Sam Weerawardane Illustration

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Jungle of the Jungle

The final piece of my Final Major Project during my MA Illustration at Falmouth University. My research question asked how illustration might be used to evoke greater empathy for street dogs in Sri Lanka, a country already struggling with humanitarian issues. The final outcome, a picturebook, tells the story of the friendship between a scout and a stray dog who meet by chance in a magical forest.

The cover illustration was longlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2024 in the Book Covers professional category (link).

Updated Stylistic Approach

I’ve been working on this project for some time and decided to evolve the visual language into something a bit more loose and richly layered with traditional media. Below is a sample of my new approach, which I’m really pleased with. I’ve been updating the story too with the aim of entering it for an upcoming unpublished picture book showcase.