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The very last project I did during my degree, & a sort-of unofficial sequel to 'Zak's Fantastic Day Dream Machine', with a *very* similar central plot device - smart kids making incredible machines out of household junk.

There are differences. The sticking-paper-and-card-together-then-photographing-it process was a pain, so I went full-on digital this time. I'd first learned the basics of Photoshop only a few years earlier, during the Foundation Year, but by year 3 of my degree I was feeling much more confident in my PS skills.

I had a better understanding of its abilities to utilise & manipulate photo-textures, and how I could incorporate them into my work. It was also far less time-consuming, allowing me more time to focus on other aspects of the project.

 

Furthermore, the book was designed to be viewed on an iPad, and had animated sections within the pages which were intended to enhance the storyline.

With hindsight, I'd wished I'd constructed a simpler, & less convoluted narrative; it's all about the importance of childhood dreams vs the potential mundanity of a grown-up life, & my feelings are that, while the visuals are better, this is a weaker story than 'Daydream Machine', which was wholly focused on 'fun', rather than trying to crowbar in a worthy message, which was - I believe - the case here. 

Concept sketches of Zak & Zoe, with the same images with colour added in Photoshop.

I thought it would be an interesting twist to have the girl in the role of the Knight.

For the final page I did some minor editing, & reversed the characters, as they seemed to fit better that way round.

Zoe Sketch_edited.jpg
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© Mark Andrews 2025

MDA Illustration, PO Box 6506, Coventry, CV3 9PG, UK

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