imaginary j's illustration portfolio

p4 p8 p28 p36 p42 p48 p54

imaginary J’s lyrics art

imaginary J heartbroken

imaginary J’s self value

imaginary J’s butterfly dreams

imaginary J loves cat

imaginary J animal spirits

The concept of animals’ salvation

The introduction of imaginary J

Contents

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The introduction of imaginary J

about imaginary j

5 fun facts about me born in 1996

I adore my sister a lot

I lived in Africa when I was a baby

s u o i cur

yj

imaginar

eccent stra

ric

nge

I like stars I am imaginative and crazy sometimes my name Jessica starts with a j with no special reason I came up with the name imaginary j

No special reason Just some little things to know about me

stray

oblivion

I collected hearts

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The introduction of imaginary J

about imaginary j

3 reasons I like to draw about me My name is Jessica Lin. I am a little strange, and I am quite happy about it.

I see things a little differently, I actually secretly like things that are misunderstood, to me, it doesn’t neccesarily mean they are wrong, perhaps we don’t know enough about it.

I am quite emotional, and very imaginative. I give myself goals, and often cry when I didn’t make it. But I never ever give up on things I’m certain of. It seems like I’m pretty stubborn.

But I believe “to achieve is to fail and get up again”.

Even though I feel devasted a lot, I will still try to push myself to the limits.

Favorite Quote: -Coco Chanel.

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I feel like I can express better I am never good with words, even though I keep a diary, I can write, but I never know how to clearly tell others how I feel.

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As if I have power to freeze time.

It feels like you’ve controlled that millisecond, you’ve given something a meaning, a purpose.

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It makes me feel unique, like I could change the perspective of certain things.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

2016.11.22 Jiwen University 27th anniversary Visual Communication Design Award Exhibtion Graphic design illustration section Excellent Prize

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The concept of animals’ salvation

This is the series that was chosen for exhibition.

They were originally all single pieces.

All have different stories and meanings, some are my dreams, my emotions, or even cultures that amaze me.

To me, the eyes of animals are sincere.

Unlike human, we don’t need to guess their emotion.

Animals are direct, they stare when they feel threatened, they blink when they trust us, they know how to communicate through eyes.

Talking to human, we might not understand their gaze, we need time to get to know the person and try to get along and think of how they might react.

Animals are not afraid to express their feelings.

They are here longer than human, been through more generations, they are strong and still surviving.

I believe they are here for a reason.

They can be human’s salvation.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

Silly, I don't need protection.

All I want is a little accompany and affectionate sometimes. #imaginaryj

Foxes are usually misunderstood by people, we read stories about foxes being cunning and shady.

They say foxes lie a lot and trick people.

Foxes may be aggressive in the wild.

But why should we define them as sneaky creatures.

Maybe they need accompany and affectionate, too.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

When the times are hard, look into the eyes of who you love. #imaginaryj

This may seem pretty childish, but I hug things when I sleep.

I have this baby tiger stuffed animal doll, my mom bought it for me in Disney’s animal kingdom when I was about like 5.

Time past, he’s always there for me, I realized I didn’t really hug him to sleep for a few years.

That day, I found him in my box of toys, I picked him up, and look into his silly round eyes. I suddenly feel so secure.

It’s like he’s never left. He’s still my baby tiger.

Sometimes, things are rough, times are hard.

Watching the news and seeing so many terrorist killing the innocent, but have no way to solve the problem, it feels pretty sad.

But seeing into the eyes of who you love, that gives you the comfort you need and you feel brave again.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

They say Mutnodjmet has eyes of a cat.

I would like to become an Egytian palace cat in my next life. #imaginaryj

I have been facinated by Egypt mythology ever since I’ve watched the animation Prince Of Egypt by Dreamworkers when I was a kid.

Summer vacation, I borrowed a book from the library, out of curiosity.

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran.

My favotite character is Nefertiti’s sister, Mutnodjmet.

In ancient Egypt, cat is called "mao'', which means to see.

Cat is a divine animal, people keep them, feed them, and put jewelry on them.

Legend says, God of sun Ra transformed into a cat to defeat the giant snakes from stopping the sunrise.

Goddess of cat, Bastet, has the power of protection, happiness, music, dance, love.

The Egytian worship felidae. Cats are often combine with the eye of Horus, which symbolizes protection.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

I like Silver , I like it's sparkling blue eyes, it's fluffy fortitude.

I don't want to catch Silver, I just don't. #imaginaryj May 2nd, 2016 I had a dream that I couldn't forget.

In my dreams, I met an old lady She was pulling my arms and telling me “Bring me back the cat, and I shall grant your wishes, whether you want a lost lover to return to you, or that you want your future career to be successful.

To me, it's a piece of cake. Bring me the cat, and you shall get whatever you want.”

I was walking into the woods, pointlessly ...slowly thinking if I have a dream, what is my real wish?

But the old lady seems a little odd... it's almost like a witch finding a sacrifice.

I kept on walking, and nearly tripped in the forest, I was about to give up.

Then I heard this tiny little voice "meo.."

I leaned forward and stretched out my head carefully.

I saw a silver grayish white cat, shimmering, like a star falling from the night sky.

It stared at me, meowed at me, started to walk into the forest, it glanced back, as if it wants me to follow.

I looked behind, thinking if I'll have my wish if I bring it back.

I turned back. Stared into its' big round eyes.

It doesn't seem to be afraid of me trying to catch it at all.

Suddenly, I took a big step, started to walk into the woods.

I made a decision, I will run away with it. I wish to protect it.

I woke up.

I don't know what this dream is trying to tell me.

I don't understand why didn't I catch it, I mean, what if it really is the old lady's cat. Then maybe I can get my wish.

I don't understand who am I to think I can protect it.

I don't understand why would it trust me and let me follow.

I immediately thought of the name Silver.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

what is your biggest fear? #imaginaryj

Why do I always draw people with strange tattoos?

To me, those symbols on bodies doesn’t necessarily means tattoos. It actually represents misunderstood.

A lot of people think having a tattoo means they might be mean, not serious in life, or even high school dropouts, not decent, that sort of negative thoughts.

But I think it’s sort of like graffiti, It’s not necessarily vandalism, it’s just misuderstood art. They want to express their stories, but in a different way.

We see ancient murals with symbols and graphics, we see mythology words in old books.

To me, it sort of represent that one has a lot of things others might not understand.

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The concept of animals’ salvation

Don't love in inferiority I'd rather be alone for the rest of my life, than not getting respected.

Don't let anyone do this to you. Okay? #imaginaryj

Hey I can't understand human language. #imaginaryj

Sometimes I do feel lik e I’m lost in h uman word s.

They neve r meant wh at they say .

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The concept of animals’ salvation

I was so scared of cats when I was little, but I fell in love with her, a little precious princess.

The first cat I’ve truly met. It changes everything.

They are misunderstood by me.

a secret friend. #imaginary

if this was mid century Europe, I was probably accused to burn down. But, do you think you can catch me? #imaginaryj

I have a gift, it's alienate.

I've became the most distant, but most powerful alienated little witch.

I hate it when people think they understands me.

I will tell bats to bite you!

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The concept of animals’ salvation

Human hate because they’ve experienced betrayal and been hurt Human love because they’re willing to understand and respect

Eventually, no one knows how to balance these two feelings. #imaginaryj

Did you find it?

No, I tried really hard but found nothing.

Maybe it never belonged to me How can I find it? #imaginaryj 27

imaginary J animal spirits

about imaginary j

To me, escaping is an art that isn't accepted. #imaginaryj I believe animals have their own thoughts, they have lived on earth longer than human, I believe they are here for a reason, they are still trying really hard to survive.

Every species is one of a kind, they are special 29

imaginary J animal spirits

about imaginary j

Only you know What kind of cry baby I am Only you can tell When I am pretending to be ok Only you've heard All the things I couldn't say out loud Only you are willing to Sit by my side and be there for me It's ok it's ok You can be fragile, you can stop pretending to be strong Because I will protect you Because only you I trust #imaginaryj

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imaginary J animal spirits

about imaginary j

I love you Sorry I said it out loud But I love you I love you

#imaginaryj

You're making me confused. #imaginaryj

I have a lot of dreams But at the same time I want to grasp your dreams Even become them #imaginaryj

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imaginary J animal spirits

about imaginary j

Less and less people are kind-hearted So we need to try to become the kindest one. #imaginaryj

Fox are always understood.

Don’t worry, I will protect you. #imaginaryj

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imaginary J loves cat

about imaginary j

Please don’t act like you know me.

I don't even know myself.

Who are you to think you understand me.

Please do not try to understand me.

I'm me. I'm imaginary j. #imaginaryj

I used to be afraid of cats, because their eyes look scary and wild. But when I met a cat in campus, I’ve realised emotional. For some reason, cats remind me of myself.I can be quite emotional and stubborn sometimes, but at the same time, I don’t want others to know that I am vulnerable. -imaginary j 37

about imaginary j

imaginary J loves cat

"General Nakhtnim, you came back!"

"Yes, my dear Mutnodjmet!"

It must be indescribable when your loved one returned from war.

Mutnodjmet, sister of famous Egytian queen Nefertiti.

Mutnodjmet has eyes of a cat.

In ancient Egypt, cat is called "mao'', which means to see.

Cat is a divine animal.

Nefertiti always sent gifts to ask her sister for forgiveness. And she always returned them back. Until one day she received a moving basket. A cat. She named it after I've been reading a book about the goddess of cats Bastet.

Nefertiti. Mutnodjmet is the sister of Mutnodjmet is used to living alone.

Egytian queen Nefertiti. She has eyes She take care of herbs and of a cat, and is an expert in herbs. make medicine for people.

But people cared more about her sister, the beauty, Nefertiti. Once One day she heard a news that Nefertiti was married to the Pharaoh. generals have defeated the Hittites.

Mutnodjmet doesn't like the insincerity of palace life. She hid in soldiers death. He summoned the the garden and was caught crying by guards to capture them.Nefertiti wishes to make up her sister. She from the other girls in palace. He freed general Nakhtnim. smiled and comforted her. Once, he told her he'll marry a girl and move out of the palace to have a quiet life. man she thought was dead, still Actually proposing to her.

Her sister feared that once to a manor together.

Mutnodjmet got married, she might lose a servant. Someone poisoned Egyptian history is scattered.

Mutnodjmet, she lost her baby.

Mutnodjmet is truly Nefertiti's sister. She only appears a few times on the murals of the royal tombs. them to meet to god of death No one is certain if Mutnodjmet Anubis, he sent the generals to war. married Nakhtnim. Some data says Mutnodjmet ran away from the Mutnodjmet was forced to marry palace. And lived alone in a manor. another general.

But I'd rather believe Mutnodjmet & Nakhtnim is true love #imaginaryj

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imaginary J loves cat

about imaginary j

Say you love me Say it, just say it, please It's ok that you love me is as half as much as I love you.

I will still love you very much #imaginaryj

Cats are like pieces of art, they are so elegant, with eyes like gems, tiny nose like a diamond. that cats are always painted in art history.

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imaginary J’s butterfly dreams

about imaginary j

But after discussing with the professor, I’ve realised I didn’t thought about shadows, or even how the project looks like under lights.

So after collecting enough tips...

I tried out another method.

I cut out the shape and patterns from thick black cardboard. colorful cellophane.

exuberant vitality, they are symmetrical yet each of them

that seem weak but are actually strong.

Because black cardboard is too thick to cut, and is taking way too much time than expected.

I chose black bristol board to cut, which is also easier to bend.

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imaginary J’s butterfly dreams

about imaginary j

lights and shadows design exhibition

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imaginary J’s butterfly dreams

about imaginary j

I can see, even if I don’t say it out loud. #imaginaryj

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imaginary J’s self value

about imaginary j

I’m strange, I think too much, I can be pessimistic a lot.

I wish I can be irreplaceable. I wish people wouldn’t judge me.

I think there are a lot of misunderstanding in the world, and we always judge things before really knowing them. people see them, because that actually means they’ve restricted the possibilities of things.

Who am I ? Asking myself again and again.

I am so scared,yet, I want to be so brave. #imgainryj

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imaginary J’s self value

about imaginary j

I can be negative, I can be positive.

Sometimes, I wish to disappear, just for a little while.

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imaginary J’s self value

about imaginary j

It’s ok to be strange, Knowing how special you are, and truly believing, that’s what self value is.

Believe you are the brightest star, no matter what. #imaginaryj

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imaginary J heartbroken

about imaginary j

I think it all started when....

I was heartbroken, I found out that I was cheated and deceived by the one I’ve truly loved, I thought I found the one...

I’ve tried so hard, and I’ve changed myself completely. I guess I was ill. I might not be mentally healthy at that time, because I was cutting myself. A lot, actually. I don’t know what to do, or who to talk to.

Time after time, I’ve realized, I was treated as trash, yelled at, was always guilty for mistakes I’ve never made. For what ? I was desperately in love and was forgetting about respecting myself. Why would I let myself be treated this way. I was never like this, I would never let someone treat me so disrespectfully, so why did I let that person treat me like this ?

I didn’t really know how to express it, so I did an illustration for it.

And I guess, the worst time of your life,

I often feel like something is missing in me. A lot of things just make me feel sad, heartbroken, unwanted, lost, numb, and unhelpful, even useless sometimes.

Doing illustration or just doodling feel secure, drawing does help me with my negative feelings. When I realised I can actually create art, I will be better.

might possibly bring you the most.

I think it’s a turning point. After this piece, I feel like I know better of how I want my the types of drawing I like.

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imaginary J heartbroken

about imaginary j

Love is cult But your God says to you, “As long as you treat him as the only, you will be the only”. So you become devout, refusing all the other beliefs, pushing them thousands miles away. When others doubt your faith, you still think you found a lifetime ascription.

You are bewitched. You ingrained all of him deep-rooted into your heart. Looking forward to having the same reward to yourself. In exchange, you recieved ridicule and despair. After being used and deceived, everything about him is already stabbed deep in your heart. While pulling the stab out, your heart kept on bleeding. Yes, it’s sick, it’s morbid. But the most tragic is that you let yourself believe one with bad records. You have accepted this religion.

You are wandering in confusion. You think of yourself as a good believer, praying sincerely and devoutly. nothing you do is right, no one can help you, you are obsessed.

Trying to recall what you did wrong, you've done everything you can to make it happen. You blame yourslef, you don’t understand, you are afraid, you even hurt yourself, becoming a person who have the urge to commit suicide And him, your God, said to you, laughing “If you want death, you would have done it already.”

Your God does not care. He has the next believer ready.

He can not wait to see you in your grave, becoming one of the faithful believers in his Bible My dear You believe in the wrong religion, some love is cult - imaginary j 57

imaginary J heartbroken

about imaginary j

heartbroken heartbroken... you can feel all the pain but it can’t kill you.

You feel controlled.

You feel fragile.

You feel painful.

You feel numb.

You feel poisoned.

Still, you’ve survived.

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imaginary J heartbroken

about imaginary j

Feels like there’s a hole in me.

Get out of my dream or else, come back to me. #imaginaryj

Even if it’s painful I will protect the weak. #imaginaryj 63

imaginary J’s lyrics art

about imaginary j

Music can be so emotional, lyrics can be so meaningful.

I love to imagine the scene when I hear the lyrics, thinking about every word, every backstory, the musician tries to deliver their true emotions, sharing their experience that might be private and memories that are vulnerable.

Seeing others showing honest, makes me think of all the possibilities, all the elements I can add into my illustation.

To me, every song is a new emotion, a new journey.

Sometimes I just write down the words I hear, and it makes me feel secure and calm.

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imaginary J’s lyrics art about imaginary j

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imaginary J’s lyrics art

about imaginary j

Feeling all sorts of emotion in one song.

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The appreciation of imaginary J

about imaginary j

Thank you

I’d like to thank my teacher Daphne Shao for helping me with my portfolio I’d like to thank my family and friends for being supportive. imaginary j

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