First Sprite WIP - Needing Help

[Nickster]

So I've done a lot of editing before, frankenspriting and even using pieces to create new things (mostly RTP styled), but ive never done anything from scratch before.

so i thought: hey, why not start with GreenRaven's Breeze?

this is meant to be an earth creature. Somewhat like a fox without a tail... I did a small version that im somewhat satisfied with, but i realized i needed to make it bigger, so i tried and pretty much everything fell to shit. I feel like im pillowshading, but ive suddenly become unable to critique my own work. Ive tried fixing the shading, but i cant seem to get it right.

Breeze character for refrence. (i hope imgzoom is working...)




EDIT: ugh. its not. here's a zoomed version:

 

[Midnight]

looks pretty good i think the bottom, big one will be best size
but its missing a shadow, like the breeze character
and the shading seems weird i think to much lighting force on one spot