From the first stages of construction it is clear you don't have yet an understanding of the human form that you'd need to do this sort of sprite justice. I suggest fundamental anatomy work, with pictures of real people, with a pencil on a piece of paper, that sort of thing.
On the pixel art level, the sprite is still - though more discretely - pillowshades, there's wasted - too close to each other so as to be almost indistinguishable - shades, the sprite has a very 'fullbrite' look... generally it looks flat, the pose doesn't suggest anything emotionally (whereas your reference suggests strength and motivation, assuredness).
About the reference artwork pictures, I only use it to memorize the details, but the sprite base/poses and everything I do it differently than how it is shown in the artwork, as well the expression. I will be reading the rest of the tutorials that I haven't read yet... I'll take a look at the human anatomy reference material as well. Also, edits on the sprite pointing out the problems, as well fixing it are really appreciated... I actually want someone who can take the time to do an edit just like the one jad did with one of my past sprites, it helps too, since I'm clearly seeing where I failed in the completed stage.
The shading and colors used thing, I haven't really made much progress on that yet, aside from keeping practicing and doing my thinking and executions on the sprites... and I always hear the lack of emotion... can someone explain it to me or redirect me to a tutorial that explains it? this concerns me, cause I need to learn everything I can in order to achieve the progress that I am aiming for.
Editing the sprite will just put you on the path of trying to fix something that has fundamental flaws through pixel polish. Not to say you shouldn't have to deal with the pixel polish too, but the real goal should not be obstructed: Learn how to structure a human body. It's not a collection of blobs connected vaguely by touching, it is a complex mechanism made of sinue and bone. There need to be studies. Pixels will neither help or hinder them, but you should do them.
Lack of emotion: the sprite is just standing there, waiting for something to happen. The reference material has a strong, grounded expressive pose that communicates determination. In the small pixel size a sprite is, you don't have the space to do as nuanced a facial construction as your reference (though you certainly can do more than you have) you need a strong pose that suggests emotion. Here's just a length anatomy edit of what you have so you see where you're deviating from a normal form:
but that still doesn't emote anything. Here's what I think you should be moving more towards:
I'll let someone else help you with shading and pixel tech, as I said I don't think it's a priority for you. Learning to consider the human being something not just made of parts, but of emotion, is what you should be doing, if you ask me.
