Doggy Summon concept

[Azuma, Hironori]

I've gotten a lot of comments on this image that it feels very "okami" ish, and I really wasn't going for that. Does it seem like I copied many elements in order to make this image? I do not want to be seen as a hack or plagiarist and I actually wasn't referencing anything. I've never even played okami, I mean I know it looks nice and I'd like for those comments to be flattering but I'm just not sure if the likeness is a good or bad thing.

In any case I feel as finished as can be but still I wish I knew how to present my images better. I know some people make it appear as though it's drawn on tea-stained paper or they put vectorized details around the edges... I just never know what to do.
What do you all think?

thanks for your time!

[Orunitier]

Yeah, it looks like Okami. I don't think it looks finished, though. You have smudges around the figure, is there a filter over top of the illustration?? The top of the pic is fuzzy... With the tail cropped, it looks like you ran out of room.

[Azuma, Hironori]

It seems I have a long way to go. Yeah, it's definitely missing that finished quality about it... When I draw using a tablet, rather than ctrl+z ing my mistakes, I just subtract from the shape with an eraser (or a white brush when doing just b&w). From time to time it leaves bits and pieces of the previous shape behind which, to me, can sometimes be picturesque and show a bit of process.

As for the fuzziness on top, i just slapped on a gradient white for a fading effect. guess it wasn't the best idea. I wanted to get the gems on his back to glow a little bit but without becoming a primary lightsource. I do understand that VERY few problems can be solved with a photoshop filter, which is why I'm not too sure why I did it.

As far as cropping goes, I think I simply did a bad job. I didn't really run out of space so much as chose a poor place to end the image. Its an easy fix I guess. I am trying to find that fine balance between solid concept and finished illustration. Can't seem to get it.

Your comments are appreciated most gratefully as it took 244 views to get any feedback. I will certainly take it to heart and improve.

As for looking like Okami... is it a good thing or a bad thing... should I change something about the construction or keep it for its familiarity?

[Terriblis Gesserit]

You know, there's nothing wrong with Okami, and honestly it looks like a good integration at the very least. I mean there are some people that do patch jobs and that looks just BAD.

But this isn't bad. I would go and do more detail like you did on the legs and clean it up. Or maybe the dark parts get that more detailed and the 'ice' parts have lighter lines.

[rustikof]

i think one thing this would benefit from is a cohesive style throughout the piece. On the left side, your lines are very clean and refined, and the as it moves further right it looks like you decided to go more with a painterly/subtractive style. Both like fine in their own right, but when they sit there competing against each other, it makes everything confused, and unfinished looking. Gotta think about the visual language you want to use and everything will come together.

[Azuma, Hironori]

I've always had a problem with style consistency... I think I allow myself to become bored with one particular way of doing things and I'm impatient when I feel I'm not learning as much as I can so I see if I can complete it successfully with different strokes. I should stop. That's a great point though, I'll definitely be more aware of it.

[Azuma, Hironori]

Another image from that series. Tried a bit harder with coloring. I feel like it's missing some patterns...

Either way I'm very happy with how it turned out.

[TinyBird]

I haven´t played Okami (if the "that series" refers to it) so I may talk over my head, but there are three things that could be bit better in my opinion.
(I took the liberty to redline, it`s easier than trying to figure out my typo ridden wall of text)
-The ribbon string when it curves
-His other leg
-The shadow in the headgear could be darker/with different colour

[Azuma, Hironori]

Can't tell you enough how much it means to me that you took the time to do that. I'll definitely look into those changes during my revision of the work. I was also having a problem getting the glow in his stomach gem to not feel like a part of his body. I hate the phase of an image where you thought you were happy with it but when you look at it for much longer you start to dislike it greatly. Trying to avoid that. These minor changes shouldn't be too difficult.

[Azuma, Hironori]

Double post, my bad.