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To be short, you were both right and wrong, but Eldot won with the analogy. I see no point in reading past the first couple posts back and forth. What was being said gave little impression that the rest was worth the time. Now I will explain, because it seems to me that you need to understand.

First impression:

*Text: Garkudion is someonewho wants crits in the hope of someday becoming a concept artist.

*Images: Decent, but not proffessional quality. A fare ways to go in quality and presentaion.

Why? The initial bit of text screams "I'm not there yet." Then the work has some flaws that are blaring to a trained eye. In the top image the facial expression doesn't match the rest of the picture. The middle could use a less horezontal border in it. The chocobo heads need work. Though the top half seems a little cliche, it's done well enough that I'd give it a chance. The bottom is just mediocre. Anatomy and the tattoo are all that catch my eye as well done.

As you stated, you are working towards a goal, but haven't reached it yet. With that first impression, the advice is aimed not at the hobby artist or even the odd-job artist. The advice is aimed at a person who wants to become a professional. That means it will be harsh compared to normal advice. It's like going from high school to collage. You go from the top of the food chain to the bottom.

An explination for the images would help a great deal in the presentaion.

Portfolio vrs. Gallery
---------AND---------
Professional vrs. Odd Job

Getting paid for something technically makes you a professional, but that's like a second grader getting a story published. It doesn't garentee much of anything. That second grader is still technically a published writer.

A portfolio is used to get someones attention. You want it to make the potential client think you can do more than what they were thinking. Variety and quality do this. From your portfolio I'd guess that you have trouble with eyes, clothing, birds, if not all animals, blood, wunds and possibly a few other things. The second is a twist on something already shown, but it doesn't show some thing to catch the eye.

A gallery just shows work that you have done. You said that this is what you wanted. A gallery showing several variations on the same thing is a good thing compared to a portfolio doing the same. I'd say that this is a gallery, not a portfolio.

Now, getting paid for doing something merely means the you were compentsated. Since you are aiming to be a professional concept artist, you should take that fact that people like your work enough to pay for it a step in the right direction, but nothing more. All advice should be looked at with this in mind. Now you are not trying to be good for a hobbyist, but good as a professional. Now that you can sell your work, you need to look at where you want to be. Look at those who are lifted up as concept artists or similar jobs and compare your work to theirs. Age doesn't matter, results do. Do you want to become a so-so concept artist who gets jobs here and there, or do you wnat to have to tell people you are booked through the next several months? If the latter, then you should be looking at those who would currently be your competition for such a job. You should aim to beat them, not looking at your peers.

Don't read that and say that I don't know what I'm talking about. That little schpeal is similar to those I have read from professionals in art fields, and many others. I am also putting this same bit of advice into practice in my own life in art, programing, writing and visual design. The aim is the goal, but you get there one step at a time.

Final word:
I would say that like a rough stone, you can only tell how much it could be worth with polishing. You need to listen to the advice as being aimed at an up and coming professional, not normal advice. Normal advice would point out a couple things to work on and say you did well with a few things. You may want to add a bit of information saying you would like crits for particular images.

Bump!

the sketch is interesting, but as you've manageed to make a nude, you might as well make it look like a nude. the person still looks quite human like, so you should give it human like breasts. that's the first thing that jumped out. if you don't want it to be that strong, you might consider turning the body so the chest is not directly facing.

These things I know. Never said I was a professional, just said I was working to be one. I don't need to be told I'm mediocre. I'd LIKE an intelligent response detailing exactly what I seem to be having trouble with. THAT is a critique. THAT is what I'm looking for. But thank your for your opinion, anyway.

I thank you for not posting the latest version. Since it would be breaking the TOS and the rules of the guild.

Directions for changing the title of your thread. Edit the first post. The top should have a "Subject" field. As you may notice, I swiched it for you. Your text implied that you wished to.

Bump!

I don't remember this post being this way, but I shall answer the questions.

First, the limited scope of your initial examples led to the guesses about possible problems. If you reread the paragraph containing the guesses, you should be able to see that. If what you show rarely shows something, like eyes, it may be guessed that you have some trouble with them.

I'm sorry if this sounds like a "pat you on the head" moment, but age really doesn't matter. Vissual art is communication. As such, the result is what matters. As an example, take the comic industry. Do the people care if you are fifteen or thirty-five if you out draw their artists, not really. Experience and maturity do require some age, but when those things are obtained is different from one individual to the next a lot of the time.

Lastly, I am walking the path to my goals, but beyond that isn't really your buissiness. Like stated before, age doesn't have that much to do with it. If I am seven and can tell you what you need to hear, would my age matter? Now, if you really must know to accept my crtique, here's about all I'll tell. I am in college. I am taking classes, but not in art. I don't need them. I have taken what classes I need. Now I need to practice more. Finally, I have an eye for art that is very good, so others including art teachers have stated, and can tell you what you need to hear.

Your latest two images are a diffinate step or two above the first few.

Good adivice. Thank you. I tend to have trouble with backgrounds and try to make up with it by detailing the people. Only on these recent pictures have I tried to break away ><.