2018-2019, Illustration Series
My AP Studio concentration. This series was based on nightmares I've had and was done with fine liners, watercolor, gouache and digital for a handful of pieces.
Unfortunately, as younger me wasn't the best at documenting my works many details I have to say about them have been lost to time. Commentary are subject to updates.
"You're out of money for a ticket."
The original dream was about loosing my train ticket and not being able to buy another one. Eerily enough, this scenario happened to me around the time I was wrapping up this piece. Though I'm glad that unlike that dream a friend of mine was kind enough to cover a new ticket for me.
"You're pinned... unless you have a very clever plan..."
My favorite piece in the series. Chased, watched, pinned to the only way out being a locked door. The key in the hands of the one chasing me is the only way out.
"Watching, waiting..."
The feeling of being watched and exposed is a common one in nightmares and stress dreams of mine.
This one is the original. A second version was made that was traditional, and was the one submitted as part of the final concentration. But I can't find a photo of it nor the piece itself.
"He's got the rest of us, get out before it's too late!"
This one ended up being the only one that used more natural colors for some reason. I guess the dream had a similar look, so the choice sells the feeling a lot more.
"The planet exploded, and we're falling into an endless void."
I've always felt there's something eerie about mandelbrots. I think it's the never-ending part of them, as well as the fact most of them are depicted with a black void in the center.
The darkest dream in this series, and one of the heaviest deviations as the original was centered around Monster Hunter & I wanted to keep the series all original works.
This commentary has mentions of suicide & suicide ideation. Reader descretion is advised.
I was in the coral highlands and as I continued to play, the map grew more silent and empty. The only larger monster I saw was TziTzi Ya Ku, and that's when I saw that notification pop up. Eventually it too vanished. And I quit the game at 2am feeling uneased at what I had seen.
"Early is on time, on time is late."
"Just leave me alone, please."
In retrospect, this one feels a lot more 'silly' compared to the other illustrations in the series.
"What did I say about being on time?"
Now that I think of it, I had a lot of dreams relating to being late to parades, shows, and concerts. Even years after I graduated highschool & was no longer a band kid.
"Rise and Shine? I can't move!"
Not exactly a dream per-say, but I felt a piece representing sleep-paralysis was a fitting end to the set.
