Finally. I still haven’t fully scrapped my first design with Robert’s full body but to be honest portraits are my bread and butter - it is just what I’m best at so I worked on a composition where I could convey what I wanted that would also play to my strengths (faces and hands).
The meaning of the imagery is as follows :
Mech Suit - I wanted it to be looming in the background symbolizing the way it took over Robert’s whole life - constellations behind the suit stand for fate (what is written in the stars) recalling the conversation Robert has with Visi in the playground.
Flowers - the flowers are Delphinium or larkspur - I chose blue ones because Mecha Man Blue of course. The blue ones specifically stand for dignity. The meaning in general of the flower overall is an openness to new experiences and deep emotional bonds - things that I believe Robert felt he had to give up in order to become Mecha Man. These flowers are highly toxic - the way that I believe the persona of Mecha Man had become toxic to Robert as well. This is why I have them covering his eyes ( the window to your soul) since he has let Mecha Man be the forefront of his personality for most of his life and seems to think that his real self is the mask.
The 5 diamonds - in Tarot the diamond suit is pentacles so this can be read as the five of pentacles which can stand for financial, and health related hardships. It can also represent the need to seek support and help during a period of insecurity or due to feelings of abandonment.
Those are Flambae’s hands reaching out toward Robert of course because I am die hard Flambert and clearly he is the only one who can bring true love and warmth into this sad man’s life. I also chose to make the lines on Robert’s face be scars since I think that makes sense and I had to decide what to do since I was making this more realistic.
Overall I am incredibly proud of this one and sooooo happy with his hair! That’s the one thing I normally hate at the end of all my paintings but I tried something different this time and I think it worked out great! Oh and the Mech - holy shit I didn’t think I could draw the Mech helmet but I actually fuckin love the way it came out!
Anyway, thank you for looking at my art and reading my ramble.
jacobvanloon
theartofmadeline
jbbartram-illu
tangentwithtanner
kaledo-art
andulkaphoto
