Jillian Tamaki’s blog has been one of my favorites to keep tabs on, it has wonderful daily serving ranging from pencil sketches and watercolor studies to finished illustrations. Her drawings have a great feeling of looseness, she really makes it look easy. If you haven’t read Skim the fantastic graphic novel Jillian illustrated and her cousin Mariko wrote, you really are missing out, but here’s some help. Lastly here’s her stunning Totoro Forest piece.

“My Neighbor Totoro” is one of my favourite Ghibli films. I think because it’s so gentle and, somewhat paradoxically, “real”. I love that the movement of the children in Miyzaki’s films is so nuanced and observed and that the natural world is subtly pushed and pulled, becoming a character unto itself. I derive a lot of inspiration from his vision.” — Jillian Tamaki