I've been doing frankens and recolors for years and have been pretty good with it but this past month, I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone and start spriting from scratch. I've gotten some feedback and suggestions already and a heck of a lot of praise... but, seeing as all those people know and love me, I have to take their praise at half value. So I've decided to come here--to a board that I've been told gives some amazing critiques--because I want my skills to grow and my project to excel.

I am using the Half-Kaizer base for my sprites. http://www.hbgames.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=159&t=39088&start=0 I have edited the woman sprite considerably in the waist and hips areas for Iana.
For the most part, I have used as starting references.
I use GIMP and many layers for my spriting.

The first sprite I started is for a character called Iana. I've been having trouble completing her and would love some suggestions as to how I should tackle the last few frames... as well as any tips on how to improve what I've already "completed".
I had no reference--other than my imagination--for her shirt, arm wraps, and quiver. Her hair was a combination of these two hairs which were found in the compilation photo of showkaizer sprites found above.
I'm not entirely sure which of those pants I used as reference for hers. A lot of edits have been made since I began.

The second sprite I started is for a character called Garin. Unless anyone on this site gives me things to correct--which I'm sure they will--his sprite is finished.
His hair was based off of and had no pixelated references. I think I worked on just this hair for a week because I could find no pixelated references... and I'm still happier with the fronts and backs of his hair than I am with the sides.
His pants were based off of a few of the pants in the compilation above. There are quite a few that are similar. I mostly just softened the bulge at the top and darkened it more at the bottom so it looked more like baggy pants being tucked into boots than a really round cuff. The boots were freehanded over the base feet. No reference to be linked.
His scars were just pulled from my imagination.

The third sprite is an add-on to the shirtless Garin. The characters age and change clothes in my game--some of them having over 9 different outfits/age changes. This is Garin's first change.

His jacket and shirt pieces were based off of . I'm having difficulty figuring out how to tackle the side views so any suggestions/reference pics would be greatly appreciated.