One day I randomly scanned through my old works. There is this illustration I did back in February for the year of the Tiger, in which a tiger was having a nap under the shade, with a tiny butterfly that I added simply for visual effect. So I asked myself, why the butterfly was there, and why it looked like they found peace in each other's presence. I thought I needed a story for this. So The Tiger & the Butterfly was born.
There's the story, then a poem to tell the story, then the illustrations. I don't think there's a consistent style throughout the full story, because as a learner I value how I feel and what I experiment doing each of these illustrations more than consistency. There were times when a random brush stroke made perfect sense. And then times and times again I did it with my fingers - because nothing can replace the sensation of using bare hands on an artwork, at least to me. Because of such methods, each illustration might stand on its own. But I hope in the end they all tell the story in an effective, and emotional way.
Last but not least, i love tigers and I hope these beautiful animals stay long with us on the face of Earth. And butterflies are no doubt nature's masterpieces. This story, however, isn't just about a tiger and a butterfly. It is partially about me because I am partially narcissistic. It's also about us. It's about anything you give meaning to. Maybe it's meaningless. And that's okay, too.
Story, poem, and illustrations by Da Ly