I'm not sure if it is supposed to be flat, but it looks like paper.
Maybe some anti-aliasing could be applied aroung the edges,
and add more contrast between each color. This site has a
very nice tutorials section.

First off, i don't suggest AAing around the outside on a transparent pic. Then it will look bad on different backgrounds.

Next, you pretty much AAed backwards. Take a little more time on tutorials.

Again, more contrasted colors.

Dude, your avatar is four squares.

besides, it's a preview image kid ;D
--
what is the point of c+c on this if he already submitted it to the gallery?


Edited by Metaru - 15 September 2007 at 5:29pm

its not transparant.. its just a blue background...
I view it with 'Total Joy' so I can see that :p

Why is the light coming from the bottom? and is a bird really totally blue?
give it some colors, and shade it like the sun is coming from top..
you allready submitted it, but since it probebly will be rejected, you have to resubmit it, and thats the moment where our comments will be usefull again :p

and thats the right motivation!

very quick rough edit done, keep in mind I don't know much about birds.

First step is your outline, silhouette, what have you, you had that done fine.

Second, make a highlight shade, throw it where your light source is going to hit.

Third, throw in shadows, they're going to be on the underside of where your light source hits.

Fourth, I made a shadow buffer tone; so everything doesn't look so rough, and you can show more depth

Fifth, I did the same, but with a highlight tone.

Last, I re-added outlines where I broke them, I tried changing things around to see if they would look better (ie. the tail feathers), I made things look better and put finishing touches on it.

I think this is as simple as you can start, so you might want to try with some other objects (maybe a cat, a TV, your mother, whatever you want, but be sure to practice lots because it really helps)

The main thing you seem to be missing is to remember what you're drawing is an actual 3D object represented in a 2D plane; just studying how light works will make that all the more believable to anyone who takes a look at your work.