Wicked Witch and Flying Monkeys - feedback very appreciated

[Father Tiny]

Hello everyone! Like others, I've been a lurker here for a little while, and would like to take the next step and post some artwork for a bit of thrashing and hopefully, as my skills improve, provide some useful feedback to others. I'm currently working on my take of the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz and her horde of flying monkeys. Everyday I practice I learn something new, and I still have a lot of the basics to improve upon, so as the title says, any feedback is very welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

[Stoat]

Well, now, it's a complex piece and it's holding together pretty well. I wanted to say that first so I don't launch right into being a jerk about the details

As an overall observation, each of the figures stands alone without being connected to one another. They're not overlapping much, or interacting with the background to make big compositional shapes. That's not terrible, it's a valid approach, but it's an approach that lacks drama.

Specifically honing in on your main character: waist too long, legs too short. Her lower legs in particular are bending funny. I'm not feeling her skull inside her head -- particularly, her teeth are too far forward. They're often drawn that way in cartooning, but it looks a lot wronger when you're trying for realism. Also: hands and feet.

It's an ambitious piece and you've clearly worked hard and applied the right attitude to it. It's just needs more good old fashioned anatomy and composition.

[self-epidemic]

There definitely needs some refinement, right now the details, face and focal points are weak, and feel a little placed together. I would get in and be more precise and that will encourage confidence on where things need to go.

[Father Tiny]

It's an ambitious piece

Well said Stoat Yea, it's an ambitious piece for me, and I feel like I've just cut and pasted all parts together. But I'm not sure how to fix the composition itself - so definitely going to take your advice. I'm going to revamp the witch (and continue practicing anatomy - I try to do a bit each day). I may also just retreat and reduce the piece to mainly the witch until my composition skills improve.. Thanks again for the tips! Can't wait to start tweaking.

self-epidemic, thanks! Will do, I'll focus on the details and get some refinement.

[Father Tiny]

wow, I am definitely going to spend far more time than I have been on learning anatomy. I think I've struggled more than I should have in designing the witch and then revising her. And I'm realizing just how much time I have spent on other pieces revising anatomy after the digital paint is on when that stuff should already be worked out... Luckily, I have neighbors and friends who are happy to pose as a witch for me, which has helped, but my basic skills can always use far more work! Anyhow, hopefully this is at least and improvement. When I finally got some time, I went to task on her face, hands, waist and legs. Thanks again for any feedback!

[Stoat]

Much improved. Now just...spend the rest of your life incrementally improving in exactly the same way

[Father Tiny]

Words of wisdom to live by Stoat! Will do Thanks!