Building “After the Rain” (and What I Missed First)
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
