Attached Link: Painted Loneliness

I need some serious criticism concerning my most recent image. I'm trying a new technique and need to know what's good/bad/ugly. Thanks, any critiques should be put under the actual image. I don't want you to be all fluffy, beat it up, I just want to know how to improve / what is and what isn't good.

Everything is awesome but I'd give a little more contrast in the words. It's really hard to read.

Writing needs to stand out a lot more. Lose the water paper effect (or reduce the opacity). Center framing is boring, try using a unique perspective to enchance what you are trying to get across. The pose is a bit to jovial...i think the head needs to come down more, or the arms need to hang more...or something. I'd also like to see a few more brighter highlights to balance the left and right side of the center of attention. Maybe brush the dodge tool along the right profile of the figure. In fact this reminds me of an Image a did a while back, called "beauty is only skin deep." http://www.renderring.com/gallery/skindeepbig2.jpg I also used painted effects...cool coincidence.

I agree with the perspective...he's too much the center of attention, with the viewer right in his face...he's not too lonely. Maybe roll the body-arch forward a bit with the arms across the abdoman=(despair)IMHO. I really like the rest.

My monitor sucks so bad that I will have to wait for a repost with the words darker. I can't read the poem :( Other than what else has been said, I think the foot thats pointed upward needs to point down, it somehow lightens the feel of the character IMO. Good work and I hope you repost it with some of the changes mentioned.