I must admit, sometimes try actively to avoid looking for the frog. I frequently get disbelieved, berated or even insulted by people who insist high detail must imply hidden messages, and somewhat afraid I might catch whatever afflicts them in actively looking for secrets. However this time my eyes happened to meet his quirky gaze almost immediately.

Turns out it does not hurt at all.

A froggy cure for superstition is a good thing to remember from this christmas. Happy holidays <3



It may seem excessive to say as it is one of your proven strongest points, but the exquisitely rendered anatomy must be noted here: Perhaps a strange comparison, but like how many have pointed out the grey alien is a distillation of all traits that distinguish humans from other animals, the highly naturalistic presentation only enhances the impression of something other - perhaps more - than human. Even without the ears and fur, little things such as the sleek shoulders and long fingers immediately invoke the word sprite, although at once perhaps not a creature without human concerns: While beautifully painted and doing its part as eye candy without standing out, the loin-piece looks like it could become very uncomfortable when soaked through.



The distant background looks very familiar. It reminds very much in lighting and composition of a forest scene from The model maker's handbook, one of the finest dioramas I have seen. It may not sound as a favourable comparison, but find the "wiriness" of the foilage does add to the realism - it gives a strong impression the leaves, while feather-light, are indeed physically connected, existing as more than a ratio between opacity and transparency. Also, good to see variety in the flora. Your birch and ash are every bit as beautiful as your lychees.

Not certain if it is something you strive to enhance or hide, but this piece has a lot more of the process visible than many of your previous backgrounds. Likewise, not certain if it is useful feedback, but the boulder on the far left attracts a lot of attention (and not only for the reason that should remain secret...). While all the rocks have a touch or more of opalescence, it looks almost like a single large opal, polished smooth by long years of exposure, seemingly out of water. One can only guess this pond by the rapids, as humble as it seems, still has a long history; that generations of hands or paws have shaped it little by little to their delight.



Well done.