The scene is set in an old-fashioned, slightly whimsical hockey rink, inspired by Maxfield Parrish's dreamy palettes with a touch of Edward Gorey’s intricate detailing. The rink is surrounded by classic wooden bleachers, illustrated in rich, warm browns with visible wood grain and patina, suggesting years of use and love. Above the bleachers, a vintage scoreboard, with gold and forest green numbers, hangs slightly askew, giving a sense of nostalgia.

In the foreground, a sad, yet comically exaggerated, hockey player sits on the ice. His figure is a quirky amalgamation of Norman Rockwell’s expressive human forms and Quentin Blake’s playful, sketch-like lines. The player is dressed in an overly large, slightly tattered hockey uniform. The uniform features a vintage deep navy blue and white color scheme, with bold, stylized stripes along the sleeves. His helmet is askew, revealing tufts of unruly hair, while his skates are comically oversized, reminiscent of Maurice Sendak’s mischievous style.

Beside the player, a puck, slightly askew, rests on the ice. It's rendered in high detail with tiny scuff marks. The ice itself is a glossy, swirling pattern of pale blues and whites, with light reflections captured in intricate detail, much like Arthur Rackham’s work.

In the sky above, fluffy clouds float by, with a subtle nod to Gustave Doré’s celestial etchings. A whimsical, sky-writing plane flies by, trailing a banner that reads “Alex” in an elegant, curvaceous script, reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley's intricate line work.

The background features a single, large tree beyond the rink, with sprawling, gnarly branches that recall the fairy-tale quality of Beatrix Potter’s landscapes. The tree is depicted in rich earthy tones, with a smattering of leaves in shades of amber and gold, hinting at the transition from autumn to winter.

Overall, the scene captures a blend of detailed realism and whimsical fantasy, a perfect blend for a sympathy card with a touch of humor, rendered in a style that nods to classic illustrators without losing its unique charm.

Generated with these themes: Sad hockey.

Made with ❤️ by AI.