There is a profound connection between trees and the human experience of loss. I wanted the Tree of Sorrow character in the game to continue emphasising the themes of grief and acceptance.

Whilst I’ve discussed a number of different trees as examples in my research post about trees, among the many trees revered for their symbolism, I believe that the willow tree holds a special place in human culture and emotion. Known for its drooping branches and graceful, mournful presence, the weeping willow is deeply entwined with themes of grief, acceptance, and healing. The weeping willow’s very form evokes sorrow, even in its grief-laden form, the willow offers a subtle message of hope: its branches, though drooping, remain flexible, hinting at resilience amid sorrow.

The willow’s ability to thrive in challenging conditions – often near water or in marshy, unstable soil -makes it a powerful metaphor for enduring hardship. While its appearance suggests sadness, its biology tells a different story: adaptability, strength, and renewal. The willow grows rapidly, bends without breaking, and regenerates from cuttings, embodying the ability to survive and flourish despite adversity. This resilience mirrors the human journey through grief. Loss may bend us, much like the willow’s branches, but it does not have to break us. The tree reminds us that even in sorrow, there is strength, and even in mourning, there is growth. This is why I have chosen the willow tree to embodying form of Acceptance.

Moodboard

I used pinterest to gather images. Click here for the link to the board.
I wanted the “pre-acceptance” tree to look ethereal and was enamoured by the idea of choosing a more mythical colour like white or a clear blue to give it a glow, this way it could portray hope and power despite the leafless “dead” appearance. The image in the middle to the furthest left most closely resembles the full shape of a Willow and I’d want the finished form of the tree to represent that. Because the player must upgrade the tree four times in total (due to there being four griefs to overcome), the pre-acceptance tree should have 4 forms starting from weak and frail, finishing at its healed and complete state – full of life and strong.

I loved the idea of Acceptance emerging from the tree in a way that it is still rooted, I wanted the design to feel calming and embracing. A transformation worth playing to watch. Acceptance should reveal itself to be beautiful and serene and I believe that leans towards a more feminine energy. The images in the top right and left caught my attention with the long willow-like hair that droops down.

Concept Sketches

There are so many different depictions of tree people and druids I had no idea where to start but I knew that I wanted to convey that 1. It was still a willow tree, 2. Godly energy and 3. Sense of hope and peace. My sketches were an okay starting point but improvements are needed. The first step was changing the “hair” to match the shape and silhouette of the willow. Because of the volume and weight of the hair I found it difficult to get down off of the top of my head so I researched and looked at references of textured women’s hair to make sure it looked and fell naturally.

Then I realised I was doing the colouring wrong, I was creating just a normal tree with a human body when originally the idea was to have a pale white and ethereal willow. So I changed the colour palette to reflect that better.

Final Concept Design

If I had more time and practice this concept could’ve used sleek line art to pull everything together. Apart from that, I’m happy with the colours and the idea it conveys.