PRISCILLA YUEN

Illustrator & 3D Artist | Watertown, MA | www.priscilla-yuen.com | [email protected]

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Inspired by a little ginger sprout from the kitchen. Thinking of expanding it into a story.

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The Little Prince book cover. Maybe some interiors next?

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So it’s been a while since I’ve posted here. But now more than ever it has become important to be consistent with sharing things I’ve made. It’s always a struggle when contemplating whether to post something that I am not proud of or that I can see needs serious improvement, but being self-critical has become more of a hindrance than a motivation. After listening to Amy Morin talk about perfection and how it can hurt instead of help (one of the points she covers in her book 13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don’t Do, definitely on my TBR list), I have been actively checking the way I think when I make decisions. Life is short, and it’s never to late to start being aware of where I should be investing my time and effort, and where I should let go. It doesn’t have to be a drastic change, even one small bold step at a time will accumulate and contribute to a healthier future. 

So here’s a mock book cover for a book I wish exists. As I did my research on mermaids and its variations throughout history, I found myself wanting more on critical discussions on the mermaid(not just the popular Hans Anderson’s version but other depictions that came prior to and after it; sirens, atargartis, suvannamacha, mami-wata, etc. ). Including topics like how their stories have been a solidification of culture’s perception of women during their respective time period, as well as, how these recorded narratives have continued to perpetrate contemporary ideas of being female. Discussions on being the other, and superficial dichotomies are also fascinating topics to explore. It would be so neat to have a book that compiles the various iterations of this creature throughout history along with critical discussions. 

As for the cover itself, I plan to design a book jacket with the book title centerstage, since at this size it is hard to read. Maybe some interior pages as well; index, decorations and the likes.

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Spr ‘16 | Visual Strategies Editorial Assignment   Spot Illustration for article ‘Evil Office Mates’

Coming up with conceptual ideas is definitely not my strongest point. But it’s been a good learning process so far; learning to eliminate, capturing the essence of the assignment, and how to present it in the best way pertaining to respective requirements. Hopefully conceptual ideas are something you could eventually improve on, though I’m not too sure, it would be nice. Don’t want to pigeon hole myself into a too specific niche.

Did not plan on candy colors, but as with everything else, more time equals gradual improvement on control. 

P.S. Thanks Kelly c:

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Merry Christmas everyone!

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Fall ‘14 | STUDIO: Spatial Dynamics Project 1: Paper Animal Instructor: Jonathan Bonner

Our task was to create a sculpture of an animal with bristol paper and glue. We were allowed to do anything to the paper as long as the animal was constructed out of a rectangular sheet of paper, and no part of the paper can be cut off. It was tricky but fun to solve. First spatial dynamic assignment at RISD for me. 

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Fall ‘15 | HAVC : 18th Century French Art Final Project

Group Project; Stephanie Gibadlo, Bo Kyung Kim, me Instructor: Dr. Pascale Rihouet

Our final project was to envision an imaginary exhibition of existing 18th century French objects relating to a specific selected theme. Our theme was Fashionable Eroticism; eroticism as fashion prevalent in 18th century France, in both implicit and explicit manners. This imaginary exhibition is then actualized through nine selected objects which we responded to in drawing and writing and then compiled into a catalogue format. 

Above is my attempt at booklet design once again.  Also my contribution of drawings in ink after Fragonard, Baudouin, and Ghendt. 

It was a great class and learning experience. 

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Matilda Roy from The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich.

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Marceline.

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Spr ‘15 | STUDIO : Spatial Dynamics Paper Project 2

Based on the paper project one, we were then assigned to make a bigger sculpture that would be placed in a fashion boutique. Material restrictions was paper or paper products like paper clay only, and if needed some glue. 

This time we could manipulate the paper in any way other than folding, so using curved strips of paper, I wound and glued them piece by piece to create billows of space. The trickiest part of this sculpture was creating balance for the piles of paper in a silhouette that would not simply just resemble a cone, and to create clean lines when the cavities were viewed into, considering every possible angle. I really enjoy problem solving, and this project’s creation was my type of problem solving, slow and almost meditative, like stitching.

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Spr ‘15 | STUDIO : Spatial Dynamics Paper Project 1

For Pamela Barkley’s SD Spring class we were assigned to make a few small paper folding patterns. She provided us with the patterns from a book, and based on those patterns we were to select one paper folding method to expand on it and make miniature sculptures with them. These miniature sculptures would be inspired by a selected architect’s work, and I chose Zaha Hadid’s work as my inspiration. What I like about her work is how the serene white canvas is then punctuated by strategically placed sensual repetitive curves and lines. It is a quiet but omnipresent enveloping beauty. Although I felt the final pieces I made did not deliver the same tone as her work has, this assignment was a prelude to the next sculpture, which then allowed me to attempt once again at it.

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Spr ‘15 | STUDIO : Design U1 - The Perpetual Motion Machine

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Spr ‘15 | STUDIO : Drawing PILE DRAWING : Drawing

Studying the final sculpture, we were entailed to create a large drawing of monumental space. The final drawing is taller than me.

There were unlimited ways that the sculpture could be explored, it could go pretty abstract, combining different viewpoints into one, or a collage. I chose to go for a more literal representation, as I feel one of my weaknesses are environments and depth, so I wanted to hone in on those areas, and take this opportunity to improve.

It was a good learning process, and although there’s more room to grow, especially in terms of value and composition to increase depth, I learnt quite a bit from it.

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Spr ‘15 | STUDIO : Drawing PILE DRAWING : Sculpture

Based of the initial studies, we were then asked to make a sculpture. I went towards the direction of solid organic form combined with fluid folds. I wanted to create a landscape of a mountain with a cave, exploring external and internal structures, and how lighting would play a part when an opaque material is used.

Materials: Wire, plaster bandage, paper clay, string, sheer cloth

Final drawing, here.

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Spr ‘15 | STUDIO : Drawing PILE DRAWING : Studies

Under the guidance of Norman Paris, our drawing professor, we made studies of piles with intent to provoke monumental space and depth.With inspiration from these studies, we then create a sculptural pile of interest which then will be studied to make a large final drawing.

For my studies, I choose textures that I like, and shapes that I found interesting. Asymmetrical compositions were explored, while thinking of mountain landscapes, or caves/crevices. I considered cohesive material(all fluid, or all geometric), vs contradicting material(fluid against geometric). Also considered was the space surrounding the pile, where the direction of light would come from, and whether the pile would stand alone or break off in parts.

For the sculpture, here. For the final drawing, here.

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Another card.

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Far, oh so far away.