Digital Art At what point can I say that I'm not a beginner? (Evangelion sigs included in post)

Well I've only posted one thread here before, so this is my fourth signature.



What n00by mistakes did I make? How can I avoid them in the future? Have I improved over my last sig?

This is my last sig. It didn't get rated in my last thread, so I'd quite like to get it rated now.

Comments and criticism please, and when can I say I've stopped being a beginner?

 

Don't duplicate the stock like that, it draws away from the focal. That's really the only newb mistake I'm seeing. Also you're going to be beginner for a looooooong time, I still consider myself one at times. Stock is looking a bit too contrasted, placement is a bit poor, and the sig is huge.

Keep going at it, and read some tuts.

 

Tried to do as suggested. I removed the cloned stock and filled in that area with effects and a random word that sounds like it has some deep meaning.


Oh, and I tried following a grunge tutorial and I got this:

Can anyone explain to me why it quite literally looks like crap?

Also, I'd quite like to know how my Unit 01 signature went.

Finally, can someone explain to me how the threads work here? Is it one per signature, one per user or one per notable signature? If a thread dies without a signature getting criticism, am I allowed to re-post it?

Oh, and thanks for the criticism.

 

I'ma be lazy and just give you a short but very good tut on basic sig making elements ;D

(Kinda big)

Spoiler

 

Just adding this in, but the site Hayabusa got that tut from is excellent for tuts and resources.

 

How do I get those graphic effects? At the moment I am just sticking on random layers of effects in order to get a 2d image on an abstract background. How do I add on those things such as the burst of light under Roxas, or those peculiar green-black things in the last signature?

Linkies to in depth tutorials on how to acheive those effects please.

 

They're called C4D renders. They're pretty much the easy way to make a sig look awesome.

Google them. Use them. Love them.

 

I don't suggest using any c4ds until you have more experience. Don't be like me and not know **** about C4Ds and paste them anywhere just to look more fancy. It has to do with blending and little things contribute to the overall look of it.
You're on your way, just read more tuts. You're in that stage I like to call "Artistic Friendly" which is corny. But it means that you're working with things and getting used to them and making decent results. Some people like to stay here, since much of the work gets good appeal because of the general color and what not. But if you plan to profress, you need more...-deeper ways into the work. Composition, coloring, depth, lighting all take part in a very good artists work.