Ok, so I tried applying the ellipses to the pipes I currently have. I am taking this in baby-steps if that's ok because I am still trying to get the hang of it.
So for now, two questions: 1. how do you know your ellipse is shaped properly? and 2. any advise on getting the shading on it right?

And thank you for the brilliant help.

Great, these curves are much better than the older ones. But keep in mind that if you mirror a half of one of your red lines, it must be
a complete ellipse and in some cases they arent ellipses.

1. how do you know your ellipse is shaped properly?

The easy way: Practice, practice, practice Not only in pixel art, get your pen and paper and try it out on paper first. If its looking good than of course it is good but you need to learn to confess your failures to yourself. This is the only way to avoid the hard way.

The hard way:


Start from beginning with simple geometric objects, a vanishing point, help-boxes and so on.

1.-5. Keep in mind, that every (circular) pipe, duct, tube or whatever has a circle in a cut-away view. So if you want to draw it
in perspective, imagine how a ellipse would fit in a squared object. Every ellipse has a major diameter (green) which is almost the same direction of the squared diameter. Transform your circle to an ellipse with its major diameter leading to the squared one. Repeat this for your
backside of the pipe or some other segments to get your lengh.

6. These are some examples of pipes wich angles differs. Notice how the green diameter changes

But this is only a little help, I beg you NOT to do it like I did.
Its ok if you try this out once or twice but it is very time-consuming... You
better do it freehand and see how it fits the best.

2. any advise on getting the shading on it right?

In my opinion it is hard to tell right now but i try. The upper part of the upper pipe needs more contrast, it looks to plane right now.
The lower pipe needs more shadows or they must be bigger at the bottom.

So long,
Lorath

hey Zenobia

Kinda like your pic right now, just love the colours but i would add some more contrast in the foreground.

On the pipes... they look to plane right now. You just need to adjust the ellipse for the pipes and the details.

Made a small and rough explanation for you:



1: The ellipse need like every other object a vanishing point or a horizontal line. In my example it is right in the middle
of the pipe itself. Every other ellipse is going bigger and bigger in both directions. Right now, every of yours are almost the same.
Try to find a good position for yours and adapt them. (surely the ellipses can have all the same form but that wouldnt fit here in my opinion)

2: Its the same to a pipe, wich is not straight. Look and try to find the right position for every ellipse.

3: In my opionion the most important point. The "edges" of the ellipse. Make sure the end is constantly "shrinking" to a point
where the outline is joining with the connected line of the pipe itself. Otherways the ellipse looks like cut in the wrong position.

I hope I could help you a bit


So long,
Lorath

Nevertheless, I, too, love the jumping sword-guy, and it inspired me to try and make something similarly "simple" in style:

Hehe, cute lil fighter
But i would try making his arms move faster. For now he looks like a - I'll call it steady - fighter ^^


And also great job on Caleb - more of them pls 

What now goes through my mind: What about a short action scene between two puppets from two manipulators ? ^^
Someone starts with a short movement and the other reacts on it and again the first one reacts and so on.
I dont know, its a little late, need sleep

So long,
Lorath

Nice stuff!
The one thing I notice is that something looks strange with that drawer, something with the shading..
It looks like the items are floating somehow, at least the floppy disk, and I don't think it's deep enough..

Yes, the damn drawer just broke my neck
Had problems with the shading. Now you can see that there are 2 lightsources because with one
it would look odd.
But right now i can see i missed the desks shadow... maybe that changes something.

So long
Lorath

Long time ago now and got a bigger update in my pocket
Had alot to do and right now im very contented with my results. I hope someone
can give me some critics.

Pictures:
PC Administration and the phone with name index
Game menu and letter deposit
A postcard from the corkboard

Dont care about the text, mixed language and also dummy... they will be added in the coding
The only point i dont like is the wooden texture of the drawer and also the screwdriver :S
Messed with them alot -.-









So long,
Lorath