Junhan Shen
The New Year I Remember
This illustration is a personal tribute to my childhood memories of Lunar New Year in my hometown. It captures the warmth, excitement, and magic I felt as a child—bundled in winter clothes, running around red lanterns, helping my grandmother fold dumplings, and watching my parents hang decorations with care.
The scene weaves together real traditions and imagined fragments: a dragon dancing around the old tree in our courtyard, butterflies flying out of lanterns, and paper fish swimming through the air like wishes.
Each detail is rooted in my memory, but shaped by the way I remember—with wonder, nostalgia, and love.
For me, this piece is not just about celebrating the Spring Festival, but also about holding onto the feeling of home, family, and the small joys that stay with us long after we grow up.
Materials & Digital Tools: Ink on Paper, Digital Coloring
About the illustrator
Junhan Shen was born in China and graduated with honors from the Illustration program at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Art and Art Education at Columbia University.
Her illustration practice centers on narrative and visual storytelling, with a focus on editorial illustration, magazine features, and book-related visual works. She enjoys working with ink on paper and often completes her illustrations with digital coloring techniques.
In addition to her commissioned work, Junhan actively explores personal projects—including large-scale drawings and mixed-media experiments that draw from her cultural background and daily observations.
Her work has been exhibited and recognized in various competitions, and she often pairs her illustrations with writing.
Junhan finds inspiration in nature, animals and plants, the news, and her own imagination. Her creative process balances the poetic and the playful, blending real-world details with whimsical possibilities.
Contact
Website: https://junhanshen.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junhan_fineart