Arts Thread

Hello! I'm Sirius Zhao, a recent graduate from ArtCenter College of Design, majoring in Illustration with a focus on Entertainment Design. My work lies at the intersection of visual storytelling and cultural narratives, often blending elements of fantasy with nature, history, and emotional introspection. My creative journey is deeply shaped by my multicultural background and a lifelong fascination with the natural world. I often explore themes like human-nature connection, environmental consciousness, and female resilience through imaginative worldbuilding, children’s book illustration, and visual development for animation. For this showcase, I’ve curated a body of work that highlights my interest in combining detailed 2D environments, character design, and narrative-based visual development. Through sketches, research boards, final illustrations, and behind-the-scenes process work, I aim to invite the viewer into the emotional core of each story I tell. Beyond illustration, I’ve also worked on currency design and taught children’s picture book classes, experiences that continue to inform the way I think about visual communication. Thank you for taking the time to explore my creative world!