Well that explains it all!

Thanks for taking the time out to explain all this - It's exactly the kind of critique I need to be the best I can be.

FYI, the pixelling on the bottom of the boots is meant to be dried mud ;)

Hit the + under the art 3 times >

Look at the left side of the belt. The line below are clean and the top line is stepped. That's an example.

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Now look at the lower pants near the boots and notice how some pixels change color/opacity >

That's 'dirty, ugly, messy pixelling.'

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While zoomed look at how many pixels are there and serve no purpose and even stand out. >

The very bottom of the boots have some crazy pixel placement.

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so yeah... be clean, be precise because honestly this does fail to meet basic quality standards because of these things and it shouldn't be as you have talent and seem interested in being the best you can be :p

Ok, great. Could you also expand on what you mean by 'step'? I'm not quite sure what you meant by it.

Last question I promise.

No, black lineart is a design choice so that can't ever be questioned. I refer only to technique and finesse as it relates to pixelart specifically.

 That's fine man I prefer a busy comments section to no comments at all :)

So you say I should be more careful in my application of the lines, but do you also mean I should not keep them black and instead tint them to fit the colours?

Thanks for your feedback, I didn't find it harsh (I don't want people to sugar coat something when fact's fact). 

@AJASC, sorry for highjacking your page :|

@Zizka, That is terrible and never my style or approach. I'll watch myself more when reviewing/adding art to be added to the gallery. I often write fast and furious so that PJers have an idea why a piece is lagging, rejected or has an issue that has kept it in the queu. If we don't then it can be confusing and some are to shy to ask, etc. I also don't have the time to think and be eloquent with every piece or on every matter. I am a pixelartist first and Modding is a service I willingly provide on my free time.

 I completely agree about criticism and I would certainly prefer it over praise. I just think there's a way to say things is all and I thought the way you said your criticism was harsh. Just my two cents though. 

As Connor mentions, the line quality is very 'dirty' because its missing pixels here and there and generally speaking lines should never 'step' like you have here where the lineart is highlighted and defining. It is possible to 'step' lines but usually its supported by the piece when its fitting. A detail of dirty lines is clearly seen in the moving thigh where the line jumps up and down tho its quite dirty everywhere.

Obviously another Mod did add it so take that tip for future work, k. It really is bad pixelart form to be that uncontrolled. Use the forum's WIP section if you ever need feedback or have questions :)

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@Zizka, mentioning technical things is never considered harsh in PJ. Crits are meant to teach or point out where a piece has failed to meet good standards. True, one could always just ignore and say nothing but then the artist might never learn or make progress and we like to think PJers are here for help and feedback just as much as showcasing their pixels.

I started out with a compliment to the piece which is true and gave my opinion so it could be improved. Is that harsh?

 You didn't clean any of the lines and it makes the whole piece look half as good as what it could/should.

 Wow, that's a bit harsh. 

Could you elaborate on what you mean by dirty pixelling?

Good sprite and nicely laid out. However, that is some dirty, ugly, messy pixelling that just fails at 'control on the pixel level'. I can't add personally for this reason but another Mod may be ok with it and add it to the gallery.

 Yeah, you mean the belt not moving up and down? Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't notice it when working on it. 

Good find with the blink also, it's amazing what fresh eyes can pick out.

Thanks for the feedback 

It's meant to be him twirling the dagger around, but I can definitely see what you mean about the shoulder. Thanks!

If he's to be waving around his dagger, there should be motion all the way to his shoulder. He's far too stiff

somehow his waist stays still, but his knees and torso move up and down?  The bodies verticle movement should stem from the knees.  As the knees bend, everything above it move down, and as the knees straighten, everything above moves up.

Is he supposed to be blinking?  The upper eyelid should move down, not vice versa.  You did it right on the hat.