My project in Illustration and Digital Collage for Children's Stories course

Wow, I've enjoyed this course an incredible amount! I've always wanted to introduce more analogue art mediums into my digital work to make it feel more authentic, playful and engaging, and I think this course has really helped me achieve that.

I decided to work from a text called 'Under the Cherry Blossom Tree'. The story tells the tale of a very mean old landlord who is constantly raising the rent prices for the already poor villagers. Though they struggle, the villagers are kind and free spirited and love holding communal picnics and dances in spring. The landlord, in his anger, chokes on a cherry seed which bounces to the top of his head and causes a tree to sprout from his scalp. Later in the book, he rips the tree out and leaves a hole, which then fills with water and houses fish. The book ends with him chasing after villagers before tripping over and falling into his own head and becoming a lake.

Inspired by Ana's advice, I decided to go with a slightly different ending, imagining the landlord grows to change his ways and joins in with the village picnics, even bringing some of the fish he collected to share with everyone.

I had a lot of fun creating some stamped shapes, as well as making texture overlays using acrylic and gouache paints. I also really enjoyed experimenting with a limited colour palette, and decided to stick with red, pink and green (plus black and white). I think this pushed me to be more creative, and also looks more interesting than if I'd used very literal and realistic colours. However, I'm not confident with my initial landscape scene of the village, and definitely felt more at ease with the other two pictures.

Thank you for such an inspiring, informative and engaging course! I can't wait to explore this technique more in my work going forward.