Hi everyone!
Thanks for your critiques and encouragement!
I took @dulcie 's inout about the lighting and @gimmiehummus 's inout about the orange (though a bit subtler than that cat! :D) and @kevin Longueil 's input as well. Here is the revised version, does anyone have any other thoughts?
Thanks again, this was all so helpful and it turned out way better than before!

Thanks for all the input guys! I've been stressing over this and all your input as well as some from my friends has gotten me back where I need to be! (Which is excited about this project!) I tried out some more rough brushes which I'm loving and went back to my original design for the lower half. Any input on this newest version would be lovely but I am on my way! You guys all rock!

Hey there! I love this piece. I really like the flat pastels and the washy trees. The only thing that I think it needs help on is some contrast. If you're working in photoshop, try this trick: make a new layer at the top. fill it completely black and set it to saturation. This will show you when you're having some problems.
For instance, her face is almost the same (shade?) as the trees behind her. I think you could also use some darks near where their hands are clasping, just to bring that forward and bring his face forward and then around the left side to keep you in the picture. (Not sure if that makes sense...) In the picture below, the top images are unedited besides the saturation on the left. Hope this helps! It's really a nice piece.

Hi there! I am new to the forums though I've been on SVS for quite a while.
This piece was done after watching the first video of Will Terry's Mixed Media watercolor and digital class. I took a lot of inspiration from that class ( hah hah bears!) and from Will Terry's style. This is obviously just a practice piece for me while I find my preferred style but I'd love critique specifically on the technique and colors. It feels too dark to me.
Thanks for looking and for taking the time.
You all rock!

Lydia your work is good!
Definitely charge more than you think you're worth. it's super scary but you won't end up resenting your client at the end of the day. There will always be changes, even with a great client. It probably won't be as fun as doing a personal project so make it worth it to you!
I had to learn this the hard way. But with every project I up my prices and I get a bit bolder. You'll get there. Good luck!

What if you tried putting the 2nd and third illustration together? I think it would say a lot more then.

@Dulcie
You are great at critiques! Thanks for the thoughtfulness and kindness in your response

I do see what you're saying and it does look better and the bear does pull out of the darkness more. I will try that today!
Thank you so much!

Hi!
I was wondering if anyone would be willing to give a little insight into this project I'm working on. This is a book cover (design and illustration) for a friend (who IS paying, thank goodness for friends who understand that) and I'm super stuck. The front is about... 50% finished? I just feel like there's something wrong with it and I'm trying to push through even though I'm not sure what's wrong with the piece. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

@bharris
Thanks for your input! I really appreciate the thoughts, especially about the texture differences between the book and color. That has been bugging me!

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen
You're welcome!

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen

What a cute little plane!
It will look extra cute with a penguin in it.
One thing I'd suggest is to watch out for consistency in the design especially as you're working on perspective. On the left image the wings sit about a quarter of the way past the cockpit and in the image on the right they're aligned.
Like with characters, having consistency in your objects and environment is important.

Lovely job though! Keep it up!

Thanks for all the input guys! I've been stressing over this and all your input as well as some from my friends has gotten me back where I need to be! (Which is excited about this project!) I tried out some more rough brushes which I'm loving and went back to my original design for the lower half. Any input on this newest version would be lovely but I am on my way! You guys all rock!

@bharris
Thanks for your input! I really appreciate the thoughts, especially about the texture differences between the book and color. That has been bugging me!

Hi!
I was wondering if anyone would be willing to give a little insight into this project I'm working on. This is a book cover (design and illustration) for a friend (who IS paying, thank goodness for friends who understand that) and I'm super stuck. The front is about... 50% finished? I just feel like there's something wrong with it and I'm trying to push through even though I'm not sure what's wrong with the piece. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hey there! I love this piece. I really like the flat pastels and the washy trees. The only thing that I think it needs help on is some contrast. If you're working in photoshop, try this trick: make a new layer at the top. fill it completely black and set it to saturation. This will show you when you're having some problems.
For instance, her face is almost the same (shade?) as the trees behind her. I think you could also use some darks near where their hands are clasping, just to bring that forward and bring his face forward and then around the left side to keep you in the picture. (Not sure if that makes sense...) In the picture below, the top images are unedited besides the saturation on the left. Hope this helps! It's really a nice piece.

Oh I love this! It's super adorable!

Hi everyone!
Thanks for your critiques and encouragement!
I took @dulcie 's inout about the lighting and @gimmiehummus 's inout about the orange (though a bit subtler than that cat! :D) and @kevin Longueil 's input as well. Here is the revised version, does anyone have any other thoughts?
Thanks again, this was all so helpful and it turned out way better than before!

@Dulcie
You are great at critiques! Thanks for the thoughtfulness and kindness in your response

I do see what you're saying and it does look better and the bear does pull out of the darkness more. I will try that today!
Thank you so much!

@Leontine
Thanks for your input. I see what you're saying about the firefuly up in the left. I was hoping to use him to lead your eye into the illustration but he does keep stealing the show. I might just tone him down and see how that goes!