Flower character design contest

[Skyy]

No DW I love seeing your entries (besides I'm drawing all entries anyway). I love how you incorporated her being poisonous into her job. See the main character for my comic the flower is poisonous but instead of making it a job I made it that everyone they are around gets figuratively poisoned

[applebun]

Yeah that’s a good idea, especially since spider lilies are not only poisonous but also mean death and parting, so that makes sense. Maybe also making them have a toxic personality (I have plans for another character where I will do exactly that). As for Alili, her job is not only alluding to the fact that she’s poisonous, but also that the oleander flower was the first to bloom after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, so I thought maybe I would make her more tolerant to radiation and therefore a nuclear scientist.

[applebun]

And here’s the aforementioned toxic personality guy:

He’s based on the aconite plant, also known as monkshood or wolfsbane, which symbolizes misanthropy, but also chivalry. The plant itself is the most poisonous plant in all of Europe and can give you arrhythmia just from touching it.
His name is Wolfgang, an old German name, and he’s a formidable hunter. He’s also good at fencing. However, it has been reported that he hunts more than just animals… He tries to appear trustworthy, but people feel uneasy when he is nearby. He can speak German, Latin, Italian, Chinese and Japanese.
Recent reports have shown that he is specifically hunting down minorities. If you see him, run.

[applebun]

I’M SORRY GUYS I DID IT AGAIN

I just can’t stop making these…
So, this one is based on the coltsfoot, which apparently means “Justice shall be done” in flower language, but also symbolizes duality in some cultures. The plant has been used in traditional medicine for a long time, but it has been found recently that it contains substances that can cause mutations and liver damage.
This character’s name is Flavius, which means “golden”. He works for the police, at least that’s what he tells everyone. He’s very gentle and caring around his loved ones, but he also has a cold and ruthless, almost cruel side. Something has gotten him banned from Germany, which is… interesting. He also may or may not know Alili (the oleander character) from somewhere.
Even though his care is definitely genuine, you should still watch out.

[Skyy]

He's so cute, but also pretty deceiveing

[SwordSong]

I really should be finishing up my report for tomorrow's meeting, but here goes...

I first started looking up on flower symbolism/meanings from the Nightwish song, "Amaranth", and this is a tribute to that. Amaranth is a genus of flowering plants known for its ability to retain its vibrant colours even after dying, hence symbolizing "immortality" or "eternity". Depicted in this pic are two species of the amaranthus: the crown is amaranthus tricolor (aka Joseph's Coat), the wings are amaranthus hypochondriacus (aka Prince's feather).

The amaranthus's unique colour retention ability has been used in many cultures as a symbol for devotion and undying love, although here, I use them to symbolize hope. Despite its reputation as an "immortal flower" the plant itself is ironically quite short-lived, but having hope keeps us alive during difficult periods where we are cut off from the things that typically motivates us (i.e. keeps us "alive"), whether it be financial resources, loved ones, etc.

[Skyy]

That is really pretty, I love how she looks like a statue

[lizardlullabye]

I just think this plant looks nice, like weird pineapple.

A small old lady who tends to be found in the dark morning hours near spooky areas.
Many pocket-sized things goes missing around her-- she's an excellent experienced thief.
Little else is known about her.

[SwordSong]

Thanks.

Admittedly, the piece was more of an illustration of the themes rather than an actual character design. I made her statue like to make the juxtaposition of life and hope (flowers and vibrant colours) and death/brokenness (hence the grayscale).

Drawing that piece also made me recall Alexander Pope's An Essay of Man:

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast:
Man never is, but always to be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come."

[lizardlullabye]

And let's just add Garlic, Brooke's roommate.
Like spicy foods and quite easy-going.

[Skyy]

Okay but did I ever mention that I love your art style so much

Yes, yes I did... Well either way I love that you didn't try and go the normal route people think when they hear flower you went more into more common things people see that are flowers even tho people don't realize it