Global Talent Search: Little Terrarium

Update!! I came in the top 50 of 999 entries!!! I'm thrilled and honored to have
been chosen.Now off to work on round #2.
 My final terrarium piece for the Global Talent Search! I wanted to create a
magical world, of plants and birds and insects and flowers. A place I could stare
at all day and feel inspired.I did alot of painting, somehow I can see the vision
in paint more clearly than a pencil or pen line. I can draw in paint so its comfortable
for me.
I started here: (as I posted the other day...)

I really felt I needed to see the image clearly and not get too busy and I loved the big
jar the best. and I tried 2 side by side but it is way too busy.

I painted a single jar with a better top and more considered elements.

But the background, although I like I really felt was competing with the detail in the
terrarium. I think maybe the detailed technique and the rough style in background felt
really unsettling to me.
So I tried one with a more even background with texture.

It still didn't feel grounded to me so I do what I do alot in my paintings and put the
image on a table. I felt like I could breathe now when I looked at it. I also painted
the bird and butterfly more beautifully and added a caterpillar, a ladybug, a bee and
some more butterflies. My change I would make now would be to do the lettering
more like the ones in the first versions... Oh well. I learn something from every piece of art I do.