When you open Microsoft Excel, chances are you’re preparing to crunch numbers, organize data, or maybe build a chart. But for Japanese artist Tatsuo Horiuchi, Excel is something else entirely: a blank canvas.
For over 15 years, Horiuchi has been creating jaw-dropping digital art that captures the essence of Japan’s natural beauty — all within the seemingly rigid confines of Microsoft Excel. From panoramic mountain ranges to delicate cherry blossoms, his works are composed not with brushes or Photoshop, but with Excel’s humble vector tools.
Painting with Cells
Horiuchi’s journey began after retirement. Wanting to try painting, he wasn’t keen on buying art supplies or paying for digital design software. Then he noticed that Excel came pre-installed on his computer — and decided to experiment.
While others use Excel to build financial models, Horiuchi uses its Autoshape feature to draw and layer hundreds of shapes with precise color gradients. The results? Astonishing. His art portrays rural life, seasonal landscapes, and traditional festivals in vivid detail — all within a program best known for spreadsheets.
In fact, he prefers Excel over Microsoft Paint, claiming it offers “more functions and is easier to use.”
Mastering the Unexpected
What makes Horiuchi’s story so compelling isn’t just the novelty — it’s the skill. His works have won digital art contests and have been featured in exhibitions. Judges are often shocked to discover that these intricate, almost meditative scenes were created in a spreadsheet program.
He doesn’t use macros, plugins, or add-ons. Just patience, imagination, and a mastery of a tool most people overlook as an artistic medium.
A Lesson in Creative Thinking
Tatsuo Horiuchi’s art reminds us that creativity isn’t about the tools — it’s about how you use them. He saw potential where no one else did and proved that even the most utilitarian software can become a platform for beauty.
