Ehlin's character design attempt portfolio - critique very much requested

[Ehlin]

Hi, I'm a third year student at the illustration department of a Dutch Art School, but I've become so much more interested in character design and other forms of concept art. I need some serious critique and feedback from people who have been pro's for at least 3 years. Do you think I've got what it takes to become a concept artist? What/where/how should I improve? Do you recommend following an extra study specialized in game art after this one?

Please state your name/function/how long you've been in the business. Woops, that sounds a little more demanding than I thought!

From the Hans Christian Andersen story; The Snowqueen

[Spideriser]

hi Ehlin, nice start to your portfolio.
Im no profesional by any means but just gathering from what I can see, I think you should find a way to incorporate your characters into you backgrounds. Maby add some shadows or some lighting luminating from the background onto your characters. Very nice work and keep it up

[christymorgan]

Hello,
I love your ideas with your snowqueen project. I agree with the above poster.
One thing that distracts me a little is your snow effect. I suggest turning down the opacity a little on some of the snow flake layers and also sharpen up the ones in the foreground.Over all things feel a little overly soft to me and distracts from your characters.
I would also be careful when using a pure white, it is very powerful- i think you can blue it up just a smidgen.
Good luck on your portfolio, im not a pro but im going through what you are right now- and i know how stressful your final year in art school can be.