u/Perseus-Chase

Like I know it's not bad. It might even be decent, but I just absolutely despise it for some reason. It just looks so off to me. My goal when I draw this kind of stuff isn't necessarily to replicate but rather convey the same feeling I have when I dig around for references. The predatory fire in an animal that's basically lazing around. That's what I want to inspire in the viewer. It's just... not happening. I'm fairly sure it's because my technique for inking is lackluster at best, terrible at worst.

Any advice helps.

Also, the drawing is a lot darker in person, I have absolutely no idea why it's so much lighter on picture, I've tried everything to replicate in person colours.

Is there anything I could've improved in terms of the hatching? Ignore the words, it was for my mom's birthday.

I was going for semi-realism, or at least stylisticly realistic. The references are from a bunch of photos I picked different parts from. Unfortunately don't have them on me.

This was done with a combination of pens and charcoal. The reference used is a bust. The goal was semi realism/realism, I'd love to hear any critique you have to offer.