This was yet another piece I created for the SVS Critique Arena Challenge for the month of July, based on the prompt "Rabbit Road Race", and is again based on Chinese mythology, this time on the commonly-told folktale about the race organized by the Heavenly Jade Emperor to determine the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, which are also shared widely by other Asian cultures.

I was again trying out an experimental style with this, trying to do something flatter, and more textured, while weaving in traditional Chinese papercut motifs. It was also quite an ambitious piece in terms of composition and design, as I had to fit in all 12 animals and their respective story texts in a convincing but not overly-cluttered manner.

Overall, I am happy with how it turned out!

Painted in Krita.