TM Sprites

[Turtle Master]

Hello I'm Turtle Master known by some as TM.

I started spriteing over a year ago but mostly did scratches and recolors. I started with MS Paint and would suggest it to any beginner.

Anyway, I recently started my own region and thus started scratch spriting. This is one of the first that I've had time to design, construct, and edit. I need help and any advice.

This is a fire cardinal. Currently has no name and i apoligize for the white background.

This is a fire robin pre evolution of the cardinal. Currently not named.

 

[wilycoyote64]

Hey, whynobodycommentondisthreadhere?!

well, although you and i can beleive we've seen better. HOWever i know that you can get excellent at this real quick, you've got all the basics for a professional looking scratch already down. you understand the light source and you've got fantastic proportions.

might i suggest:
*try getting that lighter color outline to border your highlighted parts.
*put some shadowed area under the wings on Both of your sprites.
*also use your darkest shade and put them in places that are really hidden from the light source (i.e. behind legs etc.)
*putting some darker colors around the eyes will compliment the contrast, furthermore bringing out the eyes.

take 'em or leave 'em, if you need more help just ask. so sprite on!!

 

[Pokemaniac Erika]

The robin's claw more looks like sticks rather than claw, the shading make them not really attached with the body.
Shading always come from south-west (or for some cases, from where the pokemon is facing) in my knowledge they never come from the pokemon's back.
More about shading see coyote's post above.
Try playing with textures, they need more of it I think. Cardinal looks like my dinner last night (a grilled chicken, for your information) because it doesn't have feather texture especially on the wing (or maybe it doesn't have any feather at all?)