flower funeral
a surreal comic on being witnessed vulnerable.
. . . . . . . .
lately, i’ve found myself crying more often. i wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing, actually, because the alternative would be disconnection and a blanket of numbness for feelings my body refused to sit with.
i did remember my upbringing, however, and the shame that came with crying. the lapses where it couldn’t be helped. a throat wrung raw, the sharp sting of tears, like blood spilling from an open wound.
the main character in this comic is based on the skeleton flower, a flower from the perennial family whose petals grow transparent when wet.
the flower who passed would be a lily, symbolising self-respect. i like to believe the picture the others chose was the “least revealing” she had available, and here, you can still see her face and smile.
the others in the funeral are based on snapdragons, flowers symbolising secrecy during the victorian era. the petals hide their centers.
lastly, the person approaching at the end: a tulip. it has many meanings, but here, i chose the one about openness and self-actualization.
❤️🔥 thank you for reading. if this made you feel something, you are welcome to share the piece or a panel that struck you most.
i’m an artist looking to build a full-time creative life. generally, my work explores what perturbs and what that reveals.
a recurring series i’m working on is brute & bromie, two characters i illustrate to explore what change actually feels like, using plants as metaphors.
🩸 BRUTE acknowledges how brutal it can feel, or potential extremes of destructive patterns that hold you back. (so you can choose differently).
🌱 BROMIE is a tender reminder. permission for self-compassion, to be gentle with yourself through a period of drastic change. (it’s hard enough as it is.)
they are usually paired to stories or essays i have written in the past.
here are a few:
if you need them, they’re there. 🩸🌱
more from me:
. . .
to allowing ourselves release,
Your drawings are so evocative, I could feel the movement, the loneliness, the sensations of not being understood in a room full of people through a few visuals. Very strong artwork, ryv. Loved the imagery of flowers opening up to vulnerability. Didn't know about the skeleton flower, it's a real revelation. We have been wired to see crying as a weakness, and you depicted the relief so beautifully. 💖 Nonverbal language cues are captured so rawly, without feeling the need to add poetic verses, it leaves the space for feeling deeply.
I’ve been laughing everyday since the honeysuckle comment. Now I know why. Skeleton flower !!!! You show us a whole new world by using real life experiences and crafting them together. The tulip at the end moving the petal to show the tear. Your work heals my inner child every time I take something with it. Because of you, I’ve been pushing myself not to sleep as much. Really trying to embrace life. I love all of your work. I’m so proud of you for showing your vulnerability. Ryv you are amazing in every way. I miss you and can’t wait to catch up soon 🫂🚀✨