Illustrate the Holiday Mood
Illustration by Jazzy Yuan
As the year comes to an end, there are important festivals to celebrate both in the East and the West. In Asia, the traditional Lunar New Year is celebrated in early spring, usually falling in January or February according to the Lunar calendar. This festive occasion is marked by traditional events such as eating dumplings, playing with firecrackers, and hanging lanterns. Many families also take the opportunity to travel and explore during this long holiday.
On the other hand, Christmas has become one of the most important festivals around the world. Exchanging gifts, drinking mulled wine, and baking Christmas puddings have become popular traditions. It's a time for relaxation and countdown to the new year, with people eagerly anticipating the arrival of the holiday season.
During this festive time, illustrators are busy creating beautiful and joyful illustrations to capture the holiday spirit. They bring their creativity to life through their artwork, adding to the festive atmosphere with their unique styles and designs.
For those who are curious about what illustrators recommend to read during the holiday season, we have compiled a book list for holiday inspiration. This list can be a valuable reference for Christmas gift choices, offering a range of options to explore and enjoy during the holiday season.
Illustration by Caper’s artists
Caper’s Illustrators often depict New Year's events in commissioned works.
Illustration by CBTD
Baidu commissioned our artist CBTD to create a Christmas banner with traditional festival elements and characters.
Illustration by Fanzeng
Artist Fanzeng portrays a lonely but warm Christmas in his best-selling picture books.
Jiatong Liu’s Christmas illustration is very romantic and delicate. In this artwork, we can enter a fairy-tale world involuntarily.
Illustration by Jiatong Liu
Illustrators' holiday booklists
Aki Jiang recommends an out-of-print and highly treasured book called "Zwarte Beertjes" by Dutch Miffy creator Dick Bruna. Dick Bruna, known for his skills as a writer, graphic designer, and illustrator, showcases his collection of cover designs for AW Bruna & Zoon's Pocket Series detective series, among others. Bruna's work inspires Aki Jiang with its simple graphical combinations and the ability to deliver the graphic narrative in a direct way, proving that simplicity can be powerful in visual storytelling.
Jazzy Yuan suggests a collection of cover and interior illustrations from the famous French weekly magazine La Vie Parisienne, which focuses on the Art Deco style of illustration. This collection features works by well-known artists that express their unique understanding of illustrations and graphical images from the 20th century, making it an intriguing choice for holiday reading.
Momo Shou recommends a picture book titled "HUNDRED: What You Learn in a Lifetime" as her favorite book to read during the holiday season. This book offers insights and reflections on life through captivating illustrations, making it a thought-provoking and enjoyable read during the holiday break.
Vivienne Shao, a devoted Harry Potter fan, suggests the Harry Potter series as the perfect choice for holiday reading. J.K. Rowling's magical world of wizards and witches never fails to captivate readers and take them on a thrilling adventure filled with imagination and wonder.
Yusa Cui recommends a picture book that is both enjoyable and interactive. The book is a collection of Misaki Kawai's collage of paints, paper, and fabric, showcasing the happiness of creating illustrations through the combination of different materials and patterns. It's a perfect choice for some creative interaction with friends during the holiday season.
Zaoyu Lin loves the work of French cartoonist Moebius and recommends his picture book titled "40 Days in the Desert." Moebius's whimsical ideas and fine-line illustrations create a magical world that sparks the imagination, making it a captivating read for the holiday season.