Celestial Toast's Sprites(maybe more) (Critique appreciated)

[Celestial_Toast]

Hi, for my new visual novel I've decided to make all the art on my own. This is my first time doing that and so I'd like to share it here and see if you guys have any comments or concerns about the way they look. This is mainly for sprites but I might expand it to post my BGs and CGs as well.

I use GIMP (a free software kind of like a knockoff Photoshop) to make my artwork, but I also have MediBang for Windows and can use my iPad (otherwise I used a laptop).

So far I've created one sprite:
Updated: sprite lineart redrawn on the iPad
Updated: sprite lineart color changed and

A little information about him:
He's going to be a romance option and he's 25 years old but is supposed to look young for his age (is often mistaken for a teenager). In that way, he's my pseudo-shota character.

Questions:
1. Does he look fine to you?
2. Any tips on improvement, especially in terms of coloring/shading? I'm aiming to make the art in general as refined as I can.
3. Do his knees look fine?
4. I'm going for a softer style art in general for this visual novel. Do you think I've managed that here?

Thank you!

[MaiMai]

I think the lineart can be improved. GIMP is by all means, useable, but I think you might benefit from trying out other programs that are better suited for drawing and making neater lineart.

Medi Bang Pro is a free digital drawing program that's suited for the anime style art you have here! I've been trying it out and I think it's a friendlier program for people who are new to digital art.

http://medibangpaint.com/en/

[Celestial_Toast]

Thanks, I tried that program! I can already see the difference! Does it look better now? (Post updated with fixed sprite)

Anything else you think needs fixing?

[MaiMai]

I think there's still some improvements to be made, lineart wise. I won't touch upon color for now since your base drawing should be just as strong as any future coloring you do.

Are you using a tablet to draw by the way? I'm looking at the image you updated with MediBang Pro, but the lines aren't tapering off so you're either drawing with a mouse or your tablet sensitivity is off. I included an image of lines drawn in MediBang and how they should look like (if you have a tablet)

[Celestial_Toast]

Yeah, I'm using my laptop. It says that iOS version isn't available yet though, so I'm not sure how to use my iPad for it.

[MaiMai]

I meant like a drawing tablet, sorry for the confusion.

[Celestial_Toast]

Oh. No, I do not have a drawing tablet, sorry.

[MaiMai]

Ah, that explains it. I think it's going to be harder to give you advice on how to improve your sprites since most people use a drawing tablet to render them. It's not impossible to draw and color sprites with just a mouse (but it's bad for your wrist), but a drawing tablet just streamlines the process.

[Celestial_Toast]

Would it be possible to get better results with an iPad and a stylus?

[MaiMai]

I think so as long as you're able to export your images as transparent files to your laptop. That said, I don't have enough experiences with iPads to say anymore on the matter.

[Celestial_Toast]

I redrew it on the iPad and think it's turned out much better. How does it look?

[MaiMai]

While the lines may look less jagged, it doesn't match the rest of the sprite. It's too thick while it looks like you're going for a more soft colored look.

Ideally, how do you want your visual novel sprites to look like? Right now, I don't think it has the quality of neatness and consistency to call it good although I think it's also because there's a lack of anatomical understanding of how clothes, hands, and legs work.

[Celestial_Toast]

I've changed the lines and added some shading to the sprite and updated it in my post.

I agree; the lines stuck out too much and separated him fro his clothes. However, I'm not sure what you mean by a lack of anatomical understanding? Is there anything off about his body structure?

[MaiMai]

I think, for at least the hands, they could do with looking less like shapes that you outlined and more like limbs with structure and joints. I think everything else for now, is useable since you don't have the equipment to actually draw things out neatly. There's a list of tutorials on the Art Asset forums so you can skim through them to get an idea of how you could start coloring.

[Celestial_Toast]

I'll see what I can do about his hands. Thanks for your help! And I'll check out those tutorials for the coloring.