Town of Regret

Okay so firstly the details in this are like...to die for. Seriously. -dies- SEE?!?!?! I especially love your paws, and those details, and the BRICKS. It's rare to see a well-done city background (I'm included in this; I really need to start improving xD /shot), but this is fantastic. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/h/h…" width="15" height="13" alt="" title="Heart"/> However, there is still a lot of room to improve here, fantastic as it is.

Firstly, anatomy. Your basic anatomy looks pretty good, it looks like you have a good general understanding of canines and how they work -- but it doesn't look like you used a whole lot of refs for the dog itself, because he looks more like a wolf than an Akita Inu. I know that most people see dogs like Akitas, Huskies, Malamutes, German Shepherds, and basically any prick-eared dog that's even vaguely wolfish in expression and size/posture as HOMGS A WOLF I'MMA DRAW IT JUST LIKE ONEEE. But the reality is, they all have individual differences that set them apart from a wolf. Akitas have fluffier faces, giving them a round sort of face, which sets them apart from wolves and huskies, who have pointier faces. Their tails also curl over their backs, and are also very fluffy. Though I guessed this was an Akita or something similar due to the markings (reminded me of Ginga, and most Ginga fancharacters are Akitas so...yeah. I'm aware that this probably isn't a fancharacter, but just pointing it out x3), a lot of pepole will probably skip the artist's comments and comment with HOMGS NICE WOLF.

I love the nose though, and the lips. Finally, an artist who does DROOPY LIPS <3. For some reason that I don't even vaguely understand, everyone seems to love giving dogs, even in realism, massive chins and it's all very wat in nature. :U

The eyes, however, do bug me a bit -- though they are dark like an Akita's, they don't have a very realistic feel, because there doesn't seem to be a very solid reflection. I'd recommend practicing eyes separately for a bit; you can fit a whole lot of detail into them, even in a full-body piece that doesn't even vaguely focus on the eyes, if you try. And in doing that, you'll greatly improve your composition, because people will most likely be drawn to the dog's face -- which this piece does pretty well already, but nonetheless, I thought I'd point it out. X3

The other thing that bothers me anatomy wise is the perspective. The sidewalk's angle doesn't match the angle the dog's sitting at. xD If the sidewalk were showing more of it's...well, side xD, instead of the top, the perspective on it would be far more correct, and realistic in nature.

Also, the dog seems to have a whole lot of unnecessary perspective on him. I mean, perspective is good, but look at the size of his front paws in comparison to his back paws. His head is far too big, and his butt is far too tiny. It's good that you're trying to use perspective, but because of the sidewalk's angle, it doesn't work as well as perspective often does. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/a/a…" width="19" height="19" alt="" title="Sweating a little..."/>

The fur details are neat, though it looks like a whole lot of smudging -- I'd recommend using a small brush and doing a lot of individual hairs as well, particularly in furrier places -- the neck, the sides of the face, and the tail, for example. Also, the fur looks a bit strange on the shoulder closest to the camera -- the direction just looks a bit off in a way. Overall though, your fur direction is excellent, and you definitely have talent. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/>

The background...I'm not by any stretch an expert in backgrounds, and the thing about the sidewalk that I mentioned earlier was my main issue with it. Overall, it looks pretty sweet, though the road could use a little more texture to it. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/> When you see a paved road, you can see all the individual stones -- and though that would be a real pain in the ass to do, even just adding a bit of grain to it in whatever the program you're using is, it'll give it a more realistic feel. X3

Uhh...oh, lighting. The light source isn't very well-defined. It's not like...a huge issue, but because, judging by the background, I'm assuming this is a night scene -- there's probably a lamp lit down the street or something that would cast some good lighting on him, y'know?

You pulled off the mood very well. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/> He does have a certain sadness about him, which is hard to pull off in realism, because you can't put human-ish expressions in as easily as you can in a more cartoony style. I also like the way most of the colours are dim, and, for the most part (apart from the door, the wall, and the dog itself), are very cool in colour. Which definitely adds to the mood. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/> Also, kudos for being able to pull off a sad mood without adding in rain. X3

Oh and because I just noticed this now -- I love the reflections in the water. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/> I didn't notice before, but those are friggin' awesome <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/>

Anyways, that's really all I have to say X3 I hope this helps, and good luck in your further realism artwork, you definitely are talented <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/m/m…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title="Meow :3"/>