Student Artwork by Emily An Selected for Prestigious Society of Illustrators Competition
Titled Homely Home, Emily’s illustration reimagines the cover of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy epic The Fellowship of the Ring. (Image courtesy Emily An)
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The fourth-year Illustration major created the gorgeous work in 2022 for faculty member Amory Abbott’s class.
An illustration by fourth-year 鶹Ƶ student has been selected for feature in the prestigious .
Titled Homely Home, Emily’s illustration reimagines the cover of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy epic The Fellowship of the Ring. The work represents Emily’s first attempt at a “detailed line-work style.” So, having their work selected for the competition felt “surreal.”
“Getting that notice from SOI came as a shock to me!” they tell me via email. “As the process for this piece was a rough journey, receiving recognition for the work makes me feel super grateful for my friends and mentors who encouraged me along the way.”
Homely Home was selected from over 8,700 submissions to enter the juried competition. Twenty-five winners will receive cash prizes ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Winners will also be included in a New York City exhibition and a printed catalogue. Both feature the best university student illustration works from around the world.
Emily created Homely Home in 2022 for 鶹Ƶ faculty member Amory Abbott’s third-year course ‘Myth and Symbolism in Illustration.’ With Amory’s encouragement, Emily selected the work as a standout from their portfolio. Amory regularly supports his students in submitting to competitions.
Emily often works in a “line-less” style inspired by video game art and animation. (Illustration by / courtesy Emily An)
Amory said it’s no surprise that the SOI selected Emily’s work. Their work is “exemplary on several levels,” he tells me by email. Their wide-ranging abilities make them a highly adaptable artist, he says. Meanwhile, their solid foundational knowledge and meticulous process “bring a breadth of meaning and detail to each piece they create.”
“Beyond their technical and conceptual skills, Emily has been a force in the department, bringing positivity, curiosity and courage to each project, and a contagious energy for their classmates,” Amory adds. “They’ve been an absolute joy to work with and so deserving of selection by the Society of Illustrators.”
Emily’s eclectic ability is on full display in Homely Home. They often work in a “line-less” style inspired by video game art and animation. But Emily also adores pen-and-ink art including the work of legendary illustrator Moebius. Homely Home includes elements of both styles. Despite its hand-drawn look, Emily created the work in Photoshop.
“I have a background in traditional art and really enjoy incorporating elements of it into a digital medium,” says Emily, a junior concept artist at . “Working in different styles helps me get excited about different facets of art!”
The Lord of the Rings books and films have affected Emily since childhood. The celebrated stories “greatly influenced my passion for visual and w