WOW! Would you mind sharing some of that sickness you mentioned with me? If it brings forth such excellent work I want to have it too
Frankly Gustav, this is an aweseome job! He is so three-dimensional!
The expression also is really interesting. I wish I could say something more useful with regard to constructive criticism, but you are leaving no real room you leave for that.
I notice for once you left out your "sparkling eye signature". Nothing against your style, but I think in case of this picture it comes across better without the sparkling effect.
And if someone's sitting on tips on how to draw backgrounds... I hope that person share his/her secret!
Not too much of a secret there I think. Think of a landscape and draw it. Skies are getting lighter (may actually turn white) towards the horizon (same goes for large water surfaces). Also it often gives a realistic touch if colors of distant objects are not too strong. Photoshop offers many tools suitable to create structures like leaves, grass, or rough, rocky surfaces. Do you have any particular questions about backgrounds?