77-Year-Old Man “Paints” Beautiful Japanese Landscapes on Excel Spreadsheets

Tatsuo Horuichi Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets Japanese Landscape Paintings

While most digital artists opt to use Photoshop or other similar digital imaging software, 77-year-old Japanese artist Tatsuo Horiuchi chooses to work with Microsoft Excel to produce his beautiful works of art. His “paintings” are remarkably intricate works that mimic traditional Japanese paintings that offer scenic views of natural landscapes rich with cultural motifs.

The artist says, “I never used Excel at work but I saw other people making pretty graphs and thought, ‘I could probably draw with that.'” He adds, “Graphics software is expensive but Excel comes pre-installed in most computers… And it has more functions and is easier to use than [Microsoft] Paint.”

Horiuchi even dabbled with Microsoft Word, but found it to be too restrictive in its paper sizing. There is far more freedom for the artist to expand on his pieces in Excel. Since his discovery of the program's artistic functions and his ability to utilize the software's capabilities, Horiuchi has gone on to win competitions with his work, most notably taking first prize at the Excel Autoshape Art Contest in 2006.

Having gained worldwide praise over the last few years, Horiuchi has now caught the attention of Great Big Story. The artist invited GBS into his home, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his process.

77-year-old Japanese artist Tatsuo Horiuchi chooses to “paint” with Microsoft Excel.

Tatsuo Horuichi Excel Spreadsheet Art

His colorful creations are remarkable works of art.

Tatsuo Horuichi Excel Spreadsheet Art

Tatsuo Horuichi Excel Spreadsheet Art

It's hard to believe that these lifelike illustrations were made on Excel spreadsheets, which are typically used to crunch numbers.

Tatsuo Horuichi Excel Spreadsheet Art

Tatsuo Horuichi Excel Spreadsheet Art

But here's a look at a Japanese landscape painting he made on an actual Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Tatsuo Horuichi Excel Spreadsheet Art

Watch as Horiuchi invites Great Big Story into his home for a behind-the-scenes look at his process.

Tatsuo Horiuchi: Website | Archive

This article has been edited and updated.

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Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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