Tomokazu Komiya has been illustrationg Pokémon cards since their creation, and man am I glad for it! I could really look at his artwork for hours, all his cards have such a distinct look. Earlier illustrations had a heavier stroke and looked more painterly, wheras his newer cards tend to have more intricate lines. I will admit I generally prefer the earlier cards more, but the new ones are really great as well!
I think part of what makes his cards so amazing is that they often prioritise personality over staying on-model, which creates super fun and special cards. This mankey card above is one of my all-time favorites. Mankey is known for it's short temper, and Komiya described the card as depicting a Mankey that is angry despite a rainbow just showing up.
I wish I could be more eloquent in describing why I like these cards so much. I think at the end of the day it comes down to shapes, colors, and personality. Komiya is so skilled at combining shapes and colors in a way that looks appealing. Each of his illustrations really is a painting in its own right. I will continue to look to him for inspiration, and hope to one day evoke such strong emotion with my own art.
Now you may be thinking "EJ these are literally trading cards! Have you collected them or what?" And the answer is: No! I wish!! It's just too expensive... But from time to time I do indulge in getting a couple, so perhaps one day I will have collected my favorites at least.
Evolution Lines
Here are a couple of the evolution lines he's illustrated! None of these lists will be comprehensive, these are just some of my favorites! (WIP)
