Open Spaces

A couple of months ago, I had this project to illustrate 2 spreads of an except from a "children's book story" (Lorena Bumbilya by Christian Tablazon). The quotations are intentional because although the task required me to draw for a children's book with bold lines, bright colors (y'know, the works), the story itself was not rainbows and butterflies. Set in the slums, it revolved around a malnourished girl who got her hair cut off because of lice, a symbolism (as I would take it) for her dignity and dreams.

The except went as such:

With her right eye, she watched the vehicles passing by all afternoon while she waited for alms. She was already unmindful of the smoke and heat of the noon.


It took her some time to find a place where she could sleep. This one didn't look so good but there's not much choice. Lorena curled up and tried to sleep and forget her hunger. She has tissue paper smeared with spaghetti sauce and banana peel for dinner. Now as she slowly dozed off, she imagined lots of expensive fruits in front of her instead of banana skin, or being inside a fast food munching on her coveted snacks and meals. But now, leftovers from the garbage can had to do. She also learned that the night was unusually cold when sleeping in open spaces. 


Sounds grim, right? Well, I hope my illustrations won't be too! Crossing my fingers here cuz this is actually the first time I'd be drawing a human person in such cartoony and bold (not to mention sad) outlines. Here are the first few stages of work on this project:

The bald Lorena amidst smoke

Smoke and Mirrors. Trying to create images in smoke.

Putting the two pages (of  the 1st spread) together. Too bad our scanner is too small!

Lorena in the cold cold night

Giving her back her hair and lost dignity

Dreaming of food

UniPin Water and Fade Proof Pigment Ink on bond paper

The next stages of this project has yet to be posted! :)