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:iconsukimi123:
The anatomy is the biggest issue that I can see here. The paws are too bulky, and the claws should be a bit thicker. The pads on the toes are in a proper position, but the rest of the pad should be moved further down along the paw, it looks like its on the leg. With the right foreleg, even though the left leg has a an obvious joint on the right is too straight, and its impossible to see the other joint. Its not natural for a wolf that's rearing up like that, to have its leg out perfectly straight after the first bend. The left leg where it bends then goes out to the paw is bent is too, well, crooked. It looks more like the leg was broken, rather than bent.

I understand what you were trying to do with the muzzle and face, however you went about it the wrong way and the nose stands out too much. The wrinkle is too severe on the top, and there's none at all with the rest of the muzzle. When a wolf growls or snarls, the entire muzzle wrinkles, not just the top. The left eye is in the wrong position, it should be partially obscured by the muzzle if this is in 3/4th's view. The eye shine was overdone, and improperly done. When coloring eyes its important to reference actual eye shine, rather than go with what you think is pretty. A wolf's eyes are in a different shape than that, and their irises never show unless they're submitting, are afraid, or both. The fur coming along the back of the head needs to start behind the ear, not at the cheek fur. Considering how much fluff most wolves have, this makes the neck seem very thin, and thus lack the muscle to support its head. The ears are rather ragged looking, whether this is intentional or not, wolf ears aren't shaped this way. They're round, smooth and don't end in points. Depending on the situation, if this is dominant aggression you're trying to show, the ears need to be perked and forward. If this is a fear aggression, then the ears need to be flat back, and if its fear aggression showing the whites of the eyes is okay and recommended.

The mouth is somewhat okay, do try to realize that wolves have more teeth than that in their mouths, and that when a wolf is snarling, that most of its teeth are showing as its a threat display. Most wolves have dark gums, with more pink towards the part where the teeth connect with the gums. The teeth don't really look like they're attached to the gums, they look more like some kid stuck faint blue triangles on a piece of putty.

Now for the shading. Its way overdone, little bits of fur here and there aren't going to cast a shadow that spectacular, where's your light source? It looks like its everywhere at once. Once again its important to reference actual fur, rather than go with what you think is pretty. I can see you used black to shade, rather than go with a more color friendly choice. In the future, please do go with a darker shade of the color you're using, rather than just using black. This is a novice mistake several artists make and have made.

All in all, I think you need to look at more references of wolves when you draw, actual pictures of wolves, not other illustrator's works. That's going to be the only way you can improve. It sounds blunt but I'm telling you what I've been told. Reference is the key here, and should you take my advice I look forward to seeing how you progress.
The Artist thought this was FAIR
1 out of 6 deviants thought this was fair.

Comments


:icon13marisa:
=13MARISA Dec 12, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Hello there~ Thanks for critiquing... I am happy you spent your time in giving me some advice. I hope you will critique me even more in the future, 'cause most of the "things" you say are fair after my opinions... There are somethings I want to say about your critique as well, if you have plans in critiquing in the future, for me and other artists. Something you should keep in mind, even though you have your own opinions.

I am not going for a realistic style after all. There is possible to draw far from realistic and at the same time do it anatomically correct. I say this because I am going for a more cartonish style than realistic. It's more something in between, and it's nearer cartoon. Other artists do so and you shouldn't actually critique a style. I can say an example of this when it for instance comes to what you said about the ears. This isn't my wolf character, but I have my own other characters. The reason I say this is because I have modified my characters, by ex. the ears. To make each of them original, I gave some of them round ears, others pointed ears, some of them have long or short ears etc. Exactly the same with the noses. I am sorry if I sound mean, but I got a little bit irritated by reading your critique... Please don't get mad. I also wonder what you mean with "you shouldn't look at other illustrator's works". I will suggest you in saying what you already know and see, not what you think I have done. Because you don't know if I have referenced other people's work or not. I did it all myself without any referencing. Also the sentence "you shouldn't go with what you think is pretty" is (just my meaning) a kind of... Dumb sentence.

Also what you say with "what many artists to wrong is using black color for shading" is just... Hey, I am just saying this, don't critique style. Using black colors aren't a mistake, it's just one way of many techniques to shade. But I understand that it may be a good idea to use colors instead.

I hope you understand what I mean... Please, take this serious, but don't take this as something negative straightened to you. Also, I will suggest you to follow the "two stars a wish" rule, that's about saying MORE good things than "bad" things. In this critique, I see almost no things that are good with my artwork. Think about that, please. I am strong enough to take this critique, but someone would probably not. It didn't motivate me so much. But I learnt a lot.

c:
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:iconsukimi123:
~Sukimi123 Dec 13, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
I'm not sure what you mean by "you shouldn't critique a style" they do that in art classes, and in art schools if my friends are anything to go on. You need to learn the rules before you can properly break them, so to speak.

When I said "don't reference anyone else's work" I meant that it'd be better for you to develop your own style, rather than try to live up to someone else's. The first step to improvement is reference, reference, reference. And when it comes to reference, real life is better than something someone's drawn.

I do see potential in your work, though. A bit more attention to proper anatomy and you could really go places. I really do look forward to seeing where your work goes.
And I apologize that my critique seems so harsh.

Good day, and good luck.
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