Inspiration vs. Imitation

So I just finished the fourth piece in my inspired-by-Avatar war against the trials of Environmental Art, and it turned out much different from the episode of the show I was working with.  I realized that I ultimately like the picture because of what I added to the idea, as well as the associations attached to the inspiration.  I still consider these "fan art" because.. I'm a fan, and they're art, but at the same time I feel very confident when I call them my own.  I was actually worried for a little while during the process that I was going to disappoint someone, like "That hill is totally NOT like that in the show!" but then I realized how ridiculous that is.  Landscape art, like any other type of art, seems to be about immersion and believability, period.  It all kind of makes me feel bad for wailing about how Alice Cullen's hair was not the precise shade of black that it was supposed to be oh god.

Anyway, some shots!  You can see how I ran with one idea and then literally turned it on its head in a pique of frustration.