HTD>
I tried to make a edit on your latest sprite, but I went too far, so the original design got lost (the perspective too). But the same rules apply to every sprite I think.
* One of the most important things is volume. In your original sprite there's nearly no volume information. It's mostly a good idea to block out the volumes in two shades (light/shadow). A good idea is to keep the surfaces flat and use hard edges to suggest more volume, like the old vector games.
* Internal lines in such small sprites is almost never a good idea. If you put two values against each other, theres automaticly a line (if the contrast is enough high).
* Rampmixing / Tinting. I haven't used it much in my edit, but I think it's always a good idea, because it give coherence to the sprite. Use the colors from the face in the shoes, use the darkest shade of the coat in he face and so one.
Keep pushing!
