BTNStaticRemnantAlt

[GhostThruster]

i see some potential in you to create some very blizzard-esque icons, with some more practice and refining.

for this icon, you've drawn the shapes very well (though the hat's size in proportion to the rest of the icon is a bit much). your shading is a bit strange though, as you haven't really got a clearly defined light source. i think you were trying to go for a translucent, ethereal-like look, but the way you've used shadows makes it look more like a solid black figurine getting a blue light shone on it than a spirit made of mana/energy. fix up the problems in these departments and you've got a nice quality icon.

 

[BETA]

Any tips on making it more ethereal looking?

 

[GhostThruster]

well lets take a look at a couple of case studies: banish & btnmanashield (attached)

1. might seem counter-intuitive, but you need to make it look more 'solid' - i.e. fill in the form with colour, and give it shading
2. don't outline your shapes, define your form via highlights & shadows. compare btnmanashield to your icon to see what i mean
3. brushwork could be a bit softer, give it a more smokey texture
4. give it a clear and defined light source. right now you've sort of just added highlights to random places

 

[Sin'dorei300]

No improvements in sight.
Moved to S/TS section.

 

[Aleister]

Looks good, just need improvement, like the recommendations of Ghost.