Ahhhh Thank you so much! I'm not exactly embarrassed with posting my old art here haha, just that not in the actual game! I think it's hard to pinpoint what I exactly learned. Maybe just indulging myself in researches like european medieval history, aethestics, history to rely on when I do designs, some of them are inspired from movies, tv shows I saw. Some of them from inspiration from the internet. I think it's just that I spent more time planning or evaluating my game from the player's perspective. I guess it helped to make some cool dudes in this aspect.
Of course, I'm kinda proud of what I've been improving, especially when the starting point is kinda already high (I've been drawing for a year before making this game). And I guess I was excited enough to show them off, hopefully it would be a little useful in your venture in art. I think the study of aesthetic is kinda a big thing in making art. Especially commercial art (welp I think I'm making one) where the audience shapes the artwork majorly. I guess listening to people's opinions and suggestions really helps with fast improvement. And of course, criticism hits the hardest but the most effective as well!
It's the mindset that this is an everchanging game that helps the most, with single artwork you can just slack and forget about it. But with a game I'm very passionate about, I guess I just want to make everything perfect because I can change it anytime. So I have to improve upon any single details, despite my audience telling me it's fine haha!