Might have to do with the fact that Ridley is practically in every Metroid game unlike Kraid. Plus Kraid already has a bloated look to his design.

Heh now he really is too big for Smash

Actually, Kraid has thrice as much inflation art as Ridley. Most on the other Ridley inflation is of another FA user who goes by the same name.

Good point. I didn't do a deep dive into the art itself to check what's inflation, and I was hoping the added Metroid keyword would clear it up a bit. Still curious as to which one people like to see drawn more in case I come back to the subject. I actually still have an old image of Crocomire sketched, but I never went and completed it. Crocomire and the other Super Metroid bosses are much more difficult to work with though, so I may stick with Ridley and Kraid if I come back to the subject.

As for constructive criticism, there's two things I've noticed.

For one, the lighting on the belly is off. Unless there's a second light source that implies that we are that source (given the way how the shading is going around the outline from our perspective, that's what is implied), the lighting should be facing in the directing of where the lava is. Or, rather, there shouldn't be a sudden level bit of lighting that's cutting through the shading is.

Secondly, the anatomy of off-center. His left wing seems to have been placed higher, and the neck isn't aligned with where the chest meets him.

Otherwise, it's not too shabby. I like the expression you gave him, and the background works nicely for him.

All good catches, and thanks for the feedback.

I actually had gotten up through shading the belly, head and most of the lower body back a year ago when I started this image, and just picked it up three days ago to finish, and in that time, I forgot what I was doing with the lighting. Based on that the upper chest should be much darker, and the side of the belly and under the legs should be brighter. Along those same lines the background cave walls and stalagmites (-tites?) should also have the same orange tinge based on the acid's implied light color.

Thanks, and wow, this is a blast from the past. I wasn't sure anyone would get this far back in my gallery especially since the light burnt out and I've been too afraid of the spiders to come down here and change it.