Drawing On Personal Experience

Illustration that uses direct, personal experience to inspire creative image-making.


Heovers
“It Is What It Is” – Animated Short

“It Is What It Is” was created in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and was inspired by the illustrators reflections on life during isolation and family estrangement.

Both factors were out of their control and so the phrase became a coping mechanism for them.

They made this piece using Procreate and it was originally a university project intended to illustrate their values.


An illustration exploring the feeling of giving birth during the covid pandemic.

Nele Anders
Lockdown Triptych

Nele was invited by illustrator and lecturer Beth Duggleby to contribute towards the exhibition Lullabies in Lockdown – an illustration show exploring the struggles of parenthood during the Covid Pandemic.

These illustrations address the fears and mental health challenges Nele faced following the birth of her first child in April 2020.

Weston Wei
Sleeping With My Allergy

Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by an allergen.

It typically causes cold-like symptoms, but for some people, symptoms can be severe and persistent, interfering with everyday life.

Westons’s experience inspired this image. Whenever they had difficulty falling asleep because of the allergy, they felt all viruses and allergens were landing on their bed and sleeping with them.


Lingkai Lin
The Moon Rabbit

Lingkai based this series of illustrations on a dream she had when she was 13 years old.

It follows a little girl named Kefeng who didn’t like to sleep when she was a baby. She likes to sneak out at night to check whether her family is really asleep. Until one day, she met the shining moon rabbit at night! Then she found the mystery of the world!


Sheya
Yesterday Once More

“Yesterday Once More” is a series of digital illustrations based on Sheya’s childhood memories, created in 2022.

The project hopes to bring warmth and comfort to viewers of different generations.

Though those days have long faded, the streets and the people will still glitter fresh in their heart like gold.


Franco Zacha
The Moments We Share With the City

This series of paintings is Franco’s ode to New York City.

Whether you are a local, a transplant, or simply a passerby, everyone shares the awe of experiencing one of the most incredible cities in the world.

Franco feels that he owes NYC the opportunity to find himself -both as a person and as an artist.

Each of these paintings is a small vignette observed from his daily commutes and experiences.