Whimsy Dancer of the Mystic Undergrowth

This piece was made for the Broken Telephone Jam! I had the pleasure of receiving a track called "At The Tavern" by Mekto, created in a previous round of the jam :)

When I first listened to the music, I immediately got a whimsical and magical vibe from it. Instead of going with a literal interpretation — like drawing a tavern scene — I wanted to explore a more imaginative angle. So I came up with this mysterious little gnome character. I pictured him as a curious, magical creature that might live in the woods nearby or pop into the tavern to share strange stories and riddles over a cup of something warm.

Visually, I was inspired by a garraduende — a small handcrafted gnome figurine kept inside a glass bottle, which I have at home. It has this quirky, mischievous look that really stuck with me, and I thought it fit perfectly with the atmosphere of the song. (There's a photo of it on this page as well, in case you're curious!). I tried to channel that same charm and strangeness into my drawing.

I tried to reflect the playful energy and sense of wonder I felt while listening to the music. I wanted the character to feel like he belonged in a world full of enchantment and secrets — someone you might meet once and never forget. His expression, posture, and the little details in his design all aim to reflect the playful, slightly mysterious tone of the track.

I really enjoyed this prompt, and it was super fun to create something based on another artist’s work. This was quite a creative challenge! It felt like a collaborative storytelling process, even if we never directly interacted. Hope you enjoy the result as much as I enjoyed making it!

Software: Aseprite