... but it was obviously based on a photo.

I usually don't use this technique but I zoomed in and basically copied pixels from a photo. It's my computer area!
I used this (in my opinion very stupid technique XD ) to learn about natural colors. It took a long time. It was not fun.

I added some fantastical elements... and my dog! Which was not part of the original photo. I think I did a good job mimicking the light in the photo onto her tho. The fluffy pillow... not so much... But the roses/wines I wanted to look more unnatural to sort of give off a feeling of "what is real and what is imagination". The pixelart kinda manages that in itself tho. Since I obviously simplified some elements more and some less.
The window and drapes took the longest bc they are the most "copied" from the original photo. And most boring. </3 Never doing this again.