This personal project was a series of digital illustrations focused on integrating the theme of “dream vs. reality” into a narrative around growing up. The illustrations are composed of different shades of my favorite color, and the last illustration (back cover) features a mug that I own. 

I have had a fascination with marine life for most of my life, so I used that as a metaphor for the story of a girl growing up. Accompanied by her cat and the sea creatures she imagines in her dreams, she is never lonely- despite the fact that there are no other people around. Much like when I was growing up, a lot of her life took place in her imagination, dreams and within the books she was reading.

For these illustrations, I chose to use differing shades of the same color to create a calming, immersive effect when combined with the water imagery. I drew the young girl faceless, without any major defining characteristics to allow the viewer to imagine themselves growing up throughout her storyline. To create detail and visual interest despite the single color, I used varying line weights of black line art. Finally, to call out some of the most important parts of the story, I used pure white in “adult” imagery, such as the book she reads, the coffee mug on the back cover, and the phrase “time must have slipped in”. This calls attention to her journey to grow up and leave childhood behind over time.