Constructive critique/paintovers appreciated!

This was going to be my second entry for Eraili's umalyn raffle. It was meant to be a speedpaint, but the question as always is when to stop? Ill be honest, I struggled with this one. It was made as practice to learn backgrounds, and lighting and learning how to paint faster because wow even this took a lot longer than it was meant to. I'm uploading it as it is, because I've sort of run out of time for it, and in a way I consider it finished? It was never meant to be fully detailed.


I would really really appreciate a critique on this. I know that the back figure is as flat as can be. But wow, I struggled with shading the rather complex stripes and markings on the characters. I didn't know what are good shortcuts for speedpainting. For textures. For water, for trees, for being able to leave bits unfinished but still looking cool. For dealing with colours in new contexts! Just in general everything!

I do like the log though, I'm proud of that. And the painting looks decent as a teeeeeeennnyy tiny thumbnail. >_>

These lovely fellows belong to:
DawnDeadlyNadder at the front (I know the colours and what are markings and uuugggggg)
Pandapalz at the back, for what its worth
species © Eraili
Reference image for background: Cunningham Stream - Exclusive HDR Stock