Little Bud's Favor

The story of Little Bud follows the character Little Bud, who was adopted into a kind family of birds. She later meets a group of fairies who were banished from Fairy-Land. Little Bud is so moved by their homesickness and sorrow for their homeland that she decides to help the fairies return home. Though sweet and whimsical, their journey was not without struggles. From the bleak, dead winters, to the Fairy Queen Dew-Drop’s requirements of them, Little Bud and the three fairies overcome obstacle after obstacle to return happily home.

This spread is placed in the middle of the story. It comes directly after the fairy group begins to complete good deeds again, just for the sake of doing good things. They start to truly live the beliefs of the Fairy Queen, who required them to better themselves to return to Fairy-Land. Now, winter is coming, and Little Bud asks the fairies to help tend to the flowers in her home forest while she travels. They agree, and happily help despite the cold weather.

I wanted this piece to feel optimistic, but not warm, because I wanted the viewer to feel the bitter winter cold that the fairies are working through. The colors are cold and desaturated, but the fairies still stand confidently, undeterred. They work underground, making sure the flower roots don't shrivel and die, and the flower blooms brightly above them, even through the snow.