do you have a dev page? O_O *curious to see your work, especially looking at that gorgeous icon*. AND yesss it is awesome to fall into the zone, makes the work seem so much less tedious..usually I have to smack my fiance away so I can keep working. He doesn't always understand that sometimes getting into the right frame of mind or right mood for the piece is the HARDEST part of all. Sometimes the actual work is easier than finding the inspiration to do it, supposing that makes any sense ;).

As for brushes, yep, the only thing I use the brushes for in my realistic stuff or semi realistic stuff, not sure I have crossed the threshold from semi realism to full blown realism JUST yet....but anyway I use the fur brushes for the initial stages of smearing the fur so as to kinda give it a natural feel of direction. Other than that, Ive found there is no way but to do one hair at a time, just doesn't look right otherwise.

Oh and pleasure to meet you :)!