Being able to draw is one of the most beautiful and useful gifts to possess. All you need is the back of a discarded envelope, a pencil and your imagination. No need for power, Wi-Fi or a laptop – perhaps a cup of coffee, but that’s it.
Like music, drawing can instantly break down the barriers of language, religion and ethnicity. It communicates clearly and instantly and can touch the heart.
See what I mean. This is the work of the Japanese writer/illustrator Tarō Gomi. Now in his mid-70s, he has been a favourite of mine for many years. Perhaps not so known in the UK, but he has clocked up over 400 books since he started back in the early 1970s. Many of his books have been translated, giving pleasure to thousands of children across the globe, or adults like me – and an old one at that.
The much-imitated charming, childlike naiveté of Gomi’s work belies its sophistication. With just a few strokes of a brush, he can conjure up emotion of such touching delicacy.
When armed with a whole palette of colour, his work is astonishing.
The Japanese have always had such an innate ability to evoke the world of a child, as in their many animated films, especially those of Studio Ghibli. Tarō Gomi is still working away, encouraging children to participate in drawing with his ‘Doodle’, ‘Squiggles’ and ‘Scribbles’ colouring books (above), and involves himself with workshops and bookshop appearances to meet his enthusiastic young audience. And long may he continue.
This is Tarō there seems to be very few photos of him so I suspect he is a little camera shy. But his work is for everyone to see and enjoy. Here's some more...
I love him.