Japanese Artist Creates Stunning Leaf Art to Cope with ADHD
Have you ever considered leaves to be a possible “canvas for art� Well, most of us may not have imagined them in this way. But Lito, a Japanese artist, creates incredibly intricate leaf art designs using soft, delicate leaves as the canvas.
Creativity and imagination have no bounds, just as Lito’s brimming ideas for his marvelous masterpieces on a variety of themes. No wonder Lito’s artwork has captured the attention of many people around the world. The proof of this is his popular Instagram name, “lito_leafart,†which has more than 4,500,00 followers as of January 2023.
A self-taught artist, Lito has been meticulously pursuing his hobby and passion and has turned them into his profession since 2020. He initially started making designs using paper. Then, he was inspired by a Spanish artist who showcased leaf art. Since then, he has been working on this art and improving his skills exponentially with every work.
Lito’s Unique Leaf Art Masterpieces
Lito’s uniqueness sprouts from the unexpected themes and designs of his artworks. His themes are varied – human beings, animals, buildings, artifacts, and many more. In many of his works, the vein of the leaves acts as the ground, and he uses one-half of the leaf for carving his designs.
Most of his works use the sky as the backdrop. Once the design is done, he lifts the leaves up and takes a picture with the sky as the background. Due to this, he has to complete his work during the day well before sunset to get the exact lighting he wants for the picture.
What Makes Lito’s Leaf Art Designs So Special?
Lito’s artwork cut-outs are so complex yet so precise and detailed despite the delicate and soft texture of leaves.
Some of his artworks even tell a story, the interpretation of which is left to the eyes of the beholder!
A family of penguins atop a turtle highlights his precision and detailing of the characters in his artwork.
Now, take a look at an elephant using its tusk to give a flower to a bird sitting on a tree. But that’s not all! The setting of a forest is established by the grass as well as the other animals in the design.
Some of his works reflect a social theme, too. Take a look at a woman pushing the wheelchair of another person, but the most moving part of this design is the child and the dog running toward them.
Lito held a solo show with just 30 leaf-art designs in May of 2021 in Tokyo. All the artworks were sold. Surprisingly, one of the designs fetched him 150,000 yen ($1,355). Needless to say, there was absolutely no looking back after that. He has been conducting one exhibition after the other since then. His collection of artworks that was published in 2021 sold 50,000 copies and went for reprint within a few months.
Managing ADHD Through Art
“It’s not the disability that defines you; it’s how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with,†Jim Abbott, the baseball pitcher, once said.
Lito is a classic example of an achiever who did just that. As a person suffering from ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Lito had attention difficulties and hyperactivity issues. This affected his social interaction and also normal functioning in his daily life.
By his own admission, leaf art helped Lito to develop patience and calm him down, thanks to the precision and concentration required for his artworks. Each of his designs takes him several hours to complete, and he finishes them in one stretch.
Typically, Lito does one leaf art every day. Though the leaves wilt over time, his creativity and collections continue to inspire everyone.
