Introduction
In this comprehensive project, I’ve immersed myself in an array of creative disciplines. I began with English, where I delved into essential fiction writing techniques, focusing on the power of visual storytelling and the importance of “showing” rather than “telling” to create a more immersive narrative experience. I’ve continued to refine my descriptive skills, using poetic thinking to enhance my work with rich imagery and deeper figurative meaning.
My journey then led me to graphic design, where I mastered Illustrator to craft intricate vector graphics. In the realm of music, I embraced the challenge of audio editing with Audition, skillfully assembling a mashup and producing a parody song. I wrote and recorded my own lyrics, blending them seamlessly with an original track to create something uniquely mine.
I also expanded my skill set into web development, applying HTML and CSS to my WordPress website, which allowed me to present my narrative project with customized flair and precision. Lastly, I explored the physical aspects of creation, experimenting with die cutting and laser techniques to transform my digital designs into tangible art.
Each step of this project has not only sharpened my technical skills but also allowed me to express my creativity in diverse ways, narrating a story of personal growth and inventive exploration.
Story
My English assignment was to write a short science fiction story and then record it as audio and add various sound effects. What I wrote was a story about Kung Fu. The tale unfolds as two brothers navigate the fierce competition of Kung Fu, their destinies intertwined by ancient martial arts and futuristic technology.
Master Brothers
The sun sets in the west, and the afterglow of the setting sun fills every corner of Chang’an. The streets and alleys of Chang’an were no longer noisy. However, a group of men and horses, with swords on their waists and bows and arrows on their backs, rushed towards the city gate. The William family has lived in Chang’an since ancient times, with hundreds of people, and the William family respect Kung Fu masters, and they will elect the most powerful kung fu master in the new generation as their new leader.
Then the soldiers opened the door and people’s voices became clearer and louder.
“Lai, take a lesson from your brother !”
“Got it, stop being annoying, Dad.”
Lai shook his head reluctantly while looking at the dead tiger killed by his genius elder brother Genji. His kung fu reaches a very high level,he can even kill a tiger easily. Lai feels like he can never catch up to his brother although he was practicing kung fu everyday. But Lai knows he will never give up, not just because he wants to be the new leader but also because he wants to shut up those who laughed at him, including his brother.
“What’s up, loser?” said Genji.
Lai rolled his eyes and pretended he didn’t hear anything.He knew Genji was talking about the kung fu competition held by William’s family in three months, and subconsciously clenched his fists. He felt his brother’s hand on his shoulder. He threw it away impatiently and growled: “What’s wrong with you? I will completely defeat you three months later, we will see.” Then he ran away without looking back.
He rushed into a forest next to Chang’an City. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He simply hit a tree as if it was his brother. It was an old tree that two adults couldn’t hug. The bark was as hard as armor. After a few punches from Lai, the tree only shook a few times, but his hand hurt so much that it felt like it was about to split. Angrily, he picked up a stone and threw it at the tree, only breaking off a shallow layer of bark. He gave up and continued walking into the woods. Soon after, he heard the sound of rushing water. The closer he got, the louder the sound of the water became. He came to the source of the sound. It turned out to be a waterfall, and Lai jumped onto the boulder just below the waterfall and looked at the waterfall in trance. He saw an obvious depression on the boulder under the waterfall, which was exactly where the water hit. It turns out that water was so powerful! He thought in his mind. He jumped into the pool next to him and swung the water in a circle with all his strength. The water was scattered at first, and then quickly returned to its original state. An idea flashed in Lai’s mind, why can’t I be like water?
“ empty your minds,
be formless, shapeless, like water.
now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.
you put it into a bottle, it becomes the bottle.
you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot.
water can flow, or it can crash.
Be water, my friend.”
Such a voice seemed to ring in his mind. Lai performed his punches based on his insights. He imagined that he was flexible water and Genji was a hard but inflexible rock. He sped up his punches and dodges. As expected, he felt smoother than ever before. Lai was pleasantly surprised.
For the next three months, Lai trained hard every day to prepare for the competition.
That day finally arrived. Genji swaggered into the arena amid cheers and shouts from the audience. When Lai came on the court, the crowd booed him, and it was clear that he was not favored. With a whistle, the game begins.
“Are you ready to be knocked down, loser?” Genji taunted. It was as if Lai hadn’t heard anything. He still stood calmly and didn’t answer. Genji rushed in front of him with a long stride and pumped out his fist fiercely. Lai had anticipated this, and turned his body slightly to avoid the punch. His left palm shot out and landed on Genji’s back. Genji stumbled and almost fell down. Genji realized that Lai seemed to have changed, and his eyes were no longer as clear and stupid as before. Genji no longer dared to be careless. He tried to stand firm and fight steadily. His body was stronger and more powerful than Lai’s. Whenever their fists collided, Lai kept retreating. Genji was also having a hard time, as he had hurt his ankle from stumbling earlier. Lai knew he couldn’t fight head-on, so he quickly took two steps back. While dodging, he observed Genji’s movements, like a hunting snake, silently observing, waiting for an opportunity to attack. They were in a stalemate for several hours, all bruised and bruised. Finally, he noticed something strange about Genji’s feet. Taking this opportunity, Lai kicked Genji’s ankle with all his strength. At the same time, Genji punched Lai hard in the face. The two hit each other at the same time and fell to the ground.
They lay on the ground extremely weak. According to the rules, the first one to stand up wins. The audience held their breath nervously. In the end, Genji got up first. He smiled relatedly instead of laughing. He walked over and helped his brother up, and they walked off the stage together.
What no one noticed was that Genji put his mouth next to his brother’s ear and said “good job !”
I added background music to the audio I recorded. It is a piece of low and elegant music that enhances the atmosphere and fits the mood of the story. At the same time, you can hear the sound of horse hooves, the sound of swords clashing, the sound of fighting, etc. from the audio.
The characters I designed for the cover are based on a pair of brothers from my favorite anime, Naruto. Their relationship is similar to the two protagonists of my story, and you can see their kung fu skills from their clothes.
Illustrations
Adobe Illustrator is a very useful tool and I have used it to create a lot of amazing illustrations this year.
Short Story
In the blazing flames of youth, Itachi and Sasuke epitomize the depth of brotherly bonds in the world of “Naruto.” Their story is one of sacrifice, love, and forgiveness.
“I am willing to bear all darkness, just to preserve that glimmer of light for you.”
This silent vow from Itachi to Sasuke speaks volumes. Choosing the lonely path, enduring misunderstanding and pain, Itachi sacrifices everything for Sasuke’s chance at a future unclouded by hatred. His love is silent but burns like a candle, warm and bright.
Sasuke’s journey is his response to Itachi’s sacrifice. Starting with fiery vengeance, he eventually finds understanding and acceptance. Sasuke’s growth is a transition from darkness to light, a journey from hatred to love.
“Because of you, I learned forgiveness.”
Let us draw strength from Itachi and Sasuke’s tale. No matter how challenging life becomes, we can choose love over hate, forgiveness over revenge. It’s a difficult but worthwhile path—one that leads to growth and freedom. Itachi and Sasuke inspire us to believe in the existence of light even in our darkest moments.
This is an illustration I drew for a recording of my short story.The characters depicted on the cover draw inspiration from a pair of brothers featured in my beloved anime, Naruto. Their dynamic mirrors that of the protagonists in my narrative, showcasing their martial prowess through their attire.
Exquisite Corpse group image
This is the middle section of the Exquisite Corpses I designed. We were asked to draw whatever we wanted and then put it together with what two other partners had drawn. In the end, we were pleasantly surprised that our finished product looked pretty good. This is a very interesting project.
Illustration Project Choice
Amidst the blazing flames of youth, Might Guy stands as one of the most exhilarating characters in “Naruto.” He is not only a hero of the Hidden Leaf Village but also a symbol of perseverance and self-improvement.
“I am Might Guy, the Green Beast of the Leaf! Even without talent, I will prove myself with sweat and hard work!”
This is a story about courage and determination. Might Guy shows us that nothing is impossible as long as we don’t give up. His fists break not only the enemy but also all limits and doubts. Every fall is for a stronger rise.
In Might Guy’s world, there is no failure, only temporary setbacks. Each attempt, each drop of sweat, is forging a legend. His passion shines like the sun, illuminating the paths of many.
“Youth is about running with all your might and then smashing into the wall of hardship with style!”
So let’s learn from Might Guy. No matter the difficulty, maintain your passion and never admit defeat, because that is the essence of youth.
Artist Statement
My work is a mouse pad and its name is “Hot Blooded”. My inspiration comes from the story of Metkai in the Naruto anime. He tells us to fight hard in life and not to bow to genius because of so-called talent. The characters in my works draw on his image, giving people a feeling of blood boiling. I drew a Chinese dragon’s head on his fist to give the piece a sense of power.
Through this project, I became proficient in using Adobe Illustrator to draw and color. The biggest difficulty I encountered was the tangle of matching background colors. Finally, I found the opposite color to the character to highlight it. What I’m most proud of is that I managed to draw a lot of intricate lines and color each part. The most important idea I learned from this project is to match colors correctly. Opposite colors can stand out and this is something I can use in future projects.
Music Production
First of all, I rewrote the word of the song “Let it go”
The homework that
I have tonight.
No hope to be done.
A teacher of Trig Honors
Told us, we have a Quiz
My parents” roars shocked my feelings from inside
Couldn’t score high, heaven knows I tried
Don’t give him phone. Don’t let him play
Be hard-working you always have to be
Continue studying, don’t let them know
Well now they know
Let me go Let me go
Can’t hold me back any more
Let me go, Let me go
Turn around and play the doll
I don’t care
What grade I get
No matter how they react
They can’t bother me anyway.
It’s funny out of school, then everything seems nice
And the anxious and pressure
Can’t get me at all
It’s time to do what I want to
To test the limit and break through
No right no wrong no rules for me
I’m free
Let me go ,Let me go
I’m one with fire and dream
Let me go, Let me go
I can always see the sky
Here I stand and here I’ll stay
Let the fire rage on
My confidence fill up the sky and going to the ground
My body straight in heavy pressures all around
I’m never going back. The past is in the past
Let me go, let me go
And I will show my worth
Let me go, Let me go
I’m not a child anymore
In my word, I have nothing to fear
Let the fire rage on
They can’t beat me anyway.