Shy Appa (2020)
A nostalgic tribute to Avatar: The Last Airbender, this piece reimagines Appa — the beloved flying bison companion of Aang — with a softer, more bashful personality. At the time, I was reflecting on childhood and comfort media, and wanted to explore a more animated, expressive style while retaining some of the detail-focused practices from my earlier hyperrealistic work. Blush marks inspired by anime visual language and a flower from Uncle Iroh’s garden gently rest on Appa’s head, adding personality and tenderness. This piece was a study in balancing stylization with volume and texture, allowing me to experiment with more exaggerated expressions while maintaining believable lighting and form.
Reflections & Areas for Improvement:
This was an early attempt at bridging realism with stylized character design, and while the emotion is conveyed, some areas lack structural consistency (particularly in the fur and horn detailing).
I was learning how to loosen up my rendering without overworking the piece — a skill that remains important in striking balance between polish and charm.
Looking back, I realize I struggled to fully commit to either a hyperrealistic or animated style. I often got caught up in the details, which made the piece feel somewhat in-between. This reminded me that in animation-inspired work, less is often more — and that clarity of intent can elevate the overall composition.
