire Horse made it to Riso Pop’s exhibition in Amsterdam—after a last-minute size change and a lesson in careful email reading.

work in progress

Back to the Spring Osusowake Club

After a week of hesitation, I returned to my Spring Osusowake Club sketches—and three new ideas appeared.

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Sticker Restock Has Arrived!

Restocked 500 Charlie Yellow stickers ahead of Taipei Art Book Fair—feeling bold (and slightly nervous).

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Mosh Pit On Disney – A Nostalgic Throwback

Rediscovering Mosh Pit On Disney—the rock cover album that soundtracked my high school years.

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Yoko Ono at the MCA

Finally saw Yoko Ono at MCA Chicago—an overwhelming, participatory exhibition that redefined what art can be.

work in progress

Cutting Paper the Right Way

Upgraded my paper-cutting setup with a Carl cutter—smooth cuts, neon details, and way more efficient production.

Paper Makes the Difference

Yesterday I wrote about Uma Kuji, but there’s actually one big way this project is different from my usual work: the paper. For production efficiency, I limited the risograph printing to just two ink colors. But using plain white paper didn’t excite me. So I decided to experiment—

work in progress

Reproducing Uma Kuji

Reproducing 40 copies of UMA KUJI—with a serious bookbinding upgrade.

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Preparing for Taipei Art Book Fair

Restocked 40 copies of Something Long in preparation for Taipei Art Book Fair—bringing extra energy (and inventory) this time!

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Sketching for the Spring Osusowake Club – Part 2

Developing the Spring Osusowake Club concept—exploring drifting cherry blossoms and a girl on a swing.

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Starting the Spring Sharing Club

Starting preparations for my Spring Osusowake Club—this time for Taipei Art Book Fair, inspired by cherry blossoms and their bittersweet beauty.

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Researching Taipei!

Getting ready for Taipei Art Book Fair with a colorful Japanese guidebook—why are American travel books so text-heavy?