MFA Thesis Project

Bio | MFA Thesis | Digital | Traditional | Sketchbook | Conventions

Illustrated Storybook - Gulnare of Persia

This is a project that started out after I came across one of the Arabian Nights Tales, The King of Persia and the Princess of the Sea. After reading the story, I decided to re-write it so that it may appeal to a more current audience. The princess, Gulnare was almost an afterthought in the story, she’s introduced as gift to the king and you don’t hear about who she is or where she came from until the last few pages. I decided to make Gulnare the main character and give her a voice, which she both literally and figuratively did not have in the original version. Later, I began to collaborate with a few students and peers on an interactive storybook using augmented reality. It was an ambitious project, but the end result was a working prototype of our concept.

MFA Thesis Process Book

Stories and Life is a compilation of my progress while working on my projects. This includes work from Gulnare of Persia and Haunted Seas. Character concept sketches, character studies, and visual development work that went into both of these productions are showcased here, along with my research and process.