Yet another character for the Densville setting I’ve been dipping in and out of as of late; after the first few drawings being mostly for other friends of mine, it’s nice to work on a few “NPC” types who are more based in the aesthetic and fulfilling certain “roles” in town than just being avatars for folks.

Ms. Gardner here is a socialite and local icon known for her soothing voice, intoxicating charisma, and hypnotic gaze, all three of which make her the star act at the Lounge Lizard nightclub in the urban parts of Densville (no minors allowed here!). Her slinky movements are certainly controversial for some of the more prudish folks in town, but underneath her snakeskin lies a heart of gold… possibly. Few have ever gotten close enough to know what Ms. Gardner’s like in private, and most are too afraid to try. But then again, what’s there to be afraid of? She doesn’t bite… probably.

The concept for a lounge singer with a garter snake influence was something I’d wanted to do for a while, both for the garterbelt pun and the idea of snakes as smooth, silent predators. For Ms. Gardner the California Red-Sided Garter ended up being the source of her color scheme; doubly fitting in my book to imply that she originates from the Los Angeles area before Densville snatched her up. Naturally, her last name being so close to the 1940’s actress Ava Gardner was quite the happy coincidence~.