This was my entry in CGsociety's steampunk challenge. (download to view all the yummy details)

"Thought I'd talk a bit about the subject, which is the a steampunk version of Narcissus. I'll sum up the story, for you who don't know the tale of Narcissus.

Anyways, he's a particularily beautiful and vain guy with many female pursuers whom he rejects. One day out hunting he sits down by a stream. When he sees his own reflection he falls in love with it. He doesn't touch the water because he doesn't want to ruin the reflection and dies from thirst. The narcissus flower grows in his place of death.

Now in my version Narcissus is a automaton with a golden head which've crumbled by a pond. Firelfies and the moon illuminates him. So he's stopped working and is in a state of disintregation. The Narcissus flower grow where he's crumbled."

Took a while ^_^. I had no real solid idea of the composition when I started painting so it changed a bit througout the process. I wanted an enchanting, magic feel to it. Something like Princess Mononoke or Nausicaä. I will keep exploring this "genre"(cozy, enchanting, John Bauer forests and bla bla). Mainly 'cause I find it satisfyingly tranquil and thouroughly stimulating.

ALOT of trial and errors so I've also learned ALOT.

Btw. If you're hardcore, then I really recommend you listen to Erik Mongrain's "Alone in the mist" while viewing this. It ads to the feel I wanted to convey.

Hope ye dig and expect more!