At long last, my Critmas critiquing blade has been drawn to judge this particular piece of yours. Beware, for I'm no visual artist, so my critique will focus on the emotions your art evokes in who sees it.



Let's start by saying that this piece here, as opposed to many others drawn by you, conveys a certain feeling of impending dread, seeping from its dark colors, rather than being just unsettling. Why? Read on.



At a first glance, what strikes me as very impressive - as you certainly had planned - is the massive luggage on the Salesman's shoulders. Sure, you may have intended this piece as a mysterious man bringing along whatever he has to sell. As I can read from the description, you thought that his outside persona was all sweet and stuff, but that there was more. Let me say that you were indeed able to depict this "more", but things surely are more complicated than that. Let me show you what it is that your art trapped.



To my eyes, this Salesman, whose back appears to be perfectly straight in spite of the obvious weight of his luggage... It speaks to me as a deity who, instead of masks, carries around the weight of time itself. Past, present and future, together within his grasp, ready to be yours if you agree to pay the price the Salesman demands. Can you see his grin? Does it betray a trap, or is it the mask of someone who knows better than to snoop around?



It's not all, though, for this work can be looked from yet another perspective, almost as if the man was standing in a dimensional rift, guarding a gateway. And who, pray tell, would be foolish enough as to try and explore what lies beyond him, malinconic and vagabond gatekeeper?



Last but not least, the colors you chose. While you seem to prefer dark tones, both the Salesman and his luggage clearly stand out from the background. See how he walks, with such calm steps. To me, this is how Death itself could move; his time is endless, his patience boundless. He knows for sure that he will meet you one day or another, and that you will be tired and ready to join his collection, whilst him will always be ready, never to tire, with time as his most precious ally.



Now, do you see why small edits are fine, but big ones don't always lead to an improvement? Sure, the Salesman's luggage is disproportioned, but alas, that is the source of this piece's whole charme. It makes sense for it to be so huge and hence, by reducing its size, you bring certain doom to this artwork. Many an artist often forget that art is a matter of instinct: when inspiration strikes and you draw, paint or write, a silent part of yourself knows perfectly what they're doing. To let too much logic in the process by overediting, is to kill an otherwise perfect work.



This kind of vision, man, is what makes me grant stars to artwork. It is not enough for me to have an artist who can draw to perfection, if what they create remains soulless.