“Very carefully, the knight unfolded the fabric, revealing a blooming rose sculpted in a shimmering red garnet. Each petal and thorn were so detailed and delicately carved, it could only have been made by magic. Azalea carefully placed the precious gift on the table towards the captivated hearth.”— E. Pommery
Heart & Devotion is a personal art collection inspired by tales of love and devotion. A Blooming Gift is an illustration from The Midnight Forge, the autumnal tale at the heart of the collection. It follows Azalea, an Edge Knight, and his growing bond with the mysterious blacksmith who lives on the hill.
Azalea offers the Fire a rose jewel, unknowingly beginning a long ritual of gift-giving between them. As the tale unfolds, he discovers that the mysterious blacksmith is a midnight dragon when they protect the city ( and Azalea) from the monsters beyond its walls.
I wanted this illustration to capture the first bloom of their love, when neither of them yet understands what their gifts will become. Red runs through the tale, from Azalea’s hair to the warmth of the fire and the garnet rose, tying the characters together through colour as their affection slowly takes root.
