I've been trying to do more topdown art (as most games I create, which never make it out of developer hell are in topdown perspective but don't look like it) and I'm having issues making this tree... -look- like a tree.
It's supposed to be a round tree with extremely swirly bark (a swirloak tree); the top is cut off (the rest of the trunk is narrower than the bottom portion; its shaped kind of like a flask) but it just doesn't seem like the combination goes together (most people I ask think its a cave, or a brain, or a fart cloud or something lol)
Any tips?
EDIT: Also, there's a hole carved in the front of it because it is used as a house (its hollow)
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Checking at game references often help to create tiles - for textures, perspective, etc.
Also, your art seems quite rough (jagged pixels) for pixel art, try refining it more :)
In this case though, I think the main problem comes from the conception of the "tree" itself; for instance, the bark shouldn't be so thick compared to the core of the trunk. The item looks more like brown swirls aroung a trunk rather than a trunk with swirls, hence it can be difficult to identify for the viewer