Enlarge....pu-lease!

I tried some different shading on this. More bold lines and strong colors.

The premise is a gothic feel in Japan. By taking elements of the Japanese traditions and supersticions and trying to create the same haunter/horror as in American stories.

(There is an actual story behind who 'he' is and everything in the picture. I told the story to a few people and got them to shiver or go 'Ohhhhh...that's cool. O_O'

I might tell the story later....most likely not! (Unless asked to do so but why bore you, eh?)

According to Japanese beliefs, sandals breaking is a bad omen. (Hince he is barefoot in the snow as no shoe will remain whole on his foot..and it shows he cannot feel or what pain he feels is only natural) His clothing 'bleeds' to red if any other color is put upon him. Not wearing your hours colors could be considered dishonoring the family. (He doesn't wear the house colors) He doesn't wear his hair in a traditional high knot...showing he is wild and, perhaps, not a creature of tradition. His face is painted like that of the Kabuki <sp> actors....because he is not what he appears to be. Most Japanese fans show scenes of flowers and...such. His is a weapon and the depiction on the fan is not of...nice things.

Butterflies in swarms are signs of threat and can be considered to be spirits.

The forest itself, if you look closely, has hands for some of the end of the tree branches.

He isn't in the forest so much as he IS the forest and the forest is an entity born of the dead.