It's quite beautiful. I would say one thing though, something about the perspective where the top of the cliff meets the land and and the view where you have the buildings and stuff don't match.

But for your first time, I have to say, you can definitely paint a beautiful picture. I'm gonna fave this one, I love it.

You know, I was thinking the same thing about the perspective of the buildings but I checked it out with the perspective grid in Photoshop and it all checked out as being accurate. I used two vanishing points on the horizon. So I left it as is.

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Website - [link]

People have given their input on this image since I have put it it on the web. My daughter thinks I should change the perspective on the buildings on the lower right so it doesn't look so straight. She thinks that is what is wrong with the perspective. I think she may be right about that. Also to add shadows to the barrier at the waterfront. A friend thinks I should add mist around the waterfalls to give some mystery to it. Also to add a little irregularity to the straight cliffs behind the buildings. All will be done, so look for a redo on this one. Any other critiques are welcome before the redo.

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Website - [link]

So you hand painted all of that? Wow, I am impressed. I have to agree about the perspective though. I know what you are saying about the the grid and all, I have had similar discussions with my wife about stuff being technically accurate. But the bottom line, at least in my own experience, is not really whether something is correct or not, but whether it is perceived as being correct or not. Perception is everything, at least when it comes to pictures. Believe me, I know how frustrating that can be, and how much extra work that can create. But you know, 6 months, or a year or 5 years from now, no one is going to care how long it took you to do something. All they are going to care about is how it looks. Aside from the perspective thing, this looks fabulous. Great work and I look forward to seeing the next one.

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"Our life is no dream, but it should and will perhaps become one." Novalis

I didn't mean to give the impression that this is totally painted by hand. Most of it is though - the buildings, docks, sky, volcano and smoke, some of the vegetation. Some of it is from photos that I incorporated into the image. Since I have done this one, I now use mostly photos in my matte paintings which makes it a lot easier to complete and give a more realiatic effect. See "Fortress" [link]
and "The Golden Path" [link]
What you should see in this updated version is the changes I made to it.

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Website - [link]

Yes, photos are definitely easier and more realistic but it is sometimes difficult to find ones that are complimentary with similar lighting sources.

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"Our life is no dream, but it should and will perhaps become one." Novalis