This practice-based project investigates the development of imaginary characters and friends, and the creation of imaginary worlds through narrative illustration. Central to this research is an exploration of visual approaches to the invention and portrayal of a young girl, the central character, and her animal companions. The female child operates as a symbol for all young females, while the imaginary companions represent aspects of the girl’s psyche and emotional state as they relate to the self. The author’s illustrations are a narrative, drawn from personal childhood experiences or reflect the girl’s, dealing with the escape from everyday life and the creation of imaginary friends and worlds.
