COLOR A WORLD OF WONDER
See every design in full color!
KEN MATSUDA
Ecotopia
COLOR A WORLD OF WONDER
© 2020 Ken Matsuda
© 2020 Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd.
This book was first designed and published in Japan in 2020 by Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd., as MATSUDA KEN NURIESHU. This English edition was published in 2025 by Get Creative 6, an imprint of Mixed Media Resources LLC.
English translation rights arranged with Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd., through Japan UNI Agency, Inc., and LibriSource, Inc.
Original Edition Creative Staff
Book design: Kaho Magara (Yoshi-des.)
Photos: Yumiko Yokota (STUDIO BANBAN)
Special thanks: Holbein Art Materials Inc., Mijello Japan Planning and editing: Chihiro Tsukamoto
Foreign edition production and management: Takako Motoki, Yuki Yamaguchi (Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd.)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage-and-retrieval systems— without permission of the publisher.
The written instructions and designs in this book are intended for the personal, noncommercial use of the retail purchaser and are under federal copyright laws; they are not to be reproduced in any form for commercial use. Permission is granted to photocopy content for the personal use of the retail purchaser.
The EEA authorized representative is Authorised Rep Compliance Ltd., Ground Floor, 71 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, D02 P593, Ireland (www.arccompliance.com).
ISBN 978-1-68462-099-9
Manufactured in China
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
First Edition
Welcome to my fantastical animal kingdoms!
An enchanting world of animals, reptiles, birds, insects, and more awaits you. There are no rules for coloring here—give life to these creatures with all the wonderful colors your imagination can conjure!
—Ken Matsuda
Coloring with Watercolors
Here are some techniques I commonly use with watercolors.
Tools and Materials
PAINTBRUSHES
You’ll need two types: a broad brush for painting wide areas and a fine-tipped brush for detail work.
Eye: Add light blue to establish the overall tone. There are shadows under the eyelids; use a darker blue to create depth.
Nose: The nose tends to be moist and has highlights. Leaving certain areas white creates a shiny appearance.
WATERCOLOR PAINTS
Use your favorites. I like Holbein; for particularly vibrant sections, I use Mijello.
Face: In general, paint with light yellow first, then gradually add darker colors to create contrast at key points. It might be helpful to imagine unevenness when coloring areas like under the eyes.
Ear: Represent the white ear fur by leaving the paper’s surface white. Then, being mindful of the shadows cast by the ear fur, use slightly darker colors to render depth.
Coloring with Pencils
Here are some pointers for coloring the same fennec fox but this time with colored pencils. As you can see, the overall feel of the artwork changes dramatically.
Thoughts on Color
I mainly draw creatures and flowers, and when I add color to them, I ponder things like: “Should this part be red? Or maybe white would be better...” And despite all my thoughtful efforts, there are often moments when I want to simply redo everything!
I hope those of you who pick up this book and experience the dilemma of “What color should I use here?” will ultimately realize that it doesn’t matter. You should color freely and create artworks that even I can’t imagine!
It would be my delight for anyone, of any age, to enjoy the sheer pleasure of coloring the artworks in this book. And if at some point you wonder, “Does Mr. Matsuda paint things like this every day?” that would make me happy too!
For inspiration, I have included a selection of designs from the book that I have fully colored in. Following those, I’ve included QR codes that will lead you to fully colored versions on my Instagram page of the rest of the designs in the book.
My greatest hope, however, is that you will feel free to color your artworks with any colors you envision!
Carrier Memories of a Shell
Red Claws Migration
Ocean Current Ear of a Rice Plant
Snake Eater Autumn Bird
About the Artist
Ken Matsuda creates his works using ink and watercolor, his primary inspiration being the symbiotic relationship between animals and plants.
To explore more of his work, visit him on Instagram @keso1005.
Ken Matsuda lives in Japan.
Color an Extraordinary World of Nature’s Wonder
Discover the stunning creative designs of artist Ken Matsuda—giant tortoises and hermit crabs carrying whole ecosystems on their backs, whales and penguins in a graceful dance, foxes and koalas wreathed in beautiful botanicals, and so much more. For inspiration, two step-by-step coloring tutorials and nine designs colored by the artist are included. As an added bonus, there are QR codes that lead to colored renderings of the rest of the artworks on Ken Matsuda’s Instagram page.
