Bully Big Pig

Illustration + Character Design

Every year, Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan - the Philippines’ first and only organization dedicated to the creation and appreciation of children’s illustration - calls for application for membership.

This is a series of personal illustrations as part of my application, based from "Bully Big Pig" by Katti Sta. Ana.

Project Background

A Call For Application

An organization formed in 1991, the Ilustrador ng Kabataan (InK) is the Philippines' first and only organization of illustrators for children. For 28 years, the group has been known for holding exhibits, workshops, and creative activities that enrich and uphold the book-making industry.

For years, I've been a fan of the organization. Coincidentally, during the call for applicants, I had some time on my hands and decided to finally give it a go.

Poster Design from InK, Illustrated by Jamie Bauza

The Story

Bully Big Pig

The application includes making a set of three illustrations based on the year’s recipient of the PBBY Salanga Prize. In 2019, it's Katti Sta. Ana's "Bully Big Pig."

The story follows the Uli-li, the townspeople of Ula-la, as they try to reclaim their home from a pesky invader, Bully Big Pig.

Character Design

The Uli-li

The story revolves around the Uli-li's desire to banish the pig from their town. The character design of the townspeople are largely shaped by how elusive they come across as in the story.

I designed them as tiny little rocks that could easily blend in and hide in their environment. I did character variations using the rocks' shape & the weeds growing on them. Like for the elder Uli-li, I gave him a flatter shape to look like he is hunching from old age. I also added a cane and a little outgrowth of moss.

Illustration Process

I was a little bit pressed for time on this project, so doing extensive thumbnails were out of the question.

I did two rough sketches per layout, picked, and rendered it directly on Photoshop. I went for simple compositions and relied heavily on color and texture to make the layout more dynamic.

Here are the illustrations I did depicting three scenarios:

○ A layout establishing the land of Ula-la and its townspeople;

○ The Uli-li scheming on ways to get rid of Bully Big Pig; and

○ A statue erected of the pig after he was banished from Ula-la.

To always remember this loathsome encounter,

they grudgingly erected a monument

in memory of the pesky smelly pig.

An excerpt from "Bully Big Pig"

The story was a fun piece to work on. It tells a story of community and the importance of history in a subtle, entertaining way. Also, yes, I got in! ⭐✨

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InK Promo Poster by Jamie Bauza

Some copy descriptions lifted from the InK website.

All illustrations belong to me.