Pampita

Character exploration

For this project, I reimagined a young horse character from an existing children’s book series. The author wanted to explore how a fresh visual take could open new story directions, so I developed my own version of the protagonist, Pampita.

After visiting her on the farm in the Pampas, I observed her behaviour and quirks, then deepened my understanding through research: reading the author’s previous books, asking about the horse’s personality, and studying photo references to capture anatomy and movement.

I created front and side profiles along with an expression sheet to present my process and visual logic. Through this exploration, I discovered Pampita’s secret loves: apples (especially warm apple pies!) and her mischievous habit of sneaking into the farmhouse to watch cartoons and steal cookies at tea time.

This version of Pampita allowed me to illustrate not only her design but also her world, full of warmth, humor, and everyday wonder. The author connected deeply with this interpretation, and it became the creative spark for her next story.

Are you a children’s book author looking to bring animal characters to life?

I love illustrating animals with humour, warmth, and personality, whether they’re mischievous pets or storybook heroes.