From the artist:

..to feed someone a strawberry.

The only ponies I really like to ship are Applejack and Rarity. I am a true Rarijack fan.

“This painting is meant to be a scene from a wonderful story I read on FIM Fiction by Ponydora Prancypants called ‘The Fruits of Their Labor’, or ‘In The City of Dreams’. It is 29 thousand words and I loved every one of them. If you’d like to read it (and I advise you to) here is the link:

In the story, Rarity has been invited by Hoity Toity to participate in a fashion showing in Manehattan with many of Equestria’s best designers. Rarity invites Applejack to go with her, but AJ is reluctant because of her rough terms with the Orange side of her family, who live in Manehattan. Rarity convinces AJ to come anyway.

The story is flawlessly written. Rarity realizes that she is a true Ponyville pony, one who is homest and kind (unlike many of the rude or ignorant models and designers in the big city). Applejack comes to terms with her Orange inheritence and reconciles with her aunt and uncle, and all the while Rarity and Applejack’s relationship strengthens. Rarity makes a big splash at the fashion show, and tells all the ponies that her fabulous dresses will only be avalible in her own shop in Ponyville.

This painting is from a scene I loved in the story. The two ponies were out on the balcony of their Manehattan hotel eating dinner. AJ and Rarity had both nervously confessed that they found eachother beautiful, and Rarity had carefully flirted with Applejack and fed her a strawberry with her horn’s blue magic. Applejack indicates her smooth, hornless forehead, saying that she can’t do the same, but, “Have a strawberry, earth pony style.” She picks up a strawberry with her teeth and gives it to Rarity, who says she likes the earth pony way even better.

I am actually pretty pleased with my painting, but I’m frustrated as well. I can imagine that scence perfectly, but I can’t draw it the way I imagine it.

Rarity’s hair is in a “spring green towel”- it is described that way in the story, because Rarity had taken a bath before dinner. This is also why she has no makeup on (short eyelashes, no blue eyeshadow, etc).”