03-11-2012, 08:55 PM
Just keep trying and you'll get better! We didn't start out as professionals either you know. 
Like Gors said, just make sure you use references (but don't copy them, or it'll be considered tracing), study anatomy, learn shading, proper shapes, better color choices and etc., and looking at other people's sprites may help you as well. You'll see how they use various techniques in their work. That's actually how I improved -- seeing so many different sprites, getting to know how such sprites used said techniques, reading a few tutorials and more. I developed my skill from observing, rather than actually spriting. Isn't that weird? XD
Like Gors said, just make sure you use references (but don't copy them, or it'll be considered tracing), study anatomy, learn shading, proper shapes, better color choices and etc., and looking at other people's sprites may help you as well. You'll see how they use various techniques in their work. That's actually how I improved -- seeing so many different sprites, getting to know how such sprites used said techniques, reading a few tutorials and more. I developed my skill from observing, rather than actually spriting. Isn't that weird? XD