I particularly appreciate how you express the elements of traditional visual representation in your vector art (as with the gold brocade contributing to the volume of the garments). As everyone eventually discovers, there are no programmatic shortcuts to skill and experience-- and indeed the diligent hours in which each component of the composition is rendered and put in its proper place.

Your series of work-in-progress images of this piece on Facebook is very interesting as well; I recommend that everyone who hasn't seen them yet follow the link in Fred's signature.

Cheers,
Jesse