This is a good piece overall, but I think it can be improved with a few minor changes. I feel the hind leg and tail are more successful in the sketch. The tail has extra swirls of fur that you’ve left out in the painting which I think is a shame. Also, the vivid purple in the tail seems a little too strong compared to the subtler purple tones used on the head, mane and tree. I think that if you work a little more on the hind leg/tail to match the great work you created on the head, paw and tree it would improve the colour and texture balance of the piece.

Also the orange/red colour that is under the tail and paw looks odd as it suggests a light source coming from under Esk (unless that was your intention?). However I think the red colour in itself is great, perhaps you could add a little to the background instead? This will maintain the depth of your colour palette, and help the character pop further from the background.

I'd like to see more of the thumb claw - as you've drawn it in the sketch; it seems more concealed in the painting.

Finally a little more extra canvas space on the bottom-right would help; it seems a little too tightly cropped.

I really like the way you’ve captured the textured bark on the tree, the highlights on the fur and the brush marks in the background are great!

The contours of the head have been excellently captured.

These are just my opinions of course and naturally you don’t have to listen! I hope this Critique doesn’t leave you feeling negative. I hope you find some of it useful.

Great work, all the best,

Mike
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