I’ve taken numbers 3 and 4 and added a little more detail and some value. Any other thoughts or suggestions? So far I think number 1 is my favorite. I would love to finish out the 2nd one too if I have time. Critiques are always welcome!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsten.mcgonigal.art/
Portfolio Site: www.kirstenmcgonigalart.com
@kirsten-mcg I'm really drawn to the 1st one. Love the top down composition.
@kirsten-mcg these are both beautiful compositionally, but the story is clearer I think in the Phoenix, one. Lovely can’t wait to see how they turn out.
@kirsten-mcg I like number 1, the composition is more dynamic and exciting. My eye is drawn to it.
Progress. Finished sketch and color studies. 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsten.mcgonigal.art/
Portfolio Site: www.kirstenmcgonigalart.com
@kirsten-mcg these look great, could you maybe try a blue toned background? It would lend to fact that were sad because it died and go nicely with the warm tones.
@kirsten-mcg nice! They both look good. In the purple background the characters blend more into the background and are not so obvious in their sadness. I like the suggestion of blue of @Asyas_illos . The green gives a more retro feel but also not much sadness
@kirsten-mcg I love the Phoenix concept! 
It's easiest to understand and you are doing great so far with color
Erin Richardson
instagram.com/erinrichardsondesigns21
www.erinrichardsondesigns.com
@Asyas_illos THat's true! I've been trying to keep too much blue out of my artwork, because in the past I've had a tendency to use it too much. But you're right that this time there's a good reason for it!
@ArtistErin I'm so glad to hear that my concept comes across! I've been a little worried about that part. 
@kirsten-mcg liking the way this is going! Idea... Maybe try and keep the background elements cool in colour temperature. This'll help the warm phoenix glow better. On the two colour comps you've got the whole image quite warm, and it'd be a shame for such a great creature design to not pop off the page.
@MarcRobinson Good point! I'm working on a blue version right now to see how I like it. That would definitely cool things down. 
@MarcRobinson I agree. Maybe more of a sapphire blue or blue-green base
Started working on this version in blue. I’m liking the color combo with the warm phenix colors.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsten.mcgonigal.art/
Portfolio Site: www.kirstenmcgonigalart.com
@kirsten-mcg indeed the combination looks great! Could you make those brown edges on walls, stairs and paintings more a blue tinted type of brown? Now they steel too much of my attention from the Phoenix.
@Chantal-Goetheer I've been playing with the color of those quite a bit. Still haven't hit on something I'm completely happy with. I'll try a more blue shade and see how it looks. Thanks!
@kirsten-mcg I think a phoenix is a very clever idea for this prompt! 
For some reason I really liked the green background, but the blue one will also work well.
Maybe the cage should be bigger? Or was the previous incarnation smaller than this one?
@kirsten-mcg This is looking great! I really like the blue & agree with @kirsten-mcg that it would be good to tone down the browns.
I'm not very good with colors, but maybe you could try lowering the saturation on the brown? (more like the edges of the rug)
@mzameckaart When I asked my family about half of them like the green! I think it's just personal color preference. 
I'll check the size of the cage. Thanks for noticing that!
I tried going over everything but the Phoenix and kids with a low opacity aqua color to see how it looked. I think a more orange based brown for the woodworking could help too, it’d be less contrast-y if it were a tad lighter
@kirsten-mcg nice! They both look good. In the purple background the characters blend more into the background and are not so obvious in their sadness. I like the suggestion of blue of @Asyas_illos . The green gives a more retro feel but also not much sadness
