Some fan art I did for the song The Forest of Shelanoir from Ar Tonelico back in 2014 that I still really like.
Ar Tonelico was and has been for a long time, very important to me, because I got into it at a genuinely dark time in my life and helped me through it in so many ways. The series is very flawed, it's probably one of the most obscure JRPG series ever, and some parts of the games have not aged well (general sexism and very brazen fanservice at times). I'm hesitant to recommend the actual games to people - but the music, lore and worldbuilding completely enchanted me, not to mention having several conlangs based around programming totally latching onto my hyperfixation brain. I don't wanna ramble about it too much here, because I want to make a whole page about it on my website at some point, but you get the idea, maybe!

As far as the music, the games have a range, but I guess I can compare it to Nier: Automata music for the more modern day folks to have a point of reference. Yoko Taro has even mentioned it as a source of inspiration in an interview. Here's the link to the song this art is about.

I’m in love with the ~Ar=Ciel Ar=Dor~ album and I’ve been meaning to draw Shelanoir fan art for a really long time. The art for the song is so gorgeous and I tried to get that same feeling in this drawing without making it too similar but auuuguh it doesn’t feel done. I didn’t know how to draw a Dianthus flower so I just improvised. But I had no idea it was an actual flower until now. orz
February 3, 2014