Sublime
by GolferDDS

Comment:
Face paint on an actress (assuming this is a woman), how assuredly a surface and a facade. The stark white paint makes an elegant contrast to the muslin clothing. Her pale red lips make a tender, underplayed focus point. Her expression is caught in full emotion. Serenely dramatic. Beautifully done.
My only quibble is with her out of focus hand. That and the brightness of it draws the eye away from rest of the image. If I may be so bold, perhaps a crop from the lower left to tighten it up. Just a suggestion.
Had there been such a crop this would have been a co-favorite in the challenge.

Polyphemus
by vawendy

Comment:
A gorgeous, living mosaic, elegantly presented. An enchanting, subtle palette of milky blues, greens, corn, browns and blacks. So very satisfying without the bravado of saturated fireworks. The orange of the eye is a modest counterpoint, moody, inviting us into ancient realms. Overall, a map of evolution's peregrinations.
Smack dab to the point of the challenge. Great title.
Personal favorite of the challenge.

Five feet fingers
by Sisto

Comment:
Perhaps some people didn't notice the foot pressed against the inside of the bottom of the bowl. Otherwise, I thought this is wonderful.

gone in 30 seconds
by willem

Comment:
Had this as my top pick. Really neat.

Something Wicked This Way Comes
by Bear_Music

Comment:
Pardon me, but I thought you were supposed to be the nightmare outside the door. A thousand apologies. I had gotten it backwards, and the new found perspective revealed that the viewer was either behind or part of the nightmare. So much more intriguing. Had my head been screwed on properly, my miserly five would have floated up several notches. Owe you one.

the door of the mind and what guards it
by posthumous

Comment:
This fine image escaped my full attention on the rating go-around. Gave it a seven, but it deserves more. And didn't comment, but now I can. It left me confused, and I still am, but I now better appreciate the confusion as the stuff of dreams. Esthetically, I love the colors. The pixilated browns are a sumptuous backdrop for a nightmare, but who knows that it doesn't heighten the horror? That may be an eye by the gate, but it also seems an Aladdin's lamp. The dog doesn't seem very threatening, but there are people who are afraid of bugs, no less microbes. I thought it was a cat. My wife walked by as I was looking at the image, asked for the title, and then appraised it. I mentioned, having read your note, that it's a dog on the path. "I thought it was a chicken!" she exclaimed. Go figure. All part of the mysterious and provocative landscape of this mind.

WTF?!
by LevT

Comment:
Don't get it.

Demons
by GeorgesBogaert

Comment:
Still shaking in the afterpull of the dream.

nothing to fear
by jmritz

Comment:
Been here. Next.

My Nightmare
by Lydia

Comment:
This appears as surreal as nightmarish, but it sure makes me fidgety. Either way, it's a disturbing image that's artfully imagined and crafted. Most jarring of all is the pink teardrop. Nice work.