Birthday arts for Dogsoul!

I've had this idea floating around in my brain for over a year and it's high time I actually put it down on paper. ...pixel. Whatever.

I thought I'd poorly timed it too, thinking I wouldn't be able to finish it in time but here it is! Yay!
I think it helps that I've had such a solid image of what it should look like in my head for so long. Also, the preliminary sketching went so smoothly, which doesn't usually happen especially when drawing something unfamiliar.

So here we have the mule, Mavado, deeply puzzled as to why I might send him a duck. Guest starring a cinnamon teal!

Please forgive any anatomy and markings errors, I am nub. I did work off of references for the duck in particular and tried to stay true to Mavado's character sheet and subsequent drawings but equine faces defeat me still. At least it gave me a chance to practice things I draw very rarely! (Though ducks are showing up more often. Fault ducks at least.)

My original idea did have a ribbon tied around the teal and when I started on the wing feathers I was pretty pleased that was part of the idea since they weren't coming along very well. And then something clicked and suddenly I was extremely proud of those feathers and couldn't bear to cover them up.
I assume Mavado realized what a cruel thing it is to tie a bird's wings and feet against its body like that and released him.

Mavado is naturally © Dogsoul.
Happy birthday!