Hey, first of all, thank you! The head is so dark because the monster it represents is the warg from zezenia online:
(that is not mine haha)
The effect of wood, how you got this result? I mean ... the colors, amazing how the color of the 'small board' is used in the light of the wood. I could copy it but still do not understand the 'concept'...When, where and why repeat certain colors?  

I currently contribute to the Phobos Online and Zezenia Online, both mmorpgs in perspective 45 and have a mixed art of digital+pixel. What makes my work more fast, possible to make 200 sprites in a month +/- hehe, but i want improve my pixel art for a RPG i'm designing(like ultima 7), after i finish zezenia update i will start it.
These sprites I already had posted in www.perspective45.org, a brazilian forum for perspective 45 artists because inst for zezenia when i made   would like to post all my work here but there is a policy of restraint, you know  

I made a rock a little while ago, but I dont know the solution to improve it ...