moving on

I like the colors! They work together really well to set the mood and atmosphere of the scene. The warm, sunsetting sky gives things this quiet, subdued sense of drama -- like, the colors are still light and colorful, so it's not a dark mood, but there's this wistful feel, this reflective mood, like the guy is thinking about the future, or thinking about some big change taking place. I think the way you've framed his face with the clouds in the background, and how you're showing this wind blowing his hair and scarf and jacket about also makes the mood even stronger. I'm doing a poor job of explaining it, but I like the atmosphere you've created.

And a bit more technical than that, I love how the colors work together so well. The colors are bright, fun colors, but you've muted them to fit with the quieter scene. I love how the warm, orange sunlight hits everything, carrying those warm colors through, and how the shadows feel deeper and more dramatic, too. Everything just seems to work together really well. I also like most of the marks you used to make the shadows -- they have a nice, loose, brushlike feel that also helps to carry the motion of things blowing about through. I think the marks around his belts are a little too loose, though -- they feel a little less deliberate and polished.

The face is interesting. I think there's a lot of emotion in the eyes, and in the smile -- the small is calm, content, and the eyes looking up towards the sky have this dreamy, thoughtful, but hopeful look. Like, it makes me feel like he's come through a hard time, but this is the turning point moment where he's gotten past it and is looking forward with a new glimmer of hope. To me, the eyes tell that story pretty strongly. I like his hair, how it flutters around his face, how the energy in the hair contrasts with the calm, focused expression. The bandage on his cheek is a bit odd; well, not the bandage itself, but it kind of  breaks up the shape of his face, and makes it appear slimmer. Like, the mouth feels like it's had to stop short because of it, and it just kind of takes over the impact of the face itself. A little bit; it was just kind of an impression I got at first glance.

Anyway...I really like where your experiments with color went here! You seem to have a great handle of using them to communicate the mood and atmosphere of the scene, and to help further show the character's feelings. Great job. : )