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Un-commissioned | New Talent

Why did you make this work:
A university brief to create a book and companion artefact based on a real-world topic. Kayla chose Ama, a Japanese tradition dating back 2000 years. The word itself means “women of the ocean”. Ama divers search for pearls, seafood and more, descending 30ft without oxygen tanks, relying only on their physical capability / strength. Kayla aligned her narrative to the prayer spoken before each dive.

What materials and techniques did you use?:
The book was created by first drawing the line-work with pen and paper. Kayla then added tones digitally using Procreate, produced the book in Adobe InDesign, and then printed with two colours using a Risograph machine. To finish, the book was hand-bound with thread matching the inks. The accompanying artefact is ceramic (process can be seen in the attached video).

How were your illustrations used:
The book and accompanying ceramic artefact join Kayla's graduating portfolio, as well as being displayed in the Sheffield Hallam University conference 'Origin Stories'. The event celebrates comics as starting points for other forms, which is true of Kayla's project, too. Kayla is now working to produce a full animation documenting the Ama divers, using the same Risograph machine for each frame.



Social Media:
instagram.com/kaylaspalette

Personal Website:
behance.net/kaylabigail/

College:
Sheffield Hallam University


Currently Based:
United Kingdom (UK)

Biography:
Kayla is an Illustration student from Indonesia currently studying in the UK. She is passionate about storytelling and anything culture and folklore related. She loves to work with both digital and analog techniques. She can’t wait to share more of her art with the world.