Dark Rose
Dark Rose is a visual narrative developed in collaboration with its ten-year-old creator, translating an original "make-believe" persona into a cinematic graphic series. The story and world were forged during neighborhood walks "in character," with notes from these sessions evolving into a formal script. By treating childhood play as a serious narrative foundation, the work explores how professional scenography can validate and amplify ephemeral storytelling.
Dark Rose
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This graphic series is anchored by a hand-drawn map of The Land of Ethiria, provided by the story's creator. This map serves as the literal and figurative guide for the protagonist as she marauds her way back to the Sand Kingdom. Our first chapter begins in the Fox Territory, where the character is discovered by Mamma Fox and Bitter Berry after three days of pursuit.
The interior comic pages are hand-drawn on Bristol board and rendered in watercolor to maintain a tactile, organic energy. In contrast, the cover and conceptual development were executed digitally, allowing for the high-contrast, atmospheric world-building required to bring The Land of Ethiria to life.
"Bekah is dad-jokie, kind, and weird. She has a unique style of art and is a good friend. She is loca and loves to hike, backpack, and do any thing outside." - Leila, creator of Dark Rose