Alyssa Li

In this series, I created characters based on constellations and explored how to express who they are through both their designs and full illustrations, a concept I have been developing since middle school. Over the years, I delved deeper into the meanings, mythologies, and scientific details of these constellations. I used this knowledge to begin writing backstories and layered personalities for these characters to make them more fully fleshed out. As my art skills improved, and my writing for the characters became more complex and nuanced, their designs became increasingly more reflective of their identities. Creating full illustrations alongside design sheets let me convey deeper aspects of the characters that may not be immediately recognizable in their designs, such as their backstories and personal relationships.

I utilized shape, color, form, and movement throughout my series to express my characters’ identities and stories. Their silhouettes and color palettes reflect their traits, as evident in the piece titled “Celeste,” where Celeste wears deep red and gold, and her dress flows outward to convey authority and intensity. I arranged characters’ poses to convey certain emotions, such as in the piece titled “Rescue,” where resolve and determination are conveyed through a dynamic and swift pose, and the piece titled “Vesta,” where grief is expressed through the character having a more stiff and withdrawn pose. Space plays a role in the series: the anguish in “Vesta” is heightened by the use of black negative space. Ultimately, this series aims to share a concept I have been passionately building since I was young.