The art has taken a long journey, from a pencil sketch late last year, to mid-summer, when I put the finishing touches on the shadow of the falling seed pod just tonight. It was originally a commission that I was hesitant to even start, but it's always hard for me to say "no." Then I was asked by a British fanzine editor if I had anything I could work up in full colour. The sketch of Saara Mar and Kiki Fraggle came to mind ... but it would also be a considerable challenge. I had never done back lighting of this sort before. Also, I thought I could incorporate a bit of pre-fab grass from an internet photo. In fact, I wasn't able to find exactly what I wanted, but I thought it would suffice if I used the strong shadow from the house to disguise the courser grassy foreground. On the whole, there are some compromises I've had to make along the way, but I'm pretty satisfied with the result. Of note to the purist, it isn't possible for both Saara and Kiki to be together in any kind of reality. Fraggles and Dalmirin don't mix. But I couldn't ask for better company on a beautiful fall afternoon. Naturally, I volunteered to bring in a tray of cold lemonade glasses.