Old friends

At long last, I am going to critique ponies. Ponies, me, critique...
May the fates of the universe have mercy upon my mortal soul.

Now, that being said, let us begin. I'll start by very simply stating that this piece is easily taken as professional grade work. I don't expect I'll be giving the artist any serious pointers for improvement. I'll simply give my layman's perspective as we go.

The very first thing I notice is the wonderful palette being used here. In my view, the artist, through color and style, has broken these ponies out of cartoonville, and has brought them safely to the land of artistic portraits. That's partly why I chose this picture from your offering. You give us ponies outside the mundane. Some of these ponies in your gallery are positively priceless in the way which you address them. You don't treat them simply as characters. They're your friends.

The palette you chose, while harboring aspects of our ponies native cartoon world, tips the scales toward realism, thereby giving these ponies visual depth which they would otherwise be lacking. It's a rich, full palette, which covers all of our appetites, and the artist employs it to its fullest. The subtle use of warm tints throughout keeps the picture from getting a cold feeling through the rocks and waters. Worthy of note is how the artist does not let the color magenta take over the piece, which it can so easily and readily do.

I am a bit concerned about the construction of Twilight Sparkle ( the one in the middle). Unless I'm misinterpreting what I see, the placement of that pony's tail root appears to shorten her back. It could be that the tail is properly rooted but makes a convoluted turn to come around from behind blue Minette, but that's not what I see there. You need to make us visually certain of where that tail comes from and what it is doing.

I enjoy the expressiveness of the ponies faces and postures. I like how we are invited into their interaction. I like how there is a one-of-a-kind flower over on the left side. I like the reflection of the mountains in the water. I would however, like to see that blue bird looking just a bit more attached to his rock. I'm not sure how you'll fix it, but he still appears to float over there a bit. Perhaps a bit more shadow underneath would do it. Perhaps casting his blue color around him a bit might help. Perhaps I'm just a nut.

In any case, what you have here is a purely enjoyable piece of art. I'd be happy to hang it in my living room.

Thank you.