A Very Inventive Princess Meets A Dragon Who's Afraid of the Dark

A Very Inventive Princess Meets A Dragon Who’s Afraid of the Dark

Praise for the piece in the Japanese Illustration Awards, 2026.

Guess who? The many creatures flying through the dark…

Come and explore the night creatures hidden within the shadows of the page. You will find a sky filled with things that squawk, flutter, and screech. How many of them do you recognize? Grab your torches and prepare for a visual adventure!

1) Phoenix

From the Children’s Book, Mixed-up-Meetings, Watercolour and Ink on Paper, 2026

This painting is really fun and dynamic.
Every character in this image has such a unique look and personality that I would just keep looking at the work and looking for new fun surprises.

- Kaining Wang

The yellow shards cutting across the black do real structural work, breaking a teeming field into shapes the eye can hold.
Inside them the small creatures reward close looking, each with its own comic personality.
Genuinely fun to explore, and the hand-worked watercolour and ink give it warmth.

-Kiuyan Ran

The complex and colorful fantasy is highlighted by the black background, the color scheme is bright and striking, the image is lively and full of children's charm, the imagination is abundant, and the fantasy narrative atmosphere is strong.

-Niu Zhe

This is an illustration with an exceptionally inventive composition.
The artist uses the beam of a spotlight to divide the image into large, medium, and small visual zones, effectively revealing different moments in the explorer’s journey.
Within each of these areas, the artist has populated the scene with a wide variety of imaginative and delightfully unusual fantasy creatures, each inviting the viewer to pause and look more closely.
The richness of these forms adds both charm and narrative interest to the composition.
Overall, this is a highly creative and engaging illustration that demonstrates both strong design thinking and a vivid imagination.

-Tian Gan

This is a highly creative concept with an impressive visual expression.
I especially love the idea of using flashlight beams to divide the image into different geometric shapes.
Enlarging and closely observing each creature within the composition is a uniquely enjoyable experience.
The colors and compositions of the entire piece are harmonious and vibrant, leaving me eager to see more spreads from this picture book project.

-Yueming Li