Please please please increase your canvas size a little more. Because you're using a generic background colour, it's made basically pointless and just in the way by cramming everything into it.
Age does matter a little bit to the critic, because we'll then know a bit more of what you're lacking, such as experience or such. Generally it shouldn't matter to the audience though.
If you think it's shaded wrong, fix it! And if you dislike the palette, fix it! Of course, if you really dislike what you've done, or the general concept, then there should be no harm in moving on to something new, like you did before, you can only get better.
Good luck.