Well you should probably try lowering your color count first of all. It looks like you have way too many. Also, although you're not really pillow shading, this could benefit from a more dramatic light source. You could also try upping the contrast. Hope this helps some

NOTE: If you're unfamiliar with any terms, check out cure's thread that pretty much defines everything you need to know about pixel art.

http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11299

Edited by Mr Special - 03 September 2011 at 2:54pm

Well, it's been a long time and no comments so far. So I tried to find out my own mistakes and made a small update of the picture.


So please tell me how am I doing?

I would get rid of the dark outline on the left side of the arm, or at least tone it down. Now, you have a light source on the left side, but the nose seems to be lit from the right side. I also think that the clothes are a bit "noisy" and that they would look more crisp if you would smooth them out and highlight the folds more carefully.  It depends on whether you want to go for photorealism, but the face certainly does not look photorealistic. Lastly, the left forearm is much longer than the right forearm, and the right forearm is too straight of a line and doesn't show the shape of the muscles.

Thanks for the tips, guys!



I tried to correct his face, but failed. So I just partially covered it by his cap. Everything else is fixed (at least I hope so).

luizfelipespr, thanks for the positive comment, but there was anatomical flaws which I didn't noticed before. Also thanks for the link, but I already had read it before :)

His stance is slightly off-balance.  Both legs are bent forward slightly, so both feet are in front of his center of gravity, meaning he'll fall backward.  For proper balance, position one of his feet back a little bit.