Sakura of America shares a common mission with Creativity Explored, a nonprofit art center for neurodiverse and disabled artists in San Francisco. Sakura is proud to support Creativity Explored’s belief that art is a human right. Together, we strongly believe art is for everyone.

Sakura’s products have been enabling artistry in the Creativity Explored studios for decades – we’re excited to partner and share the stories and the artwork of artists who are creating today, like Yukari Sakura.

Yukari Sakura (b. 1989, Creativity Explored artist since 2011) is a book of wisdom when it comes to her favorite subjects. Ask her about what she likes, and she will go into great detail about the given topic. Animated and expressive, Sakura’s artwork is an accurate representation of her personality.

“I have been drawing since I was 3 years old,” Sakura says. “I draw things that I like. I make stories with the things I draw.” Gathering inspiration from mythological tales, animated films, video games, heroes, daily life, and historical events, Sakura works primarily with watercolor, colored pencils, and paint. She also creates animations based on animals and their environments, writing out what she calls “documents” and then basing subsequent drawings off of her research.

Yukari Sakura’s fashions are also on display at Mode Brut, a fashion-themed exhibition on view at the at the Museum of Craft and Design through January 22, 2022.

Check out Yukari Sakura’s favorite Sakura products and hear about her practice in the interview below.

Favorite Products

• Sakura Permapaque Markers
• Sakura Koi Watercolor Brush Pens

Artist Interview

Why do you love Creativity Explored?
Because I can work on any paintings that I love to learn independently and sell them.

What do you love about Sakura’s art products?
Other than using using acrylics, it’s fun. And that way, I can add more shadows and highlights. Plus, it’s a Japanese art style.

Why do you love making art? How does creating art make you feel?
Because it’s inspiring and beautiful, and art is sometimes unique and sometimes realistic. Creating art makes me feel happy and imaginative.

What inspires you?
What inspires me to do art is from watching cartoon shows, animal and nature documentaries, and some fictionalized animals such as the ones from Disney movies.

If someone has never made art before, what advice would you give them?
I would let them use the “how to draw” books or teach them to paint animals or people.

Learn more and shop artworks by Yukari Sakura’s on the Creativity Explored website → CreativityExplored.org/artists/yukari-sakura

See more Creativity Explored artist spotlights right here on the Sakura website → http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/get-inspired/creativity-explored

PHOTO CREDIT: Photos by Peter Prato

ARTWORK CAPTIONS (ALL):
Artwork by Yukari Sakura, 2021 © Creativity Explored Licensing, LLC