Unicorn's Gift - Colored WIP

Well, when I posted Unicorn's Gift, I had no idea how popular it would be. So I've begun working on coloring Miss Emma, and yes, she's looking very good indeed. So far, I've colored and shaded her entire body, and I'm now working on the background --- specifically, on painting the background.

I haven't done much painting; my last was about three years ago, and I wasn't terribly happy with it. I think a painted background will work for this, so we'll see when I'm done. I'm using the GIMP for this, and while it's quirky as heck, it's doing the job. Sadly, Corel Photo-Paint 11 couldn't handle it at the size I wanted to use, so I was left with the GIMP. I'll post my comments on using it in a later journal; it's taken some getting used to, and while I'll be able to complete this work in the GIMP, there are some places where the GIMP very definitely falls flat. I can say that it's obvious that they're trying very hard to copy Adobe Photoshop when they really should just be trying to create something good.

Anyway, I thought you'd all want to know that a colored version of Unicorn's Gift is in progress, and all that's left to draw is about another six hours of work on the background and maybe some finishing touches