Hi @Flynn I think I have to agree with Zoungy and suggest that you remove the Peppermint type and try to communicate that 'Peppermint' feel visually. The word peppermint gives me the feeling of something light or 'airy' and I think we can reflect that feeling via a high key image and more 'pastel' colors. I've attached some paintings of Joaquin Sorolla because I think you may be able to take a lot from his images and apply it to your piece. Sorolla's paintings have that 'light' feel I was talking about earlier, and it's because most of his images are kept in a mid to high value range (also known as a high key image). Your image currently is staying in that mid value range, and I think you can brighten it up by literally brightening up most of your values. And if you really wanted to lean in to that 'light' motif, then I think your image could also benefit from softer edges. Currently, everything has a really hard edge to it, which communicates a 'harder' or 'punchier' image, which I feel like would contrast with the feel of your piece. In terms of composition, if you decide to go through the 'removing the text' route, then it would probably be best to center your figure, or at least place her in the middle of the radiating lines of color in the background, just to emphasis her as the focal area. Additionally, these are all just opinions so you can take what you like and apply it, and choose to ignore other pieces based on the direction that you wanted to go. Hope this helps! Let me know if there is anything that I can clear up for you

Hi Flynn, I'll try to offer a friendly "kick in the butt" since you phrase it that way! The first thing I notice is the words, my feeling is remove them entirely or rethink how to present the type, which is really a tricky art form on its own. For inspiration look at the episode of Abstract: Art of Design that's about Paula Scher on Netflix. The M, T, and P are all creating tangents with the stripes in the background (corners or curves accidentally lining up and touching or almost touching straight edges of other objects). The hair bun also creates a tangent where it touches the stripes behind it. Adjust the stripe/ radial pattern to avoid spots like this. Maybe put "peppermint" in the area of the shirt? It's a nice, clean area that would offer good contrast and balance to the whole image The hair is good start, but try to capture the flow of it better. If you need, use a line smoothing tool. Some of the places have lines that start to flow and then suddenly bend, so it looks like there's glue or gel holding the hair at an angle, or sort of a mashed potatoes appearance. Do you see that? I think the front of the face is actually pretty decent. Where it cuts around into the shadow toward the right, I think you need to design that shadow to fall along the facial bone structure better. The line between light and shadow is such a smooth curve, one that would be found on an egg possibly, but on a person there's the cheekbones, etc. Maybe consider what parts of this shadow edge should be firm, and where it could be soft or "lost". I hope some of this helps you. Good luck!