The notes probably tell Komiya when the Pokémon are too
on model, but after browsing his art on pkmncards, some of the Pokémon are more on-model than others, so I’m sure the notes sometimes lean in the other direction. Charmeleon from Expedition has shakier edges than modern Komiya art, and Jynx from Silver Tempest is one of the most off-model illustrations in the past year, especially compared to Sandile, who is almost completely on-model.
Seeing Komiya’s feedback notes would be a fascinating insight into what goes into his illustrations, though. Remember, he was interviewed for this contest last year, so we do have many insights to go off of already.
https://www.ptcgic-cr.com/2024/en/column/article-6/
I’m curious about what you mean by “interpret.” Some of Komiya’s art, like Drampa from Evolving Skies, is very abstract, while some other pieces, like all the ones with people screaming (including the Drowzee Illustration Rare from Scarlet & Violet), are very surrealist, but others, like Cyndaquil from Breakthrough, have very idyllic and readable scenes, like the Fire Mouse Pokémon snoozing contently, draped over a pile of firewood while a fire softly crackles on the hearth.
That being said, the more stylized artwork is, the more divided people can be over it. Komiya is, in many ways, the classic stylized artist, though not the first, since some other artists who debuted during the Vending Series hand drew their cards with crayons. Not being able to interpret Komiya’s illustrations is a fair way of expressing why you have a hard time enjoying it, though. I still don’t think I know what is happening on the aforementioned Drampa, though it doesn’t bother me.
(Personally, my favorite Komiyama illustrations are Cyndaquil from Breakpoint and Alolan Vulpix from Ultra Prism.)
