Hey there,
So this one started on the trail. But the trail version of this idea and what actually showed up on the table? Not the same thing.
Here’s where I started:
Initial motif list:
- mushrooms
- frog
- snail
- ferns
- raindrops
Solid. Predictable. A little too clean, if I’m being honest. It looked like a forest-after-rain collection. It didn’t feel like one.
What Was Missing
When I got back and actually sat with it, the problem was obvious. Everything I picked was a “main character.” Nothing was supporting the scene.
What I wasn’t including:
- puddles
- ripples in water
- wet leaves stuck together
- small bugs/movement elements
- bits of debris (twigs, broken pieces, ground texture)
Basically… all the stuff that makes a forest floor feel real.
I had ingredients. I didn’t have an environment.
Fixing It
So instead of adding more “cute” elements, I started asking:
What would actually be there after rain?
That shifted everything.
Now I’m working with:
- clustered leaves instead of perfect single ones
- subtle water shapes instead of obvious raindrops everywhere
- small filler elements that break up space naturally
- less symmetry, more organic placement
It’s already feeling less staged.
Color Palette Direction
I split this into two directions (still testing):
Palette 1:
- deeper greens
- earthy browns
- muted mushroom tones
Feels grounded. Quiet. Almost heavy.
Palette 2:
- softer greens
- a bit more contrast
- slightly brighter accents
Feels fresher. More “after the rain just passed.”
I don’t know which one is winning yet. And I’m not forcing it.
What’s Not Working (Yet)
Spacing.
This is where it always gets tricky.
Too spaced out → looks empty
Too tight → looks chaotic
Right now, I’m somewhere in the middle where it still feels a little… arranged.
Not natural enough yet.
That’s the next thing I’m pushing.
Where This Is Going
The goal isn’t to make a “pretty forest pattern.” It’s to make something that feels like you’re actually standing there.
And that means:
- less perfection
- more layering
- more subtle details
This one’s still in progress, but it’s already better than where I started.
Next step is getting it out of the “elements on a page” phase and into something that actually feels like a cohesive pattern.
It’s on the wild table now.
I’ll let you know what survives.
Petra
Petra Monaco
Smoky Wood Studios
Pyrography Academy
Spore & Sigil
Ridge Raven
