The Hippo Shopkeeper in a Potion Shop

An oil painting of a portly hippo shopkeeper in a cozy potion shop. Thick impasto brushstrokes; warm candlelight; the hippo behind a wooden counter cluttered with glass bottles, bubbling vials, and steaming cauldrons. Shelves line the walls with colorful potions, labels bearing magical sigils, and a hanging mortar and pestle. The air swirls with steam and glimmering motes. The hippo wears a stained emerald-green apron and round spectacles perched on its snout. Rich earthy tones—ochre, umber, sap green, and pops of cobalt blue and ruby red—under dramatic chiaroscuro. The scene blends classical old-master technique with whimsical fantasy; composition uses a slight three-quarter view, deep perspective receding shelves, and a warm, inviting atmosphere.