Character Development
& Concept Art
The task was to select a limerick from Edward Lear's Nonsense Omnibus,
"There was an Old Person of Mold, Who shrank from sensations of cold; So he purchased some muffs, Some furs and some fluffs, and wrapped himself from the cold." — Edward Lear
The context of this limerick is the Welsh town called Mold. As a result, I chose to draw inspiration from Welsh folklore and stories. I interpreted the limerick as the story of an old man named Brynmore who is cursed by a witch, Gwyllion, to shrink because of his cold heart. The character designs illustrate Brynmore as a young, confident man, his transformation into Bryn—the old man—and the witch who places the curse on him. Through my interpretation, the limerick offers a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of old age, pushing Brynmore through the classic plot device of rebirth.
Completed at QUT in 2021.
Born into wealth, Brynmore is a silver-spoon character who has never had to lift a finger in his life. People even pay him to be their friend. He never worries about anything or anyone, including himself. But when Gwyllion comes knocking, his whole world shifts.
Brynmore’s character design reflects his personality - the privileged silver spoon. His head is a bowl-shaped oval perched on a narrow, slender frame.
After receiving the curse, Brynmore becomes Bryn: an old, weathered man who suffers rapidly from the effects of aging. He struggles to keep warm, must live off the land, and is completely alone.
Bryn’s design is inspired by a toad, referencing the classic witch’s curse of transformation. Brynmore shifts from a tall, slender lord to a short, stout old man with a toad-like head—elongated oval with big ears. He has lost most of his hair and now has nothing to hide behind. Some small details, like his boots and eyes, connect Bryn back to Brynmore.
Bryn’s colour palette reflects his forced reconnection with nature—earth tones, varying greens, and deep muddy browns.
Gwyllion are mountain fae witches from Welsh folklore. I chose to give this character the same name as these folklore creatures. They appear to Brynmore and ask for shelter by the fire. When refused, they become more otherworldly and exaggerated. Quickly leaving after cursing Brynmore to be as cold as his heart.
Gwyllion’s character design combines traditional Welsh women’s clothing with the frightening depictions of the Gwyllion in folklore. At first glance, they could be mistaken for elderly, hunched-over women, but up close their true otherworldly nature is revealed. Their colour palette features brown and red tones that stand out against the natural landscape and act as aposematism colours -signals in nature warning predators that the creature is not worth attacking or eating.
