I think what is throwing the scale off for people is that they are focusing so much on the skull side of the image, that the details on the other side get washed out when they set a scale (to me)  A character in there would definitely show the scale, although I'm not sure where you could put one where it wouldn't seem out of place.

Also I think you need to clarify what it is on the left (you called it a tomb/alter) I can see how it could be a tomb of sorts, but the back arch (not quite an arch but yea) doesn't help with this interpretation.

I don't mind most of the mirroring for the tree, but the top of it doesn't look as well mirrored, perhaps if it didn't extend as high or curved in slightly faster.  Also I agree about the stump being mirrored simply because the roots look odd that way although if you don't want to change from mirroring it the only thing I have said that is valid refers to the top of the tree,

Usually I discourage starting with lineart... I'm not a huge fan of black lines to begin with but if you have to use them, it's almost always better to use shapes and colors as the base for your work and add the outlines after you get the shapes to look good.

Well I agree with your statement, simply because I find that pieces look more unified when starting by blocking instead of outlines, outlining is more natural to people as it is closer to sketching which is the most basic of uses people will be coming from.  Some people may have trouble visualizing something without the lines so why not have them there first?

As for the tutorials I think the dither techniques are fine although some examples of how they can be used (images using multiple) not what they are may be more useful then your descriptions of them, as well as better explaining what the textures may resemble so people have an item to associate with them.  The sprite tutorial I find over uses AA, although it isn't as bad because of the nature of the sprite (feathers being softer then many things), and encourages it's overuse by not distinguishing when to use it.  Well you can argue that everything can use it there are many instances when the distinction comes out better then the smooth.  Also you comment about picking colors with lots of contrast although you don't so that you can use them as AA colors as well.

I am pretty sure I know what it is but I can't get the pieces together... yet.

Yes? No?


If it is right I don't have time to make a new one, need sleep.

I think with the size you may want to ditch the outlining on each of the bits that you are doing, and instead make it seem like a solid version and not segmented which is what it looks like to me.  I think it would also make it lot easier for thing such as the claws grasping the orb to be visible.