Welcome to Pug's page! 

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Pugnacious began as a project for a toy production class with instructor Jason Freeny (Hidden Dissectibles) and later evolved into my senior thesis. My goal was to create a second version of the original toy, accompanied by a picture book to serve as a marketing tool to introduce different variants of the character and their environments. At the preliminary stages, I decided to make the storybook meaningful yet fun, hoping to resonate with pet parents and inspire young, future pet owners. With my background as a Veterinary assistant, I included references of pets and people I know and genuine experiences from life and the veterinary field. These encounters deeply influenced the emotional tone and authenticity of the story.​

I'm so grateful for all the support I got while working on this project, not just from family, friends, and classmates, but also from people outside the creative world. A big thanks to my doctors and colleagues, whose honest feedback really helped me shape Pug into a more real and relatable character.

Special thanks to my wonderful children’s book instructors, Doug Salati (Hot Dog) and Peter McCarty (Moon Plane, Hondo & Fabian), for their patience and expert guidance. I also thank my illustration professors, Dr. Jessica Boehman (The Lions at Night) and Vesper Stamper (The Greatest), for teaching me the essentials that prepared me for an artistic career. They, along with my toy design instructors, are lifelong mentors I will always cherish.

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The illustrations were sketched on paper and in Procreate, painted traditionally, and then refined in Photoshop. The project spanned from September 2024 to May 2025, culminating in a printed book and toy display for the Senior Show at the SVA Chelsea Gallery.

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Mediums used: watercolor, India ink, Micron pens, colored pencils, white acrylic paint, and watercolor paper.
Digital platforms: Procreate, Photoshop, and InDesign.

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The full book spreads are available here for free reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or inquiries about illustration opportunities. 

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