All aboard the tree bandwagon!

[JonathanOfDrain]

Saw everyone else playing with trees. Why can't I?
I started off with a sloppy small sketch in a notebook. Girlfriend liked it. I started pixelling it. I require such simple motivation.


Sort of struggling on making the leaves look like a tree's leaves while still maintaining a afro+pompadour look.

I must preemptively thank you for any C or C or edits. Thank you.

[Rydin]

This isn't so much a critique on your tree as it is a comment on your background shading.  I don't know if you're going for a beach or a desert or something, but whatever it is you're going for, land that is farther back doesn't become dark like you might initially think.

Take a look at this:


Notice how the warm desert sands are up close and as our eye travels back, the hue of the sand cools off and becomes a dull blue-grey.
This is something you can observe in basically every landscape picture.

Anyways, when we apply this concept to your ground, we get something like this:



Also, hey, if you're trying to go for a tree-fro, I would try some leafy sideburns.
Papa's got a brand new bag, baby.

[CrazyMLC]

If it were me I'd yellow the leaves, since the tree is in a desert.

[Alcala]

I'll make the tree leaf-less. since it's in the desert and the sand doesn't look like desert sand, there are no dunes or land marks.

[EyeCraft]

I have to agree that yellowing leaves would be nice and dramatic. No leaves at all seems to remove the urgency of his struggle.

I say let the afro idea go. Maybe if it was a shrub with tiny little leaves, but trying to do it with a tree is giving you a broccoli look. I say just go with a more leafy rendering (maybe like Seiken Densetsu 3 trees?). But add sideburns for SURE.

The rocks don't really fit a desert setting (assuming it's desert). Check out some references of desert settings. Maybe add the silhouette of a long dead tree in the background or something?

[JonathanOfDrain]

Really appreciate the C+C, thank you all very much.

Took into consideration what Rydin said. It's not really executed well but the idea is there. It'll improve as I keep picking at it and playing with references.

Yellowed the leaves a little, they could probably use it a bit more. Ripped off a bunch of leaves.

EYECRAFT! Means a lot knowing someone saw a level of urgency in the tree's actions. Wish I read your comment earlier, the dead tree idea sounds good. Definitely worth trying. Rocks were erased, dunes might move in soon. I'll try to sprinkle in signs of former life. It'll make his search for water that much more against the odds. Right?



Thank you for the C+C, hope I'm headed in the right direction.


EPDITE!

Small changes with the colors and playing with layering things in the background.
Are the dunes too patterny? Clouds are too sparse I think but I like them more than the previous ones.
I'll probably play with the leaves later tonight.
I'm thinking of adding a bright red bird on his outstretched arm. Might scribble that into existence soon.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me so far.

[CrazyMLC]

I'm really bad at explaining but i'll give it a try:
I made the leaves look a little more bubbly, gave them more texture.
I yellowed some of the leaves.
I added in dithering in random places to make the bark look rougher and dryer.
I changed the shading a bit.
I added in some AA.
I made a terrible attempt at texturing the dunes.
I added in some dramatic acting.  

Hope it helps!