The second thing that really jumps out at me is that you don't seem to be choosing any one particular direction with any of your coloring? I mean, I know you say you usually play with bright coloring and that a couple of these examples are you trying out muted coloring, but mostly I'm just getting an in between vibe from your coloring right now.
And, honestly, there's nothing really wrong with not knowing your coloring style right now, and I'm also definitely not saying you have to choose only one style at all. I think it's just...for each individual icon, you need to decide what you're going to do and really commit to it.
For instance, in that first Robin Hood icon, he's not really pale/pastel but he's also not really vibrant or anything either. As a result, he doesn't really pop. There's nothing to draw my eye in and make me interested in this icon. But if you chose which way you really wanted the icon to go and really emphasized it, you could get my attention. So for instance, if you wanted to go vibrant, you might choose to really go for broke with the duo-toned thing on either side of his face. Or if you wanted to go more muted, maybe you'd really capitalize on the intense kind of lighting you might be able to pull out of that!
Like so:
(excuse my really quick, poor man's edit on this icon!)
This is actually what I like best about the last two icons you've chosen in your comment. The first one, which I think I nominated at bestof, really capitalizes on the cool muted tones and nifty light work you can do with muted coloring when you're using it to the best of its advantage, and the last icon really pops and draws the eye because the vibrant colors are really pulled out and emphasized.
Even with a simple crop and color type of icon, you need to give the viewer something to interest them.
A vibrant background, an intense crop and intense vibrant coloring, some super intense shadows, or even just pumping up whatever coloring style you're going for in an attention grabbing way (the yellows of Emma's hair and the red of her jacket or just the subtle washed out light on Alison).
I'm not sure if I'm really making sense here, but I've blathered on enough that you probably get the point.
(continued in part 3, aka the fun part where we talk about text!)
And, honestly, there's nothing really wrong with not knowing your coloring style right now, and I'm also definitely not saying you have to choose only one style at all. I think it's just...for each individual icon, you need to decide what you're going to do and really commit to it.
For instance, in that first Robin Hood icon, he's not really pale/pastel but he's also not really vibrant or anything either. As a result, he doesn't really pop. There's nothing to draw my eye in and make me interested in this icon. But if you chose which way you really wanted the icon to go and really emphasized it, you could get my attention. So for instance, if you wanted to go vibrant, you might choose to really go for broke with the duo-toned thing on either side of his face. Or if you wanted to go more muted, maybe you'd really capitalize on the intense kind of lighting you might be able to pull out of that!
Like so:
(excuse my really quick, poor man's edit on this icon!)
This is actually what I like best about the last two icons you've chosen in your comment. The first one, which I think I nominated at bestof, really capitalizes on the cool muted tones and nifty light work you can do with muted coloring when you're using it to the best of its advantage, and the last icon really pops and draws the eye because the vibrant colors are really pulled out and emphasized.
Even with a simple crop and color type of icon, you need to give the viewer something to interest them.
second_love | akilah92 | john_scorpy | gisbournes | monstersinyou
A vibrant background, an intense crop and intense vibrant coloring, some super intense shadows, or even just pumping up whatever coloring style you're going for in an attention grabbing way (the yellows of Emma's hair and the red of her jacket or just the subtle washed out light on Alison).
I'm not sure if I'm really making sense here, but I've blathered on enough that you probably get the point.
(continued in part 3, aka the fun part where we talk about text!)
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