He appears to be acquiring a hoof for a hand, whilst something viscous and black drips from within.

It's just foxes paw - it's visible behind the ice.
Black drips is disease that live inside him.

Thank you for your comment ♡

I notice that only the fox portions seem to be encased in ice.

Yep. And wolves far behind.

In sheep's clothing, no less! How surreally twisted.

But you know, it seems like he and his friends might be in the process of thawing out. And then I think that sheep might be in a significantly more terrifying situation, and about to get its ass handed to itself.

Hah who knows! I don't really sure what is going next. So you can imagine anything you want .)

Well, I hope they're both happy and love what they are, no matter what happens, or what they dream could happen.

Yes, in the end they'll be happy and feel harmony .]

Yes... isn't it interesting how there's both this freedom to imagine countless possibilities, and yet... a certainty of intention in us, of what is the true outcome, simultaneously, when this creativity strikes us. It's almost paradoxical, but your own words speak for themselves.

I try to understand these sorts of feelings more carefully. Less so these days as an act of defiance or attempt at control. It's as if... we could imagine the most horrible dislocation of all the bones reality has, but there's a 'right orientation' to things, that we intuit.

Unfortunately, the conceptual knot I have to work through is one that this art alone probably doesn't offer the insight to muddle through. But it was fun meeting you and discovering your fascinating character in all his symbolism.

P.S. I don't, for what it's worth, think that spontaneously metamorphosing into a fox-man, is the disease within... I think it's just a symptom.

Sorry for so long answer. I didn't have words for it because your comment make huge emotional impact on me. Truly I didn't know what I draw with this character when I was making art. But I think that metamorphosis is not illness too. It's just... inside world? Feeling?

I guess his illness is laud and fear in his head that poisons him. Maybe fox-being making him stronger.

I appreciate for you so huge reflection on this work. I want to make drawing story about him but... I draw what I "see" or "understand" more then what I "imagine". It's strange but I love it because it's like looking at character's life and fixing it on paper.

Thank you for all words it's so much matter to me ♡

A demoness once told me: "He doesn't have a problem with us. He has a problem with what liking us, 'means'."

Perhaps the sickness in Nielse is simply a matter of not understanding what his changing 'means'. Or maybe he's looking for a meaning when he needn't? What do you think?