greenhouse rendezvous - design concept // november MOTM // nsfw (Patreon)

this prompt was fun! i wanted to portray a romantic meeting in a greenhouse, but of course the design itself should also reflect the theme. 

first, it made sense to depict him as a gardener or caretaker of the greenhouse. folklore and myth have plenty of spirits and deities who watch over a certain river, grove, or house; this guy’s realm is his garden. he’s not a god receiving worship, but the greenhouse is his temple. he thrives when the flowers bloom and grow, and mopes when they wilt.

my mental image of a typical modern greenhouse is a plain, utilitarian building, made with white or silver metal and glass or plastic. that’s not my aesthetic, so i turned to more ornate and decorative victorian greenhouses for visual inspiration. some are well kept, their metal frameworks painted green and shaped into intricate patterns. others look beautifully aged, with the metal rusted into hues of brown and the glass panes turned green over the years.

and so, the swirl patterns on his chest and legs mimic the appearance of victorian greenhouse walls, while his hat resembles a glass cupola. the floral pattern on his neck and arms is inspired by vintage wallpapers mixed with peony or rose tattoos. his colour scheme is based on green-tinted glass and green-painted metal; the pretty contrast of pale flowers against dark leaves; and the earthy browns of a gardener’s apron. green and purple looks dreamy together so i also added the purple hues of lilac and wisteria. his mask resembles a wicker basket, and his footwraps are made from simple linen. 

to sum up his vibe he’s strong and earnest but with a sense of elegance to him, thanks to the delicate patterns and the soft greenhouse glow. his colour scheme mixes floral, earthy, and glassy hues with natural materials like leather, woven grass, and linen. on a good day he smells like warm sunlight and plants in full bloom, and when he’s grumpy his scent is more like a garden after rainfall. but no matter his mood he’s always glad to see his lover.

finally, a few notes on the painting itself: it features the most complex background i’ve drawn recently, because i wanted to set the greenhouse stage with a ton of plants. most of them were drawn from reference, using photos i’ve taken in gardens and greenhouses. at first i tried to render each leaf in more detail, but it looked too messy and cluttered. instead i opted for a crisp lineart, a relatively flat rendering style, harmonious colours, and purple-pink gradients that help differentiate background from middleground.

// art + character © me.