Discover the ethereal dreams of Kinuko Y. Craft, a celebrated illustrator and visual storyteller known for her meticulous attention to detail.

Our Visions of Paradise series showcases a compelling design originally created by Craft as cover art for the Freda Warrington fantasy novel Grail of the Summer Stars. Touching on themes of femininity, ancient mythology, and contemporary spirituality, this piece is informed equally by Craft’s love of fine art and her desire to help an author tell a story. According to the artist, she immerses herself in the novel’s world before developing a cover image, allowing her own fantasy to bring out the “flavour” of the book.

Born in Japan, Craft was influenced by her calligrapher grandfather and studied fine art at the Kanazawa Bidai before moving to the United States to attend the Art Institute of Chicago. Today, her art is highly exhibited in public and private collections around the world, including at the Smithsonian, the National Geographic Society, and the Borsini-Burr Gallery in California, in addition to appearing on book covers. We are thrilled to bring her evocative imagery to the Paperblanks collection, and hope her work inspires you to bring your own flavour to the pages within.