Madam Red WIP for Friday Doodle Club :D Yay!

[aruarian_dancer]

It's Friday and it's doodle club time! Since I failed to post something last week, it feels good to be able to post something even if it's a WIP. This one actually can stand alone as a finished drawing, but my original plan still involves a lot more detail. (You know me! XD)

Comments

[keelieinblack]

Oh, that dress is killing me with envy, even though I could probably never wear such a thing in real life.

You are absolutely right about red and black--they're well-matched and so dramatic when paired together. And I love the crushed stem of the flower in her hand as a parallel to the tall and unbending ones beside her.

[aruarian_dancer]

Thanks for noticing that crushed stem! That, I guess represents her attitude towards the color red. :D And how she stands so glamourously next to these stately flowers... is the truth of her beauty. Seh really came out more beautiful than I expected.

I wish I could pull off a dress like that in real life... I'd be lucky if I could pull off that hair cut of hers! lol

[amaterasu08]

aside from the dazzling red and black, which i love *0* i also love the expression on her face. :D

[aruarian_dancer]

Thanks!!! I wanted her to be proud and tragic, (I considered putting a single tear falling down on her cheek, but didn't put that in...)... at the least, aloof. XD I don't know if I'm succeeding in making her look that way, but it's a work in progress still. XD

[amaterasu08]

actually, she has this don't-come-near-me-you-filty-rat look on her face but at the same time, she looks sadder then sad. xD

[aruarian_dancer]

Actually, if you think so, then, I managed to get my original intent across. XD

[liralen]

Okay, now I'm curious. What is the Japanese connotation attached to manjushage flowers?

[aruarian_dancer]

These flowers are known as higan-bana (also often used as a general term for the seasonal flowers used for offering at the altar or upon the grave stone for the o-higan season in late summer) and also known as shibito-bana (flowers of the dead). The name is probably from the fact that these flowers tend to grow in profusion on the river banks, making them look as if they are seeing off the spirit of the dead. (River often is associated with "ferrying" of the souls to the world beyond.)
Other common names include jigoku-bana (hell flower) and yuurei-bana (ghost flower). The entire plant is poisonous when ingested. Some believe that these flowers are bad luck.
The name "manjushage" is believed to come from the phonetic Chinese letters given to the original Sanscrit from Buddhist scripture, and means " the flower that blooms in heaven" and the actual pronunciation of the letters is closer to "manjusaka".

[liralen]

*tucks this away in memories*

Thank you. Wow.

[aruarian_dancer]

You're welcome. Latin name of these is, BTW, lycoris radiata. I forgot to put that in my original reply. XD

[neocloud9]

Oh, so beautiful! *A*

[aruarian_dancer]

Thanks!!! :D I should be able to finish her up tomorrow.

[catssyclaws]

That dress... those flowers... you have those wistful, far off looks down pat. I haven't drawn in it seems like forever X( I've been super busy and haven't been able to do so. this of course breaks my resolution... but I plan to make up for it lol

I can't wait to see this one finished! XD

[aruarian_dancer]

Thanks!! I should be able to get her finished tomorrow - some cleaning up of the lines, adding of details, and experiment with the original idea. :D I'm excited!

[catssyclaws]

LOL YAY! I can tell! *is excited too and has nothing to do with it!) hahaha XD

[aruarian_dancer]

LOL I'll probably end up getting up at the crack of dawn, put my eyeballs (contacts) in and go straight to my tablet. XD