I submitted an entry for a drawing contest, specifically the Pandas and Friends Contest held by #welovepandas on DeviantArt this afternoon. It’s the first time I’m entering a drawing contest and furthermore, it’s a topic I really love – Pandas. I thought I would share my inspiration behind this drawing.
This was suppose to be a panda island and not the entire globe but somehow I feel that showing the whole universe in the drawing gives a stronger appeal than just an island. The globe was inspired by the illustration used in my previous post, fishing for designs kills all the creativity. The rest of the ideas came from the fictitious panda stories created by Chewy.
According to Chewy, there’s an island owned by the panda clan and on this not-so-little island lives all the pandas in the world. I kind of change the island to world in this case. While I was drawing, I am thinking what would a world with only pandas and no humans look like? Would it be the same as what we are looking at today? City? Cars? Computers? Or not? I remembered Chewy once told me that pandas are peaceful and quiet animals (though I’m not sure if that applies for the real ones). I’m pretty sure a place with pandas wouldn’t be too developed so no cars nor computers. A boat sounds like a good thing to have to visit the neighbours?
On this island, there are 4 main characters, the panda flying the kite who lives in the blue tower is Pete. His house reminds me of the Weasleys’ house in Harry Potter, he spends most of his time keeping the orange kite flying. He doesn’t really do anything. Pete lives with Farmer Fred, a gardener who enjoys spending his time in the fields. He doesn’t get tan though. Fred has a gluttonous brother (surprisingly, he’s not a pig) who spends 24/7 in the bamboo forest not far off from Pete’s island. We also have Mary (a very uncreative name, I know). Mary loves pink. She lives in the candy house and travels around via the boat. She doesn’t own the boat, it belongs to everyone. The pandas community is full of sharing, care and love. She is easily recognise by the big pink bow on her head. Lastly, the huge one doing the introduction is Gem (he’s a male).
The end. Have you felt asleep? I think I can start writing children story books in the future. :P Check out my entry at DeviantArt and if you love it, please favourite the entry and show your love! All comments, suggestions and favourites are very much appreciated. Thanks for reading this story! 
19 April, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Awwwwww Your pandas are sooooo cuuuute . Great job with the design! And having a story behind it makes it even better
17 April, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Nice drawing and nice story! People who are passionate really have the creativity for such things.
8 April, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Cute drawing. You are so talented. Good luck in the contest!
8 April, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Hey! You should join http://flauntymb.com. We would love to have you! Cute website btw. (:
6 April, 2010 at 1:47 am
Awww… the drawing is so cute!!
5 April, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Aww that’s so cute! I love your illustration, as usual! I wish you good luck in the contest and hope you win big!
I remember having to hand-draw a book in English back in high school. It was terrible because I wasn’t a good artist at all. The only creative element I had was to include a ghost in every picture, since the story was about ghosts. We also had to write the story and I simply wrote about a ghost haunting a town and a girl who tried to save everyone. :P
I don’t know too much about real pandas myself but such is the nature of children’s books; they are usually made-up and a fantasy – in my imagination pandas can be joyous and outgoing!
5 April, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I SUPER LOVE IT DEAR!! I think it might win the prize! And it even has a story to it!! Awww, yes agreed. You should go write children stories’ revolving around pandas! Just like Peter the Rabbit, there’s Pete the Panda and plus you mentioned the Weasley’s house! it’ll be more awesome!
And yep, golden retrievers are big if taken care properly and have good bone structure
Hahaa you didn’t get the age of the girl but read my latest entry to find out
5 April, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I love that your illustrations have a very distinctly *you* style to them — I find that finding one’s own style is very difficult!
5 April, 2010 at 12:33 am
yoyo nice story there… a name for your islands/world?
How about “Panda-i” (pronounced as “pan-da-e” (alphabet E)) or “Pando-ri”?
Haha… reminds me of pan fried fish all of a sudden… anyway YB the names are rRandom… gd luck with the competition!
4 April, 2010 at 5:42 am
I love it! I gave it a favorite and gave you a deviantwatch.
4 April, 2010 at 4:05 am
Haha, the competition screams you all over, Dayna! (; Coincidentally, I spotted some panda soft toys on a display shelf at a store at Changi Airport this evening and I immediately thought of you.
As usual, your illustrations are adorable as always! All the best for your competition entry and may you win something!
3 April, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Yes Dayna, I saw the image and I have to say it is very nice. And, not flattering you, it is the nicest of the lot because your panda is very sweet – and the colours blend together.
Actually it seems like a world globe to me, like one of the pandas were Singapore, one were Malaysia and the other one Indonesia or the Philippines. And the panda talking was someone from Mars or Venus.
Many people are afraid of pandas because they think pandas are big-sized, they are fierce and will bite people. But no, they are very quiet and peaceful animals.
I have attempted to write one but it is certainly very hard to write one – but I believe you have to talent!