Keiji Terakoshi's Profile

[Simplified personal history]

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Born in Toyama Prefecture (Northern Japan).

1968

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In summer, impressed by the Rembrandt's pictures, especially his representation of the light & shade. Started to draw pictures.

1969

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After graduated from Urawa senior high school, studied classic and modern painting, and Dadaism for five years by himself.

1975

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Studied the methodology of composing images at the Bigakko (Chiyoda ward, Tokyo).

1976

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Studied the painting method of miniature at the Bigakko.

1979

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Started drawing illustrations for publication like travel guide books, scientific magazines, and so on.

1981

His works were selected for the yearly book "ILLUSTRATION IN JAPAN" (Kodansha) for the first time, which contains Japanese famous artist's works.

Drew illustrations for the scientific magazine "Newton" from the first issue to 1989.

1983

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Started drawing illustrations of "Japanese birds" series for the monthly education magazine "The Education Notebook". This series continued 48 times, and many of those birds are exhibited in this gallery now.

1985

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Started drawing illustrations of "Animals at crisis of the extinction" series for the scientific magazine "Utan" (Gakken), and some of those animals are exhibited in this gallery now.

1986

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Yearly book "illustration file" (Genkosha), which contains selected illustrators' works, was published. From the first issue, his works have been invited every year.

1987

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From this year to 1990 (when it finished the publication), he had been one of the invited illustrators for the yearly book "ILLUSTRATION IN JAPAN".

1988

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Drew the illustration of the Original Japanese & Sinomegaceros yabei for the poster of "The Origin of the Japanese" exhibition (at The National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo).

1990

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Drew the illustration of Maiasaura for the poster of exhibition "Dinosaur Collection of The Museum of The Rockies, Montana State University" (at The National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo).

1993

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Drew plenty of illustrations of dinosaurs for the poster etc. of the exhibition "The DINO-PARK" (at BIG EGG CITY, Tokyo).

1994

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Started drawing with computer (using Photoshop). Since this year, his painting style changed into 2D or 3D digital, not acrylic.

1995

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Drew illustrations of chipmunks, animals, and birds for the picture books for children "Chipmunk" and "The House of Small Lives" (froebel-kan).

1996

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Participated in "Super illustration exhibition: drawings of nature of space and the earth" with Mr. Kazuaki Iwasaki, Mr. Hisashi Saitoh, and Mr. Ukei Tomori (at Aichi prefecture).

Drew illustrations of dinosaurs for the picture book for children "Dinosaurs" (froebel-kan).

Established his website "Gallery DOFU-AN".

Published Photoshop technique book "Photoshop Super Illustration" (Graphic-sha), which have got good reputation.

Started "Photoshop lecture" on "Gallery DOFU-AN" in March (until 2001).

Drew illustrations for the picture book for children "Red Swamp Crawfish" (froebel-kan).

Drew the illustration map of "Huis Ten Bosch", an amusement park at Nagasaki prefecture (JTB).

Drew illustrations for the picture book for children "Honey Bee" (froebel-kan).

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Released CD-R version "Photoshop Super Illustration" (DOFU-AN, until 2006).

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Drew illustrations for the picture book for children "Ladybug" (froebel-kan).

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Drew cover illustrations for the monthly magazine "Nikkei Biotechnology & Business" (Nikkei Business Publication, until June 2002).

2002

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Drew illustrations for the picture book for children "Pill Bug" (froebel-kan).

2003

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January, revised "Gallery DOFU-AN" greatly.

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Drew cuts for the monthly column titled "To Children & Adults" written by Masao Kawai (The Tokyo Shinbun news paper) until August 2004.

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Drew illustrations for the educational pictorial book for children "Dinosaurs" (Hikarinokuni).

2004

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Drew illustrations for the picture book for children "Dinosaurs" (froebel-kan).

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Drew illustrations for the front cover & frontispiece of the dictionary "The Way of Counting" (Shogakukan).

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Jointly wrote the Photoshop technique book "Practical Technique of Photoshop for Illustrators" (Genkosha).

2005

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March, his illustration of Mammoth was selected for the composition of commemorative stamp of "EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN" (click here for more info )

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Participated in the revised edition of "The Text of Guidance Course" (Kodansha famous schools), the training course for illustrators.

2006

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January, changed his drawing system to Mac OSX.

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November, revised "Gallery DOFU-AN" greatly.

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Drew plenty of illustrations for the picture books for children "The Dinosaurs Great Collection", "Perfect Dinosaurs Illustration Book", etc. (Nagaokashoten).

2007

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April, visitors to "Gallery DOFU-AN" exceeded a hundred thousand.

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Published "Dinosaurs: Keiji Terakoshi's World" (froebel-kan), his first personal anthology of dinosaurs works.

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Drew illustrations for the new picture book for children "Red Swamp Crawfish" (froebel-kan).

[Books - in a chronological order]

1991

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"Nature illustration" (joint work) / Tokuma shoten

Anthology of a dozen of Japanese illustrators mainly drawing lives. Contains his 31 illustrations.

1992

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"ANIMAL ILLUSTRATIONS" (joint work) / Bijutsu shuppan

Anthology of a dozen of Japanese illustrators mainly drawing lives. Contains his 13 illustrations.

1995

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"Chipmunk" (Kinderbook Nature series) / froebel-kan

Afterward, he drew illustrations for this series for children: "The Houses of Small Lives", "Ladybug", "Red Swamp Crawfish", "Honey Bee", "Dinosaurs", "Pill Bug", and so on.
Kinderbooks are subscribed only through kindergartens and nursery schools since the first publication more than 80 years ago (click here for more info).

1998

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"Photoshop Super Illustration: All of Superreal Technique" / Graphic-sha

It shows in detail the process of how the author draws pictures by Adobe Photoshop 4.0.

2003

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"Dinosaurs" (Child picture book "Mio" No.6) / Hikarinokuni

Made the plots by himself, and drew illustrations for the whole 64 pages.

2007

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"Ladybug" (Loving nature "Daisuki shizen" / insect 1) / froebel-kan

"Ladybug", one of most popular titles selected from the monthly Kinderbook Nature series, was published in the form of a hardcover book, and is now widely available at bookstores. This is a scientific picture book for children that depicts life of seven spotted ladybugs in the story style.
...

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"Pill Bug" (Loving nature "Daisuki shizen" / insect 2) / froebel-kan

"Pill Bug", one of mos popular titles selected from the monthly Kinderbook Nature series, was published in the form of a hardcover book, and is now widely available at bookstores. This is a scientific picture book for children that depicts behavior of pill bugs, a favorite with children.
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"The Dinosaurs Great Collection"
"Perfect Dinosaurs Illustration Book" / Nagaokashoten

These books for children contain works on the prehistoric lives and over 60 species of representative dinosaurs. As variations, there are "Dinosaurs Magnetic Seal Book" and "Dinosaurs Figure Illustration Book".
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"Dinosaurs: Keiji Terakoshi's World" / froebel-kan

This is his first personal anthology of illustrations, containing over 160 works of dinosaurs. All works have author's comments, and there are eight pages of explanations of how to draw illustrations by Adobe Photoshop.
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[Specialized publications concerning his techniques or works]

1981

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"ILLUSTRATION IN JAPAN" / Kodansha

His works were selected for this book for the first time. He had been one of the invited illustrators from 1987 until 1990, when the publication was discontinued.

1984

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"Realistic Illustrations in Japan" / Graphic-sha

4 works were chosen (for 2 pages).

1985

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"Atelier" No.698 / Atelier publisher

7 works were picked out (for opening 7 pages).

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"Illustration" No.37 / Genkosha

His works and techniques were featured with 12 pages as "Keiji Terakoshi's HOW TO DRAW".

1986

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"DESIGNERS' WORKSHOP" No.15 / Bijutsu shuppan

His works, techniques, and comments were featured with 5 pages as "Illustration Part 2 -Restoration of Techne".

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"Illustration today" / Graphic-sha

3 works were chosen.

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"Illustration file" / Genkosha

His works have been invited since the first issue throughout today (as mentioned above).

1987

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"Realistic Illustrations in Japan 2" / Graphic-sha

2 works were chosen.

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"Illustration dictionary part 1" / Visual design institute

This book demonstrates many works with various analyses and comments for student. 7 of his works were selected as examples.

1991

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"Nature illustration" (joint work) / Tokuma shoten

Anthology of a dozen of Japanese illustrators mainly drawing lives. Contains his 31 illustrations (as mentioned above).

1992

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"Animal Illustrations" (joint work) / Bijutsu shuppan

Anthology of a dozen of Japanese illustrators mainly drawing lives. Contains his 13 illustrations (as mentioned above).

1994

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"SUPER DESIGNING" No.11 / Genko-sha

His digital works and techniques were featured with 4 pages as "Art Works on the Macintosh".

1995

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"illustration" No.99 / Genko-sha

His digital works and techniques were featured as "Technique of using pen-tablet perfectly".

1998

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"AGOSTO Art & Design No.01" / Agosto

His Photoshop techniques were featured with 8 pages as "The post CG realism".

1999

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"Photoshop Professionals Vol.7" / MdN

His works and techniques were featured with 6 pages, mainly how to use the custom-brushes.

2002

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"MdN CREATOR'S FILE / 340 Creators of 21st century" / MdN

His profile and main works were selected and introduced.

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"COMMERCIAL PHOTO 2002/10" / Genko-sha

2 recent works were introduced as the feature on "15 illustrators' Digital Work File".

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"Computer Graphics World" / IDG Japan

His works, techniques, and comments were featured with 4 pages as "Masterly skills of the digital illustrators".

2004

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"The practical technique of Photoshop for illustrators" / Genko-sha

His several works and techniques were introduced with 9 pages, with a special focus on the effect of layers.

2005

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The training course of illustrator "The Text of Guidance Course" / Kodansha famous schools

His 2 works and a comment about originality were appeared on the theme of "Miniaturistic Illustration".
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[Award History]

He hasn't had any interest in entry into competitions, nor in holding private exhibition.
And he has no experience of winning a prize, or awarding one.