JEN'S JOURNEY
2023 Picture Book Illustration
This story is about a little girl named Jen, who feels lonely and embarks on a journey to find companionship and joy. During one day, she gradually realizes that beautiful things have surrounded her, and she is not alone.
ROLE
Story Narrator
Illustration
Page Editing
TIME
2023.3, 1 month
CLIENT
Self-interest
TOOL
Procreate
Photoshop
WHY I DREW THIS PICTURE BOOK
Picture books are a kind of visual literature, symbolizing the world through visual images composed of colors and patterns, allowing readers to interpret it from a visual perspective.
I draw Jen's story to help people who are still trapped in self-isolation, self-limitation, loneliness and helplessness. They can be growing adolescents, students and workers who are wandering outside, or people who feel lonely in their world. This story mirrors my own experience when I study abroad as a young age. There were times when I felt lonely and disconnected. Jen’s journey is a process of self-discovery. As she embarks on her quest for companionship, she not only discovers the beautiful things around her but also uncovers her inner strength and independence. Eventually, Jen comes to realize that she is not truly alone, and through this, I also learned to comfort no matter what challenges or difficulties life brings, there will always be beautiful things and love around us; we just need to open our hearts to find and accept them.
STORY ARC
This story follows Jen’s journey as she moves from inner loneliness and confusion to self-awareness and redemption. Through changes in color, interactions with others, and internal shifts, the narrative unfolds layer by layer, ultimately presenting a profound theme of growth and self-acceptance.
ARTISTIC STYLE
My illustrations unitize the following 3 specific types: Flat Illustration, Hand-draw style, and Modern Fairy Tale illustration. These styles are often used in children’s picture books, animated scene designs, or creative posters. It is both simple and rich in narrative elements.
COLOR THEORY
Primary Colors
I use limited color palette theory. Only a few colors are used in the painting, including different shades of blue, gray, and yellow. This color scheme is simple and unified, avoiding visual clutter while making the focus clearer. The gray-blue combined background form a strong visual balance with the warm yellow light source.
3 Key Scenes
I use limited color palette theory. Only a few colors are used in the painting, including different shades of blue, gray, and yellow. This color scheme is simple and unified, avoiding visual clutter while making the focus clearer. The gray-blue combined background form a strong visual balance with the warm yellow light source.
Prisoner's Dilemma
The use of black and white and gray and white shows Jen's inner confusion and dilemma. The checkered pattern reminds of a chessboard, and the people around her are busy with their own lives. The horizontal checkered pattern represents the road and imprisonment, showing Jan's state of being alone and imprisoned. In addition to the border color contrast, the content emphasizes Jen’s isolation. Despite the bustling people around her, she remains emotionally distant and alone.
Rebirth and Refersh
The green grass and leaves show vitality and hope. Plus the neutral tones and earth tones, such as green, yellow, and light blue. This color scheme gives people a peaceful and natural feeling. From the beginning of her journey to the realization of her true situation, she gained hope.
Neutral Color
This trip is not just about the sights; through the use of neutral tones, it reflects Jen's inner uncertainty and anticipation. The journey provides her with an opportunity to explore herself.
Warm & Happiness
The three paintings create rich emotional changes through different background colors (yellow, pink, and red), while retaining a unified illustration style.
Colors highlight the theme in different scenes, from happiness (left), warmth (center) to contemplation (right), showing different aspects of the relationship between people and pets.
CHARACTER DESIGN
