Elena Leonor Olmos Guerrero 2026

Abstract

Riso-printed and hand-bound with love: An accordion style booklet illustrating the story of my mother crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Composed in 20 pages, my project illustrates my mother crossing the border as a young girl. The story starts with her early life in Mexico, recalling the family and life she left behind when joining her father in the United States. The line work is drafted in Sumi Ink, scanned and taken to a digital format in order to prepare to be RISO printed. This booklet has two functions, to be read as a book from left to right or completely unfolded and seen in a panoramic view. Although this project relies heavily on the illustrations, there is text to help guide the reader and provide context. It is an illustrated narrative with picture book and comic influences without strongly leading into either or. The booklet will live inside a dust cover, encouraging the reader to take it out of the original format and engage with the accordion style folding techniques. I want the reader to empathize and connect with the content conveying how personal this story is to me and share that to the community. This project all started with an interview, I took that interview and illustrated it through my perspective.