Help with Pixel Fabric

[Twinspiration]

Fabric. My weakness has always been my inability to properly pixelate fabric textures.
Evidently in these examples:

and


I can't quite grasp the concept of light on fabric and trying to imitate actual fabric only makes my head hurt more.
So my current technique is to simply make a flat texture and add some brighter shades for where I imagine it should be brighter, which mostly leads to pillow-shading.
Any tips?

[Delgneith]

I think there's a lot more here that could be improved than simply how to shade fabric. I think lighting and constructing volumes in general is a concept you could look more heavily into and put some time studying. None of the lighting makes much sense and well frankly they don't look like they have much volume.

Some other things that may help are some anatomy studies and perhaps looking a little into color theory.

Sorry if this sounds harsh it's just the facts. Not a bad start just got to work on some stuff. Stick around enjoy the community and grow as an artist.

[Twinspiration]

I think there's a lot more here that could be improved than simply how to shade fabric. I think lighting and constructing volumes in general is a concept you could look more heavily into and put some time studying. None of the lighting makes much sense and well frankly they don't look like they have much volume.

Some other things that may help are some anatomy studies and perhaps looking a little into color theory.

Sorry if this sounds harsh it's just the facts. Not a bad start just got to work on some stuff. Stick around enjoy the community and grow as an artist.

Oh, It's actually not that harsh at all.
Why else would one join a community like this if not for the criticism?

I guess I should have seen that coming, as I'm usually quite sloppy with my coloring and such.

[Twinspiration]

All right, so I've Redone the golem sprite.
Its pose has changed to a duller form, Its chest is now bare, I've employed a new palette, and I've tried out this whole lighting concept.

I'm planning on giving it its spiky arms back, probably thinking up a better battle pose,and somehow connecting its collar to its dress.
And legs. It might need something to confirm that it has legs.
Am I going in the right direction here?

[vierbit]

Improvment, but still has the problems Delgneith explained.
heavily edit:

Basically your colorchoices have many midtone shades and one higlightshade resultating in too much contrast.
Also some anatomically issues.
I see many randomly placed pixels, esp. on his left arm. Maybe you dont now how to shade difficulty parts
and stuff it up with some pixels in hope it looks right in the end.
Oh and lighning issues as ilustrated above.

[Twinspiration]

Oh wow, thanks!

I see many randomly placed pixels, esp. on his left arm. Maybe you dont now how to shade difficulty parts

That's exactly it for most cases.
I tend to randomly place some pixels when coloring, just to hope it turns out right.
In essence, I suppose it's like using MS-Paint's airbrush tool to make grass.

I"ll definitely be putting your advice to use next time.
Thanks again.