When it comes to picking a favorite, fans of Stardew Valley have a long list of characters from which they can choose. Each has their own personality and each has been the subject of their fair share of adoration. In one of the more recent tributes on the Stardew Valley subreddit, Haley is reimagined in beautifully drawn fan art.
Stardew Valley brings players to a dilapidated farm just outside of a small town. The game's goals are relatively relaxed and it works broadly as a simulation role playing game. It gives players the option to mine, farm a variety of crops, and raise animals throughout each season. Though the game has been out since 2016, its community continues to create new designs and fan art to this day.
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Haley is a romanceable character that has split the Stardew Valley community, and she has been reimagined perfectly in this fan art. Though originally looking to use watercolors, u/recurringbox turned to colored pencils to complete the artwork. Watercolor painting can be a difficult process and the impressive results of the pencils show that the right call was made. The dark lines were made with a black pen and they function to add some structure and boundaries to the diverse colors across the artwork. Instead of the character's usual look, Haley sports a different dress with puffy sleeves at the shoulders and an intricate flower crown.
Judging from the outfit, it looks as though u/recurringbox has brought the Haley from Stardew Valley's Flower Dance to the subreddit. Every 24th day of Spring in the game brings about a festival in which the eligible villagers of the town dance together in spring-themed outfits. The artist credits the folk horror movie, Midsommar as part of the inspiration as well. Either way the character looks different in this new medium but is still instantly recognizable for fans of the series.
Haley is an interesting character in Stardew Valley and one not free from controversy. Her actions and responses to players aren't going to win over many fans at the beginning of the game. As u/recurringbox mentions, "there are a lot of mixed opinions about her, some people like her and some don’t, but I really like her character arc."
Regardless of opinion on her storyline, though, this different art style brings a new look to the familiar character. Another fan of Haley has also brought the Stardew Valley character to a new medium through painting. Depictions such as these are part of the reason why Stardew Valley continues to be such a beloved title. These fan arts keep the title relevant and reimagine the characters fans have grown to love.
Stardew Valley is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, mobile, and legacy platforms.