Sumatra

Vision: Beautiful idea and just breath taking landscape. If the message was to convey explorers finding a new part of the world to either expand or find shelter or allies then very well done. If it is something else then call me interested to know as this is just amazing with its detail, color, and concept of a floating island surrounded by other floating islands and a nicely design airship in the background coming in for a landing or docking.

Originality: There have been floating islands before but the way this set up is designed is original in my opinion. Floating islands is nothing new to fantasy lovers or perhaps not new to sci-fi lovers either. The layout above the clouds, the floating blue portals (or perhaps they are energy fields that give aid to the floating islands?) As airships are nothing new in concept but their designs vary depending on the artists vision they have and each has their own unique feel and style.

Technique: Where do I begin on this colorful masterpiece of beauty? the color's put together is gorgeous and very well done with the shading such as with the clouds. The clouds are such a beautiful shade of white, blue, and what appears to be a dark blue into a violet/purple color. The shading of the people's figures is nice as is the shadows going back along the grass which is also nicely detailed.

The floating orbs of blue I love and makes me wonder if they are portals or are spheres releasing energy that helps keep all the islands afloat above the clouds. The shading and light reflected on the water is beautiful. The lines showing the, appears to me, endless waterfalls is beautiful to behold to me. It adds to the feel of the fantasy landscape and the feel of the islands floating and they can support life due to having an active, I assume never ending, supply of fresh flowing water.

I liked also the shading and coloring of the mountains and stonework with the gray, red, white, dark blues for distance. The reds gives the sense of the suns rays reflecting off the surface painting it with the reddish tint. The red trees are beautifully done as is the attention of detail with the buildings on the main, I assume main, floating island with what appears to be a doorway or gateway. The sky with its broken clouds of dark blue like evening is coming and a mix of green which I assume since in places is more blue is another planet or moon perhaps I think is nice.

Only thought I have (also lovely work on the flags a very nice touch to give a real world feel) would be for it to be a bit more clear on the figure on the left (with the cape assume is male unless female) on what it is being held. I thought it a sword with the sheath on the other side but I felt a little confused as to what the rounded item with a curved head that reminds me of a tennis racket is since to me anyway is not very clear.

That is only thing during this I can think to mention that was a little bothering but not enough to detract from the rest of the detail such as the face engraved on the wall before the gateway/doorway that could lead inside or be a transport to one of the other islands.

Impact: This got my mind going on so many different thoughts for what story could lay before and after involving this location and the floating islands surrounding what I'm going to be calling the main island. The airship I love that but for me I prefer airships over blimps personally or over planes but that is my personal choice to enjoy the design and style with, depending, mechanics of an airship. (though technically anything flying carrying people could be called an airship unless it fits the term properly not whereas this is fitting airship since it flies, shape of a ship so yes)

It has me wondering where the two watching came from and if they are good or evil, there to help or harm. So many thoughts that could play out in this breath taking landscape of color, magic, wonder, and just amazing work.

Overall: I very much enjoyed this artwork. It's stunning to the eye with so many little details to behold and enjoy taking them in as they are found. The colors are beautifully blended to have a natural feel and flow to them with softness for the clouds, solid and strong for the stone/mountains, a soft yet possibly slightly rough for the grass and trees. There is just so much to enjoy for everyone with so many possibilities for story chances depending on the writers mind. I was a little confused by what the rounded object was the shadowed figure on the left with the cloak is holding but other than that I couldn't really find anything else to point out that could be either more define or repaired/fixed/tweaked a little to help improve it further.