Lumi In Tank

Hello there! I think you have a cute idea going for you, and I'm glad that you've created two versions to compare and contrast. I think I like this version better, but then, I'm a sucker for color, especially reds and oranges. It punches more impact, but I agree that it loses some of its tenderness and subtlety. I had a hard time picking out that that cube was supposed to be a tank. Some tips to make that more apparent..first try to straighten your lines out where they are supposed to be straight (i.e. tank, window frame, etc). This is a visual cue for the viewer. Second, as far as tanks and water reflections go, some blurring or distorting of the area behind the tank might be to your advantage. It seems you've done that to an extent in the first version, but it gets lost when you boost the color. Give your tank more of a ground to sit on, through more shadowing and detail of the red area she's sitting on. And although it looks like you intended for her to be more of a chibi sprite character, it is still important for you to pay attention to anatomy. Study how hands work, and how muscles fit together. You could do a third version of this image that is the best of both.