I had to see the difference. So I spent a few minutes in photoshop tweaking just a few things.
The before is HBO's version of the Stark Direwolf. The after is just some changes I did, I felt to enhance its wolfish-ness. Also got rid of those squinting puffy eye.
**UPDATE BELOW**
So in the "better version 2". I still had issues with the ear. I moved the ear down and enlarged it a bit. I tapered the snout ever so slightly to give it a more wolf snout, which also allows the neck to look thicker. Dogs snouts get wider as they reach the nose. I also moved the mouth to end its gaping under the eye more, instead of the originals behind the eye. I may move the ear one more time. I still really dont like that buck tooth look on the wolf. I most likely will change those front teeth.
Overall the ear is by far the one part of this design that doesn't fit with the rest. It's original style by Jim Stanes is so smooth, round and more piglike ear that its just stands out so much from the rest of this wolf canine style. I may go in and make a new ear entirely. Making it look like it follows the same style of the rest of the design. I have a feeling doing so will REALLY pull the wolf effect off better. I've drawn it many times down on paper in small variations. Its more diamond shaped and follows the same look of that "scale fur" effect.
You tell me what you think.
