Pro

@TessaW I think it gets resized because it's so big - if it's a restriction for the forums to load properly I'm not sure they'd let us post the image with the remove code? :o The easiest way seems to be resizing as you first suggested. @miranda-hoover Although it's a great idea to create the original piece large and high resolution (at least 300 dpi) so you can use it in various context in the future (print, etc), for posting on the internet 72 dpi is the norm and as Tessa said, 1200 px on the longest side is more than enough. If you reduce the size, you won't need to reduce the quality and the forum should not compress your image further

@Ari-Sorokin For instance you can have a high number of shapes on important defining features such as faces and hands, but can simplify the body into a smaller number of shapes. Less complicated areas would create some "breather" areas in your picture. Right now, it feels a little crowded and heavy. I also think your seal is very dark. It's hard to see all the detail in the face because it's very dark.

I like 5 and 10 the most!

@carriecopadraws
I really like opt. #1 and #3 - maybe #3 would be my favourite.
One note from a publishing background (I had a job in pub. company working with licensed artwork such as Disney etc for some time) - I kinda would like to see Dorothy's face. From the marketing point of view, if there's an eye contact possible between the viewer and the main character on the cover, the potential buyer is more inclined to keep looking at the cover and thinking about buying that item - faces can catch our attention.
But maybe it would not work for this kind of a concept - so take it just as an idea to think about.

@Travion Sounds good. I know you didn't ask for my advise on this, but I'd like to offer some. If you want to be a good artist, you should get some training that is specific and follows some kind of path. Paying for good teachers will save you literally years of struggle. I am not saying that so you join SVS. You can sign up with any school whether that is a brick and mortar school or another online platform like schoolism, or whatever. Trying to cobble together an education from free random resources may set you back more than it will help you.

Where I like free resources is if I'm looking for extremely specific information. Like how to build a brush in photoshop or how to do a perfect wash in watercolor. But that is where the free stuff ends. It doesn't really cover an actual education.

@Travion please take my lighting and shadow class. You really need it and it is set up as a step by step on how to add tone to images. It will save you a massive amount of time.

@korilynneillo
Thank you! You are spot on regarding the pose. I was aware there’s something wrong with it but couldn’t figure out what. And it’s definitely a clear Alice falling down the rabbit hole. I’ll try some different ones.

Hi!
I always try to be a part of monthly prompts... and usually fail badly and don't deliver - too much other work
This month, I really would like to make a finished piece, maybe sharing my progress with you would help not to stop, find the time and complete the cover this time.
Sooo... here's my sketch. I started with the composition only - and will figure out the appearance of each character afterwards.
Do you have any comments, remarks regarding the composition? Something that irritates you?
Thanks and good luck with your art!

@Manuel-Mal Hi!
Unfortunately, I don't have discord, so I'm no help here
But I think making friend amongst artist is a great way to improve yourself! Keep it going! And honestly, this forum is a great tool to meet artist, talk about children's book illustrations and stuff. So maybe look around a little bit?
And if I might give you just one bit of advice - your line work looks great, characters have emotions and I love your color palette - just maybe the scenes - even though they have a fairytale feel in them - are not for children audience? If you really want to break into children's book world, it could be a good think to work on some pieces that are more targeted towards kids. Or if this is what you want to do, maybe look more into YA novels, comics and stuff like that.

@AnnaFleet Procreate is great for digital painting, but for cleaning scans and formatting work (to prep professional files) Photoshop is a better suited tool. Professional presentation and formatting is always important, but perhaps especially so when you have a sketchier style. A clean presentation pulls it all together! Good luck with Photoshop dear, you can do it!!