Here to wash down your meal with a dark ale and sweet maple notes? That's what we like to hear! And so do Brownstone's friar moles!
For some added context, check out the first Art Blog from this line, covering our Ranger Hawke's Rosemary Pork Pies visual development! But if you're here for the moles (drawn by artist Anna Lark, @thebeanbaguette x/twitter, instagram), then by golly, let's talk about MOLES.
Friar Monty's Stout & Mapled Oats
No meal is complete without a drink to accompany it, and very little gives more rustic fantasy vibes, imbibing-wise, than a tankard of ale! Having that set direction to go off of, we leaned into the specific nostalgia of Redwall abbey, inhabited by monks and other denizens, and also into Disney's 1973 classic adaptation of Robin Hood, where Friar Tuck is portrayed by a good-hearted badger.
Considering something of a cellar-type space for the sharing of drink, we ultimately decided on moles for this offering! Not only for their cute approachability, but also to introduce the idea of a tunnel system where burrowing creatures may live in this setting! Many different types of creatures work together to form a community.
In these early sketches, you can spot a larger mole holding a cask of ale! A cutie! But also ultimately removed from the final illustration in order to serve the composition, and keep the focus on the titular scent of stout! The palette here is leaning more earthy to fit the setting.
With some more clean-up, you'll recognize more of the elements that made their way into the final illustration! Anna drew many fun tankards for us, not all shown here, but several featured on this candle's tuck box! Ultimately we got a closer shot of the moles and their drink in the forefront, which led to the final illustration:
And there's so much to love here! The self-satisfied moles in the background! The stout splashing! The cute mole paws! Tiny little glasses! Those upturned snouts! These friars are having a great time, and invite you to lay down your burdens for a while (or two)!
Purchase the candle here!
Check out our other FEAST blogs to get more behind-the scenes looks at the delicious scents that make up the collection!
And check out artist Anna Lark's work while you're at it! 👀🍺🦡