BOOK DESIGN 2021
Have You Seen Their Hearts!
I utilized Wombo and Photoshop to create a book about feminism in the 1950s. To do this, I gathered words, images, and photos from old magazines like Maclean’s, Life, and the Australian Women’s Weekly. These pieces came together to show the female experience of that time. Some pages have words, others have pictures made with Photoshop, Prequel, and Wombo. The artwork mixes influences from Baroque and Synthwave, along with depictions of women from that time, often drawn by men. I carefully put together women from the vintage magazines to fit the theme. When I couldn't find a word, I added text to make the poetry easier to read. The book doesn't have a story; each page shares a message about feminism in the 1950s.
Shadow Man
For this project, I was tasked with creating a chapbook. Drawing upon my background in illustration, I made the deliberate decision to focus on hand-drawn panels rather than relying solely on digital tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. The narrative of the chapbook delves into the theme of paranoia and its transformative power, exploring how our fears can manifest into tangible realities. Opting for a narrative style reminiscent of childhood horror, the story revolves around a character named Takuya, haunted by a sinister entity known as the shadow man. As Takuya's paranoia intensifies, the shadow man becomes an ever-present threat, tormenting him relentlessly, especially during the night. A pivotal moment occurs when Takuya seeks solace in his parents, only to discover that the shadow man has infiltrated even his most intimate refuge.
This project provided an opportunity to explore illustration and typography within the context of editorial storytelling, contributing to a professionally executed final product.
The Beldam Returns
For this project, I wanted to explore horror further, building on what I did in the chapbook project. This time, I drew inspiration from the movie 'Coraline'. I was particularly fascinated by the tunnel Coraline goes through to the "other side". To capture this, I experimented with cut-out pages resembling the tunnel. I've included digital previews to give an idea of the final look. Each page showcases illustrations representing different parts of the movie, with colors gradually darkening, akin to Coraline's journey through the tunnel.
“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
Scroll Project
My scroll draws inspiration from historical Japanese and Chinese scrolls. Using Procreate, I illustrated everything with watercolor and ink brushes. The text on the scroll translates to “Spring is passing. The birds cry, and the fishes’ eyes are with tears.” It's a haiku by Matsuo Basho, conveying the fleeting nature of spring and the sadness of eternal farewells. As it's my favorite haiku by him, I decided to incorporate it into my scroll.
Working on a large-scale canvas presented challenges, but it was manageable. I had the opportunity to explore a gritty and elegant art style, while intentionally infusing a modern twist. The stark ink contrasts deviate from the traditional aesthetic of Japanese and Chinese scrolls, adding a unique dimension to my creation.