Me and Yu 2

After doing a few new unsuccessful colour attempts I realized I have been forgetting all the basic painting and colour principles that I know so I tried to take it back to a more painterly approach. I began by painting venom all red since that is the colour i imagine would be under his skin. Then I blocked him into the very main box planes of light and dark. After that I went over and did passes of lights and darks building them up. I came up with something I felt was pretty successful...then I looked up the actual cover that was published...wow was I off. Although I still feel my approach and outcome is way better then before I still have a long way to go. I dont know why I have such a problem with contrast and all my colours end up coming out pretty bland with little emotion in them. I guess it will come in time. But at least its getting better and I recognize it as a problem I can work on. It's another step forward in the right direction. 1 step down... ?a really long made up number to go...