Skull

[Kellawgs]

Here's my reference image:



I am seeking critique in hopes of getting better.

[SWEGDovahkiin]

Magnify the sprite four times, then drag the ref up to the sprite and try to match them up. The jaw on yours is a little too wide. Other than that it looks great!

[Kellawgs]

Update on the skull, also blocked out what I feel like I wanted to add to it. Never really done anything like this before.

[Cyangmou]

first skull was betterTHe reference isn't really well suited for being used as pixel art.
That kind of subtle roomlight just won't work out really readable on low res.Plus the colors don't really help to modulate the shape.
Plus I think there are some proportions you could emphasize in a different way at this small res.

I think the more realistic style you are going for and the resolution don't really fit together. If you go to 150% size or 200% you will have a smaller fight with the placement choices and you cna focus on getting a good drawing.

[Kellawgs]

Thanks Cyangmou, unfortunately I came to the same conclusion that my reference pick was a poor one, but a little too late. The second one I posted was me trying to deviate from it a little.

I agree that this would be theoretically easier to do at a higher resolution, but for me (for now) I prefer working smaller because it feels to me as though rather than having full control I can hide some of my incompetence in the sprite size.

The best I can compare it to is guessing on a multiple choice question, if there's only 4 choices you have a 25% change of putting the pixel in the right spot, but with 8 choices I have more freedom than I know how to work with.

I personally prefer the second skull, though that's coming from less experience than you. One of the biggest changes I made were the teeth, as I'm mostly doing this to practice that "cluster" concept and wanted to find a way to forego the isolated pixels.