Concept

Each year, the Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) invites an artist to create a poster for their annual showcase, based on that year’s Anijam theme. For 2024, I was selected to illustrate the poster based on the theme "Gripping Whisper."

Sketches

To brainstorm ideas, I started with a “Color by Numbers” booklet I picked up at Dollarama. The pre-drawn abstract shapes helped bypass the pressure of a blank page, freeing me to play with composition and form. The printed outlines guided my marks and sparked ideas on how to place the anatomical elements.

VR Sculpting

I used VR sculpting to build the final anatomical form. It was the ideal medium for making this gooey, stylized sculpture. Freed from the constraints of Blender’s interface, I could intuitively “squeeze” out neural lines and shape vessels and bone structures with my hands in 3D space.

Final Illustration

During this project, I learned how to randomly distribute colors across objects while using a single shader—giving each element a unique look without duplicating materials. I also used the Kronos PBR Neutral color filter, which helped enhance vibrancy while keeping the saturation controlled. To finish the piece, I added translucent butterflies migrating from the character’s chest and out through their mouth—echoing the quiet release of a gripping whisper.