Print Block-inspired Vines

Spoonflower Floriography Design Challenge entry. The language of flowers was big in Victorian times but dates back even further. In the famous scene where Ophelia has finally had enough and goes off the rails, she speaks to Claudius, Gertrude and Laertes in flowers to express her grief.

Rosemary, to remember her dead father, Polonius. Pansies come from the French, pensées, for thoughts. Fennel means infidelity and columbine flatters with insincerity. Rue is bitter and means regret, repentance and sorrow. Daisies for innocence. And, now withered, violets mean faithfulness. ~ Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5

This is a departure from my normal abstract, doodle and geometric patterns so far. I first did watercolor versions of each flower Ophelia mentions, and then used those as models for a grungier, grittier style from a tutorial I found by Lisa Glanz.

Here’s a link to The Big Procreate Print Pack, which has some of the brushes and textures I used.

The images below are color ways of this design—or to be more accurate, the no color/all color version of this pattern. This is for a prototype special tote for Roebling Books & Coffee, an indie bookstore & coffee shop with three locations in Norther Kentucky.