"And now I can tell you that it is finished, and I am free to love you."

...I-I just wanted to draw lanterns, leave me to my lanterns.

My Color Works class final: a set of 3 illustrations for "Ash" by Malinda Lo. I was super excited that my professor gave the OK for illustrating this story; it's a retelling of Cinderella in which the heroine does not fall in love with the prince, but is torn between her fascination with the world of the fae and her growing feelings for the Royal Huntress. The book is an interesting blend of Chinese, Japanese and Western culture, a world where faeries ride around carrying off the dead, and sometimes the living. And sometimes stepsisters aren't really evil, they just have their own goddamn problems to deal with. And sometimes ladies kiss other beautiful, awesome ladies, and nobody has any problems with it because really, ladies should be able to kiss anybody they want. I really like this book.

...Teeeeechnically this isn't a scene directly from the book, but. C'mon. I needed a good way to tie up the series of drawings, plus this is totes what happens ever after. An ever after of festivals and romantic fox-hunts and book-reading and tea-drinking and chatting about unimportant things and honesty and earnestness and smiling and still getting excited about getting to hold your girlfriend's hand, and guess what you get to hold her hand ALL THE TIME. Happily. Ever. Always.

Y'all should read this book.

Inked with Microns, then Shopped. Illustration 3 of 3.

In the Wood: <fav.me/d4lntbn>
The Huntress: https://yutaan.deviantart.com/art/The-Huntress-279369396
Ever