Mewses
Project Overview
This illustration was created for an academic project based on the Los Angeles Times Opinion section article, "Pet Fanciers." The goal was to depict the growing cultural importance of pets in people’s lives through a surrealistic and expressive illustration. I used my two cats as the core of the concept, placing one as a real-world subject and the other reimagined within iconic paintings to celebrate the way pets are revered in modern culture.
Challenge
The challenge was to create an illustration that captured the emotional and societal significance of pets without relying on a literal depiction of the article’s text. The piece needed to feel symbolic, imaginative, and emotionally resonant for a broad audience.
Solution
To reflect the theme of pets being cherished cultural icons, I depicted one of my real cats resting in a room, surrounded by framed portraits featuring my second cat dressed in the styles of famous artworks — a reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and a classic Rembrandt portrait. This gallery-like setting symbolically elevates pets to the status of revered figures in art and society.
Using Prismacolor pencils on illustration board, I carefully rendered the realistic textures of fur, fabric, and lighting to create depth and atmosphere. Personal touches like the green bow tie and engraved pet tag tie the piece back to a contemporary setting. By blending fine art references with a personal narrative, the illustration successfully conveys the article’s idea: pets are no longer just companions — they are celebrated as essential and honored parts of our lives.
Project Type: Editorial Illustration
Client: Los Angeles Times (Instructor: David A. Hylton)
Industry: Editorial / Publishing
Target Audience: General Public, Pet Enthusiasts
Role: Illustrator, Concept Artist
Client: Los Angeles Times (Instructor: David A. Hylton)
Industry: Editorial / Publishing
Target Audience: General Public, Pet Enthusiasts
Role: Illustrator, Concept Artist
Color Pencil on Illustration Board
