Artist Creates Intricate Leaf Carvings

2025 - Volume #49, Issue #6, Page #20

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Lito from Kanagawa, Japan, creates intricately carved, whimsical art from a single leaf.
    “My journey into art began through necessity rather than traditional artistic training,” the artist says. “In 2018, I was diagnosed with ADHD. I started my Twitter account to document and share my experiences with this condition, posting daily about my struggles and daily life. I left my job shortly after and began studying ADHD more deeply. This led to the discovery that the intense focus characteristic of ADHD could be channeled into art. I transitioned from posting about my disability to sharing art pieces.”
    Lito initially experimented with various artistic styles, including scratch art, ballpoint pen drawings, and other techniques that showcased his detailed craftsmanship and harnessed his intense focus.
    “Despite creating good work, the public response was middling,” he says. “I was losing money and not growing my audience.”
    Things changed when he discovered leaf-cutting art by a Spanish artist.
    “That was it,” Lito says. “I immediately went out to collect leaves. Leaf cutting became my chosen means of expression. I had no money to study painting or buy art supplies, no knowledge of color theory, and felt I lacked artistic skills. However, I could draw simple animals, and leaf cutting made it possible to create beautiful works even with a poor sense of color. Above all, the palm-sized leaf canvas gave me the joy of challenging myself to create intricate expressions within the limited space.”
    Lito uses a design knife to carefully cut out details, including holes and lines less than 1 mm wide.
    “It requires patience and precision to cut each element meticulously and reliably,” he says.
    Simple designs take him between two and three hours, while more detailed carvings can take up to eight hours to complete. He prepares the fresh leaves in advance by soaking them in a special liquid and then drying them.
    “Using dried leaves makes it easier to cut them and also allows me to preserve my work.”
    On Instagram, Lito shares his finished artwork along with progress photos that show the light sketches he makes on each leaf before carving.
    He currently displays his work at art exhibits across Japan and looks forward to expanding his exhibits worldwide. In 2024, a private museum, “Lito Leaf Art Museum Fukushima,” opened in Fukushima, Japan.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lito Leaf Art (www.lito-leafart.com; Instagram: @lito_leafart).

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Artist Creates Intricate Leaf Carvings Lito from Kanagawa, Japan, creates intricately carved, whimsical art from a single leaf. “My journey into art began through necessity rather than traditional artistic training,” the artist says. “In 2018, I was diagnosed with ADHD. I started my Twitter account to document and share my experiences with this condition, posting daily about my struggles and daily life. I left my job shortly after and began studying ADHD more deeply. This led to the discovery that the intense focus characteristic of ADHD could be channeled into art. I transitioned from posting about my disability to sharing art pieces.” Lito initially experimented with various artistic styles, including scratch art, ballpoint pen drawings, and other techniques that showcased his detailed craftsmanship and harnessed his intense focus. “Despite creating good work, the public response was middling,” he says. “I was losing money and not growing my audience.” Things changed when he discovered leaf-cutting art by a Spanish artist. “That was it,” Lito says. “I immediately went out to collect leaves. Leaf cutting became my chosen means of expression. I had no money to study painting or buy art supplies, no knowledge of color theory, and felt I lacked artistic skills. However, I could draw simple animals, and leaf cutting made it possible to create beautiful works even with a poor sense of color. Above all, the palm-sized leaf canvas gave me the joy of challenging myself to create intricate expressions within the limited space.” Lito uses a design knife to carefully cut out details, including holes and lines less than 1 mm wide. “It requires patience and precision to cut each element meticulously and reliably,” he says. Simple designs take him between two and three hours, while more detailed carvings can take up to eight hours to complete. He prepares the fresh leaves in advance by soaking them in a special liquid and then drying them. “Using dried leaves makes it easier to cut them and also allows me to preserve my work.” On Instagram, Lito shares his finished artwork along with progress photos that show the light sketches he makes on each leaf before carving. He currently displays his work at art exhibits across Japan and looks forward to expanding his exhibits worldwide. In 2024, a private museum, “Lito Leaf Art Museum Fukushima,” opened in Fukushima, Japan. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lito Leaf Art (www.lito-leafart.com; Instagram: @lito_leafart).

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