Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is a staggering surprise, and you've got my heart singing
at this expression of friendship and appreciation!

Normally, I'm very shy about receiving gifts from hardworking artists,
because I don't want to feel like I'm sweet-talking them into
giving me such expensive gifts for free, and I generally
don't think I'm worth the time and effort it takes
to create something so beautiful and cool.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and warmth for this, all the same! Thanks!
If I ever get back to drawing, I'll owe you a picture right out of the gate!

You have paid such close attention to the detail of how the flippers work,
how the sea lions have fuzz (even though the look sleek and fish-line when wet),
the head shape, the whiskers and the teeth are all rendered so finely here!
All that, in addition to making me look like a giant plush toy, too!
Then again, that's what seals of all kinds are.

It is a tragedy that so many dangerous animals are friend-shaped.
Wolverines, kangaroos, tapirs, wild boars, hippopotamuses, cassowaries, orcas, Pallas cats...
We all want to hug them, but know that it would be the last thing we do in this life.

And Pear! Pear is glorious here, looking like the captain of this here nautical vessel!
Ready to set the course, and command the vessel to "Engage!" or the "Make it so!"

You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome!

And be sure the gift is well deserved - you show a big deal of love and respect for Brazilian culture (you checked yourself Chopis Centis lyrics! And facts about Belchior!), you are a good friend of artists, you're kind, you share a lot of interesting facts and experiences...

I'm glad I could get correctly the details of the Steller sea lion, they are impressive and expressive animals - and, unlike the real-life ones, the cartoon specimens can talk and eventually act as comfortable friend-shaped giant soft couches.

Thanks for appreciating the Pear too! Although she is more chilling than up to an adventure, and she would sure consult and respect the decisions of the "wessel".

One more time, I'm really happy we've met!

🌊👑🌊
🌊🦭🌊
🌊🌊🌊

I am very grateful for all that I have learned from you,
about Brazil and so many other things!
You have changed a lot of how
I see your country, and the
large blind spot that I had
in South America has been
replaced with a patch of vivid color, art and life!

I have noticed that in the Spanish parts of South America,
sea lions are also called "sea wolves" ("lobos marinos"),
and seals in general tend to be called "sea dogs"
in various languages throughout the world,
and it's an apt name for them, because
they do share a lot of the body language
of land canines, especially underwater, and
especially the smaller and younger seals.

I love the way sea lions pile up together on rocks and beaches,
using each other as pillows and couches, like you mentioned,
and the way they like to rest with their noses proudly stuck in the air!

I've found this really cool statuette of a sea lion crafted by the Moche people of ancient Peru!
And here's a deer furry!
And here's a rat hugging a maize cob!

And thank you again! This big fat living wessel is proud and privileged
to host the Aunt Rat of Arts and Crafts on his shoulder any day!

I say the same! Even I already knew a little tiny bit of Russian, things are now way more concrete, and diverse too, I hope you keep safe and the hard times go away. And I have more details. Now your city is not anymore just a dot and some historical facts (now I know about the floodings too!)

Oh, "lobo marinho" is a less common term in Portuguese, but it happens, too! And yeah pinnipeds are closer to doggos than cats, so all makes sense (although in some instances phylogeny can be surprising - hi, cetaceans! Or even hyenas). The "nose proudly stuck in the air" reminded me of the 1979 Mediterranean Games elegant seal mascot! I love this design!

And thanks for all Moche art! It is not uncommon in exibitions here, I always love whenever I have the opportunity to see them in close!