Lunaris

Pictured is the first version of Lunaris.

When I opened my art shop back in 2020, Lunaris was the first piece I drew for it! I had never drawn a stag before, much less anything deer-like, so it was an adventure stepping outside of fantasy portraits. He ended up with a bit of stubbornness in his expression, which reminded me of my Opa, who passed away in 2013. The piece shaped up to be in honor of him, and at the time, I named it something familial.

This piece went through a few different names over the years, as I wanted to move away from a name too identifying. When I revamped the design into what you see today, he was renamed to "Vidar" which was derived from Norse mythology, meaning "forest warrior". While this was fitting, it felt a bit too... sharp, for the vibe of my art as a whole, and I wanted him to sit comfortably with my other creations.

That is what brings us to Lunaris! Catchy, easier to pronounce, and holds a flexible meaning: "of the moon". It works because this stag totally would glow in the dark like a nightlight. And while he does protect the forests, he wouldn't want to be a warrior full-time! Sometimes you just gotta chill on the back porch with your grandkids while sipping a grape soda. Or orange. Or both. Both's good!