🦇Kat⚰️

It's 年初二 today。 Hope that all who celebrate have been having fun with family and friends. May money and good prospects come your way 🧧💓

I've been chasing lion dances, going deaf from fire crackers (除夕 2 nights ago was a BAD time to get a migraine. Woof) , eating gam (mandarin oranges), and getting angpao from elders. Busy busy week so far, weh

As a half-Chinese SEAsian girlie, I've been wanting to draw Draculaura in traditional Han clothing, especially with her g3 version being half-Taiwanese (Taiwan has a majority Han population, followed by Hakka and Hokkien). CNY was a good excuse. She is wishing you all 马年行大运 (good luck in the year of the horse)！！！

Some notes on this piece:

The whole design is heavily inspired by her Gore-geous Oasis and Core Refresh 1 dolls from g3. Especially her Oasis doll. Like come on, that doll gives gorgeous east asian tourist in the best way (chef's kiss) I NEED HER BUT SHE'S NOT SOLD WHERE I AM AAAAHHHH

The yellow accents are inspired by some of her g1 dolls like Forbitten Love. I am a BIG FAN of yellow accents on Draculaura idc idc. And ofc yellow/gold is a staple colour during CNY alongside red

The words behind her ("xin nian kuai le", meaning "happy new year") are in traditional Chinese as that's the writing system used in Taiwan. For those who are curious, in simplified Chinese, it's written as 新年快乐。Btw it's called Lunar New Year over in Taiwan! (I clarify that bc it's called CNY where I am lol)

Roses aren't very CNY/LNY kinda flowers imo. Mostly you see chrysanthemums on floral cheongsams. But! I really like the rose chestpiece on her Oasis doll. And it made me learn how to draw roses. Besides the more detailed ones on her dress, you can also spot simplified versions as her buttons and the deco hanging from her fan

Her fan itself is also inspired by her Oasis doll one. I wanna think it's a custom that her mum got her, with her name carved into the side. I wanted to write her name in Chinese on the other side but I can't think of a good "translation". In g1 she was called Lala a few times (fun fact: 拉拉 [pronounced La La] means WLW!) but I felt smth that sounds like Laura (罗拉?) could fit her better. In the end I just. Didn't put a 2nd name. Indecisive

Straight cut bangs and twin buns are a staple traditional hairstyle, so who am I to resist giving her Nezha style twin buns

I wanted to give her accessories like golden or jade earrings and bangles (tho I feel only elders wear jade nowadays - but come on this ghoul is 1600), or maybe a Chinese knot hanging from her dress somewhere. But. I forgor :(