When he's not working a full-time job as a company employee, Japanese Illustrator Upar creates charming and mostly cheerful vignettes of fictional cities with apparent influences from Europe and occasional hints of fantasy mixed in.

On his Twitter profile, Upar explains that he likes to draw moments of "going out somewhere." Indeed, the young girls in his illustrations seem to be either headed somewhere, waiting for someone or simply enjoying the moment. At the same time, it almost feels as if we are being lured by the gentle wind that seems to freely flow through his compositions, inviting us to go for a stroll in the city.

Here are just a few of our favorites:

Stepping Out

We all know the feeling of being reminded of the world outside by a breeze coming in through an open window. Time to take a stroll?

Title: 部屋 (Room)

Has she just stepped outside? Is she waiting for a friend to show up?

Title: この場所で (At this spot)

A leisurely moment with a cat at her side. Is someone coming down the stairs?

Title: 昼下がり (Early afternoon)

Going Somewhere

Title: あてのない旅　(An unplanned trip)

Title: 裏道 (Back street)

Between City and Sea

With permission from Upar (@58pin_oekaki)

Title: ハーバータウン (Harbor Town)

With permission from Upar (@58pin_oekaki)

Title: 港 (Harbor)

Other

A French bakery stand

With permission from Upar (@58pin_oekaki)

Fantasy

Upar also occasionally depicts fantasy worlds. This fox-eared girl seems to be heading out on an urban sketching excursion.

With permission from Upar (@58pin_oekaki)

Title: 街 (City)

With permission from Upar (@58pin_oekaki)

Title: 図書館 (Library)

Commmissions

Upar also designs characters and creates artwork on commission for events and music videos.

For example, he contributed original art for the music video for 夏空を見あげて Natsuzora wo miagete (Look up at the summer sky), by Akki.

---

If you'd like to fully explore his Upar World, please follow him on Twitter and check out his Pixiv page.