Help with fold shading

[Babar]

Hello all.
Here it is:


Can someone advise me on how to shade the clothes more realistically while still maintaining the style? Any other C&C also appreciated, of course.
Thanks

[RyRayer]

Wow.  :o Nice . I hope someone has good advice to give you about shading the clothes.

[TheYak]

The pic overall looks great.  I wouldn't even nitpick it if it weren't placed in the Critic's Lounge.  I see three main problems.
1: Everything's pretty much in the same contrast range.  It makes it a tad difficult to see facial features. Speaking of which, that shine on his left cheek should either be in other places as well or go away entirely.  If you upped the saturation for all shades (just slightly, don't want to ruin the style) it might make it more eye-friendly.

2: You've been a bit shy with shading.  Based upon light sources, half of his left sleeve and half of his left leg should be in shadow.  If you're using layers, try using a shading layer and removing where you want highlights, it might make it less prone to under-shading.

3: For much of it, you've taken light sources into account and even what folds would appear.  However, some folds (pants especially) seem shaded without considering how clothing hangs. If you've got a digi-cam, a reference pic might help.

Did I say three? Oops.  That stripe on his left sleeve..  seems like it should terminate at the shoulder or around the back rather than just below the tricep.  Great work, regardless.  Very photo-vector-esque. 

[Babar]

Thanks for all the compliments. They are VERY appreciated.
I made an edit. I upped the contrast on his face, as well as changed the background colour to make it easier to see. The bright spot on his face is actually the same colour as the shine on the side of his face.
Yakspit, I did actually use the technique you mentioned for shading. The result was actually more a case of over highlighting than of undershading 
The clothes shading IS actually the part that I found most difficult, and probably messed up. Hence the call for help. The stripe on his sleeve is supposed to end at his shoulder (he is wearing his jacket low), but my inadequate shading didn't seem to show that, so I made it higher.
Is this better? Can someone please help on how to do the cloth folds? Here is the edit:

[stuh505]

2: You've been a bit shy with shading.  Based upon light sources, half of his left sleeve and half of his left leg should be in shadow.  If you're using layers, try using a shading layer and removing where you want highlights, it might make it less prone to under-shading.

3: For much of it, you've taken light sources into account and even what folds would appear.  However, some folds (pants especially) seem shaded without considering how clothing hangs. If you've got a digi-cam, a reference pic might help.

okay, but there are not simple 1 light sources in real life....any object that you can see with your eyes is by definition a source of light.  using single light source shading is an unrealistic (like single point perspective) technique that is used by lesser artists to compensate for lack of skill in other areas, and can help to make more realistic looking images, or great contrast for certain effects.

I think the shading on the coat is pretty good, the pants not quite as good, overrall it looks fine to me.  you obviously drew this from a photograph and you seem to have got the basic shading elements from that which work alright.

[Babar]

I think the shading on the coat is pretty good, the pants not quite as good, overrall it looks fine to me. you obviously drew this from a photograph and you seem to have got the basic shading elements from that which work alright.

Yup, it is based off a photograph, but I can't really copy the way the folds are done in real life if I wish to maintain this style. I realise the pants are bad, that's why I need help. I loved what you did with RedruM89's sprite, so help me! Pleaaaase?

[Mozesh]

I loved what you did with RedruM89's sprite,

Yes he really did a good job 
So could you pleeeaaassseee help him too?
Babar it looks really great already by the way

[stuh505]

I'm not going to do an edit because I like the shading the way it is.  You could finish the hand though.