Lotus and Feather by Ji-li- Jiang illustrations Julie Downing
Ji-li Jiang's tender story introduces readers to Lotus, a lonely young girl who has lost her ability to speak. She lives with her grandfather near a lake, bereft of the animals that used to inhibit its waters and shores.
The tune Lotus plays with her reed whistle epitomizes her world.
"The sound drifted around the empty lake like a wisp of sorrow."
The tune Lotus plays with her reed whistle epitomizes her world.
"The sound drifted around the empty lake like a wisp of sorrow."
One day she encounters a wounded bird, trapped in the marshes near her home. To her astonishment, it is an elegant crane. With great effort, Lotus manages to rescue the bird, carrying the heavy load home to her grandfather. With his healing skills and her constant vigilance, the crane, who becomes known as Feather, slowly recovers and becomes this girl's constant companion. Together, the two wounded souls find solace and eventually joy in their companionship. When tragedy strikes the village, it is Feather, together with Lotus and Grandpa, who are able to save the community.
The day arrives when Feather must return to the wild. With a heavy heart, Lotus sets him free. Eventually Feather returns. Lotus' whistled tune now becomes a sound of joy.
"Her whistle, accompanied by the birds' singing, echoed far, far away in the golden sky."
The day arrives when Feather must return to the wild. With a heavy heart, Lotus sets him free. Eventually Feather returns. Lotus' whistled tune now becomes a sound of joy.
"Her whistle, accompanied by the birds' singing, echoed far, far away in the golden sky."
"If there is one goal I would like to achieve in my life, that is to bridge the gap between China and the western countries ... " Ji-li Jiang
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Watercolor is one of my favorite mediums. I love the fresh clean feel of pigment mixed with water. Julie Downing has a way with watercolor, bringing its beauty and spontaneity to this tale of a shy Chinese girl and a wounded crane. The cover art featuring entwined, circular images is particularly evocative and conveys the message of this heartfelt story.
I was surprised to learn that Downing used digital tools to develop the illustrations. It is a laborious process, requiring hours of painstaking work. She painted about 70 separate transparent layers and then digitally arranged and rearranged them to create the final product. Learn more about the art of creating her stunning images here.
I was surprised to learn that Downing used digital tools to develop the illustrations. It is a laborious process, requiring hours of painstaking work. She painted about 70 separate transparent layers and then digitally arranged and rearranged them to create the final product. Learn more about the art of creating her stunning images here.
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