What does it mean to write? Writing is a very simple task one can do with only a pen and paper. And yet, the possibilities are endless. This popular series from last year comes back with a new lineup of interviewees. To everyone who is involved in writing on a daily basis, what does it mean to write?

What does it mean to write?

Naoko Horiguchi【2】

SEASON2 vol.5

Naoko Horiguchi

To write is to have a conversation
with yourself.

Artist and illustrator Naoko Horiguchi uses paper cutouts, stamps, paint, pens, and more to create beautiful illustrations that mix together various mediums. She designed accessories for the Hobonichi Techo 2020 lineup, such as a Cover on Cover and Folder Set. To Horiguchi, the action of drawing a line with a pen, cutting paper with scissors, and stamping images using a handmade eraser stamp are all acts of “writing.” We visited Horiguchi in her workplace to talk about what she thinks and feels when she “writes.”

ProfileNaoko Horiguchi

Artist and illustrator born in Saitama Prefecture in 1976. Graduated from Setsu Mode Seminar in 1998. Creates figurative and abstract works of art using ink, acrylic paint, rubber stamps, paper cutouts, and more. Works under the motto “try to make anything,” demonstrated through her handmade wrapping paper, calendars, postcards, textiles, and art pieces made of wool.

Designed the following products in the Hobonichi Techo 2020 lineup:
-Cover on Cover: nonohana
-Cover on Cover: iroiro
-Hobonichi Folder Set: tsuta
-Hobonichi Folder Set for A6 Size
-Hobonichi Folder Set for A5 Size
-Hobonichi Translucent Sticky Notes: cross
-Hobonichi Mini Letters Set: Apple and Flower

Homepage

Table of Contents

To write is to have a conversation with yourself.

ーー: Did you begin working as an illustrator right after you graduated?

Horiguchi: At first I didn’t have any work at all. There was a time I wasn’t even drawing at all—I went through a lot of unrelated part-time jobs. But over time work started to trickle in. It’s really only recently that I’ve been able to feel like I’m really doing illustration for a living.

ーー: We’re very glad to have your designs in the Hobonichi Techo 2020 accessories lineup. Everyone was really excited to see what you would come up with for the folder sets and notebooks.

Horiguchi: Thank you. I had a lot of fun working on them.

ーー: It’s really interesting to see all the ways you’re able to blend paper cutouts, eraser stamps, line drawings, and other mediums.

Horiguchi: I made my own wrapping paper once, using stencil printing, through a place called Retro Printing JAM. It was a lot of fun, and my hope with the accessories I designed was to achieve the same feel I got doing that.

ーー: Is stencil printing different from normal printing?

Horiguchi: A stencil print is printed by hand, one at a time—if you want to use multiple colors you have to do one, line the stencils back up, and do it all over again. It’s an old form of printing they used to use in schools. The colors and the lines don’t match up perfectly, it can smudge, and you’re limited in the colors of ink you can use. but those imperfections give it character.

When you’re mocking up a stencil print, each color has its own monochrome stencil, and you tell them what color each one will be.

ーー: Unlike a mockup you make on a computer, there’s no way to see exactly how the final product will look before it goes to print.

Horiguchi: Exactly. You get a sense of anticipation before it goes to print because you’re excited to see what it will look like, and then it’s even more fun when you get to see how it turned out.

ーー: The paper itself has a great feel, too. It’s thin and flimsy but still feels really high quality.

Horiguchi: That’s kraft paper. It’s used to create patterns for clothing.

ーー: And there’s a print on the back side—it’s a nice effect being able to see the colors through the other side.

Horiguchi: Yeah. It was so much fun to do that I just couldn’t stop making them.

ーー: So your idea of writing must be much more than just drawing a line with a pen, if it includes things like cutting with scissors and stamping with an eraser stamp.

Horiguchi: Exactly. I think all of that’s the same thing..

ーー: Do you draw every day?

Horiguchi: I’d like to say I do, but when it turns into a habit I find it harder to draw with a fresh mind. So some days I actually avoid drawing for that reason..

ーー: What do you think it is to draw or write?

Horiguchi: Hmm. It makes it feel like my feelings have all balanced out. Like everything is calculated out to zero, and my feelings are reset.

ーー: Yeah.

Horiguchi: By drawing, it’s like I’m having a conversation with myself. I’m facing my internal self and my feelings head on.

ーー: In drawing, you’re able to face yourself.

Horiguchi: Sometimes I end up drawing things that don’t even reflect my thoughts—it’s like I’m channeling someone else.

ーー: That’s fascinating. Maybe it’s easier to feel that way when you’re drawing, rather than writing words out.

Horiguchi: That’s true. When you’re writing words you’re thinking at the same time.

ーー: It was a lot of fun seeing where you work. Could you close up our talk today by introducing some of your favorite tools?

Horiguchi: I use a Pilot Frixion Ballism 038 pretty often. I’ve also got a Pilot Marushin Twin Marker, which has a rounded pen tip that I like. The Sakura My Name markers are really nice to write with, too. I actually like oil-based inks more than water-based inks; water-based inks turn out a little thin, but oil-based inks apply on nice and thick so they look bolder.

ーー: Thank you for meeting with us today. We look forward to seeing what you do in the future.

(End)

Share

SEASON 2

SEASON 1