Maiden of Autumn

EDIT: There was way too much white in my gallery IMHO, so I painstakingly attempted to remove all the white space. Yay Potatochop!

A last-minute entry for ^Nyiana-Sama’s 72-hour contest, where you create a magical character based on one of the four seasons. I chose autumn, partially because it’s my favorite season and partially because it’s that time of year anyways.
EDIT: So the contest results were posted, and I won second place! I'm very happy with my new premium

I’ve named her Laelia after a flower that peaks in autumn (or so says the god that is Google). The season of fall, in addition to being a time of vivid color, is also a time for abundance: lots and lots of food, hence holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving when we gorge ourselves silly. Therefore Laelia, besides heralding the arrival of her season, also has the power to bless the world with fortune and prosperity. With the aid of her golden cornucopia, no living soul will go hungry. (sorry zombies)

She’s a mature figure, calmly comforting those who suffer the heated wrath of Summer and preparing those who fear the icy famine of Winter. (I’d come up with names, but I can’t really think of any right now :T) She’ll always make sure to keep a smile on her face, thus bringing a sense of comfort wherever she goes.

Yet despite her bright regalia and quiet charisma, Laelia carries an aura of sadness. While autumn is the season of harvesting, it is also the season of dying. She mourns at the thought of having to concede her reign to the merciless Winter every year.

Okay I’ll stop before I get too excited. xD

Laelia’s mask is loosely based on one I bought this summer in Italy. I knew I *had* to include the mask somehow; the leaves were too fitting for the theme! For the dress, I tried to go with a Venetian-style gown, but I wanted to add in leaflike elements somehow. I also have to admit I was heavily inspired by *Lillyxandra’s amazing outfits.

At first I wasn’t sure about including wings, but I was dying to draw Amy Brown-style wings because they fit so well with the autumn theme, thanks to their leafy edges and graceful curves. The wings I mimicked are here: [link] Hopefully they don’t look too similar…

I originally wanted to just submit lineart and be done with it, but I figured I might as well practice coloring because that’s what I seriously lack skills in. Also I timed myself for the heck of it: it takes me one hour to sketch, one hour to ink, and way too much time to color. OTL

Now I kinda want to do the other seasons for the heck of it.