Lighting/fuzziness landscape advice?

[TheMutant]

So I got crits on this image a long time back, worked on it a bit, and then it languished in my folder for a while. I've picked it back up now, and am determined to finish it!

My primary concerns at this point- I don't mind a bit of smudginess in this image, as it's on the abstract side and kinda dreamy (dunno if I want to make it hyperrealistic or detailed), but I'm concerned that a bunch of the lighter foreground elements look too... hairy? Fuzzy? Dunno. I'd appreciate advice on how to rectify this without losing a nice texture feel. Also a little concerned about the lighting in general. Crits in general are also much appreciated, of course.

Full size image is here. This thumbnail business puzzles me.

[vardoburrito]

I don't really want to comment on this, 'cause I'm still doing values myself, but
I would be rendering this realistic and if need be, add the white wash
later on to give that dreamy effect.

-I'd also be working a bigger brush, and it would help if you knew where
to go for rendering this out. Reference images, formations/shapes of caves/ice caves etc.

[2cents]

[ask maurice]

Emphasize the lighting detail by adding slight back light to the stalagmites and stalactites all the way to the foreground. Maintain the blur.

Ask Maurice.Org

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[Grief]

youre painting the entire image with the same sort of strokes and edge quality.

this particular image can be tricky because atmospheric perspective tells us that as objects receed in space they become less detailed, have less contrast, and gradually wash out in value.

however since your light source is in the farthest section of the image it'll create a stronger sense of contrast and more distinct shadows directly near the light source. i would ignore some of the rules of atmospheric perspective, for the time being, due to the fact that the depth of field in this image is not particularly expansive.

elwell's edge tutorial will guide you through where to diffuse your shadows as objects moe from a light source.