Art & Illustration

From pen and ink sketches, paper and shadow art, to textile creations and character illustration — all works by Kay Yasugi. This is where I make things for the love of making. Available for commissions — get in touch.

Storybook & Character Design

Whimsical characters and illustrated worlds

A cartoon illustration of "My Friend Gerry" showing a cinema filled with people all looking at a tall giraffe sitting in the front row eating popcorn. A little girl with pigtails is seated next to him, smiling. Artwork by Kay Yasugi.

My Friend Gerry (Illustration)

The Gingerbread Incident (Illustration)

A colorful pencil drawing on a black background of a candelabra character with wide eyes, perched on a golden stand and holding 2 small handles in each hand, titled 'LUMIERE' by Kay Yasugi, 2019.

‘Lumiere’ Puppet Design for Beauty and the Beast (School Musical)

Colorful pencil drawing of a clock with round eyes, surrounded by gears and abstract patterns on a black background, titled 'COGSWORTH' by Kay Yasugi, 2019.

‘Cogworth’ Puppet Design for Beauty and the Beast (School Musical)

Pen & Ink

Observational drawings and sketches from travels and performances

A person's hand holding a sketchbook with a drawing of Kinkaku-ji temple at Kyoto, Japan. The background features a pond, trees, and the actual Kinkaku-ji temple, which is golden and partially reflected in the pond. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Kinkaku-Ji Temple, Kyoto (Japan)

Sketch of the front facade of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, featuring its Gothic architecture, large rose window, twin towers, and detailed arched entrances. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris (France)

Sketch of Luna Park entrance with puppet characters, with a carnival scene and people below, held in front of a carnival ride. Sketch by Kay Yasugi at the 'Memoir of a Snail' (Film by Adam Elliot) Exhibition at ACMI, Melbourne.

Luna Park - Memoir of a Snail Exhibit at ACMI, Melbourne (Australia)

A detailed pencil sketch of Westminster Abbey in London, UK, with the date July 29, 2014, written at the bottom. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Westmister Abbey in London (UK)

A sketch of a goose with a mechanical and architectural interior visible inside its body, titled "The Goose" War Horse, dated December 29, 2012. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Goose Puppet from War Horse, Melbourne (Australia)

Hand-drawn sketch of an ornate astronomical clock on a building, with detailed decorative features, Roman numerals, and a clock face showing the time, labeled as "The Astronomical Clock, Old Town Hall, Prague, June 30, 2014."

Prague Astronomical Clock (Czech Republic)

Black and white sketch of a traditional Balinese sculpture with a detailed face, wearing ornate clothing, sitting on a ledge with crossed legs, holding a small object in one hand and resting the other on a knee. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Statue at the Royal Palace in Bali (Indonesia)

A light brown rabbit sniffing a sketchbook with a drawing of a rabbit, and a black pen on the paper. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Bunny in Maclean, NSW (Australia)

A sketch of an elderly woman wearing glasses, a black beret with a butterfly on it, reading a book with a pen in her hand. Text below describes her as a Metropolitan Line lady with a sense of humor. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.

Woman on the subway in London (UK)

Paper Cutting & Shadow Art

Where light and negative space tell the story

Colorful paper cutouts of various cartoon monsters and animals placed on a green cutting mat, with scissors and a holepunch nearby. Cutouts by Kay Yasugi.

Paper cutting shadow stories as part of the Sydney Opera House Creative Leadership in Learning Program (working with Campsie Public School to create and devise ‘Spooky Airport’: A puppet installation in their school hall to explore fear, fun and hope amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic (2020)

Colorful shadow puppets of farm animals, including a red cow, red chicken, green duck, and orange chick, on a light background. Shadow puppets by Kay Yasugi.

Silhouette paper cutouts of various animals (octopus, fish, crab, shark, dinosaur, and robot) arranged on a circular light background. Shadow puppets by Kay Yasugi.

Cards & Character Illustrations

Watercolour and ink characters made for real people, real pets and real occasions — available as commissions

Colorful hand-drawn illustration featuring various animals including a giraffe, several turtles, birds, and a zebra, along with a woman and children. There is a sign that says 'Thank you Annette!'. Work by Kay Yasugi.

A watercolor painting of two dogs, one lying down and the other standing, with the title "Sophie & Barret" and the artist's signature, Kay Yasugi, 2018.

Colorful cartoon drawing of various friendly monsters and animals smiling and waving, with a yellow speech bubble in the center that says "Thank you Pam!" in black text. Signed Kay Yasugi, 2018.

Crochet & Textile

From amigurumi to teapot cosies — handmade textile work with a distinctly puppety soul

Display case with handmade crochet puppets and props (made by Kay Yasugi), including a diver, net, sea creatures, a magazine titled "Korea," and informational posters about the puppet company Pupperoos and haenyeo divers of Jeju Island, Korea.

Crocheted puppets from Haenyeo: Women of the Sea, inspired by real Haenyeo women divers in Jeju Island, South Korea. Exhibited at Eastwood Library, Sydney)

A crocheted orange squirrel with floppy ears and black eyes, holding a small white teacup, sitting on a multicolored yarn tea cosy atop a green teapot. Made by Kay Yasugi.

‘Red Squirrel’ Tea Cosy (Crochet) - Awarded First Place at the St Ives Show (Northern Suburbs A & H Society), Sydney

Crocheted teacozy of a Doctor-Who inspired Dalek with black spots, levers and nozzles, sitting on a wooden table top.

Dalek ‘Ex-Tea-Minate’ Tea Cosy (Crochet)

Comics and Cartoons

Quick drawings to make people smile

Black and white sketch of a koala at a counter making a paper mache head using small bits of paper and a jar of glue. The Koala is on the phone, saying, 'Sorry, I can't talk on the phone right now – I'm about to put my head in the oven.'

Cartoon for UNIMA Australia (Caption says “Sorry, I can’t talk on the phone right now - I’m about to put my head in the oven'.’)

Hand-drawn sketch of Australian animals with labels to avoid, including jellyfish, dingo, sharks, octopus, snake, crocodile, funnel web spider, red back spider, stonefish, moss, and a mouse. Sketch by Kay Yasugi.