So I am not really an artist, I guess you could say. But I really wanted to have a go at making a CW.

Current item:

Submission 2. Denied for: • OVERLAY: Thin or weak lineart.

[Spoiler=first submission]

Here is how it sits on a HA base: (I made a few edits to this so please critique the image above, which was the one I actually submitted.)

Your custom clothing Captured Lightning Companion was denied for the following reason(s): • OVERLAY: Thick or heavy lineart • ITEM and OVERLAY: Pillow shading • ITEM and OVERLAY: Gray artwork, likely from shading with black and/or highlighting with white • ITEM and OVERLAY: Gradient or soft shaded instead of cel-shaded • NOTE: Line weight on overlay only needs to be tapered appropriately. The thickness itself may be fine!

I didn't shade with grey and I thought I cell shaded, but maybe the shading is too light? I also realise that the CI looks very grey but it's supposed to be inside a clear ball so I'm not sure how else to accomplish that... I'm also guessing some tapering of lines needs to be done around the paws?[/spoiler]

If anyone has any suggestions/critiques or can even point out which areas of the CW don't look right, that would be a huge help! I don't really want to waste people's time by constantly resubmitting if I'm not positive where I went wrong.

Thanks in advance for any help! I really appreciate it! ❤

Just wondering if you pinged # CWCritique (without the spaces) they are really helpful in figuring these kind of things out. :) Sorry if I already said this (I tend to forget since I shop around on the CW forum a lot ^_^ Sorry in advance!)

To solve the pillow-shading (light focused on front, which makes the object look fat and too soft), try making it a bolder and single shadow at the edges of the picture, and then put a darker shadow on more hidden spots, like the belly (under its left paw/arm). And make sure it's a bolder contrast, this one looks too light. This tutorial here might help you with the shading. It's a bit useful, even if it's focused on pixel art.

As for the item art, I suggest you can make a different thing, like a non-transparent ball or making the pet visible already. I'd personally make the pet coming out of the ball, like jumping in joy, but this is me being nuts xD

Thanks so much for your help! I'll check out that tutorial and redo the shading. :) You're probably right about the CI. I don't think I have the skills to make it both transparent and not grey. ^^; Thanks again!

No problem C: Another hint: try using the most thin black outline. I know, staff recquires it (and resizing makes it rather difficult), but if you use it too much, it'll make your art too heavy.

-> OR SUBMITTED -> WIP1 OR WIP2

So I fixed up my Pikachu and resubmitted it (1st image above). It was denied for: • OVERLAY: Thin or weak lineart. (Yay, only one reason! XD)

I made the lineart thicker (2nd and 3rd images above). I don't want to make the lineart TOO thick though. Could any of you lovely CW people help me out?

Are either of my WIPs likely to be accepted? Are there any particular spots on them that need to be thickened/thinned etc.? Which should I submit? Thanks in advance for any help or advice! I really appreciate it! :)

WIP 2 is more likely to be accepted. The outline is more visible yet not too bold to make the figure heavy.

I would definitely go for WIP 2! If I may, I would also suggest a slightly harder, dark shadow right under the jaw on our right side, and at the bottom right corner of the ear on our right. Soooo cute, though! Yay for pokemans!

ahhh i think he is so cute, is there slots for him or no?

Submission 2: As they tell you, it is only the lineart that is too thin, everything else is fine (and I'd say that, too, it is super cute! :3). Make it a bit thicker again, maybe so it matches the lines in the face ( cutie :D) and submit :)

Thanks for your help everyone! I went with WIP2 and hopefully this time it will go through! :D

Aww thanks! There are a few slots left in the second batch if you're interested. The thread is here. :)