For my editorial illustration concept sketches it showcases circus animals abuse. The first one is of an elephant being tied up by its tusks. The second one is of a lion, its mane is supposed to be flames because in circuses lions are usually jumping a ring of fire. The third sketch is of a bear that has a mechanism on its face that closes its jaw.
Lylianna Excellent work on these. You’ve simplified and taken a more direct and metaphor driven approach to the editorials.
I like all 3! But, I think the strongest conceptually are 2 and 3.
3 has the addition of great expression.
2 has the fire instead of the muzzle – so more metaphorical.
So how do you combine the strengths of the 2 into one image? If you choose #2 work on the expression… also work on the gesture – is he jumping towards up, mane on fire?
If you choose 3 work on the outfit from reference – you may not need the party hat… not sure but get the details right. And what can you do to go a step further than a muzzle… a step further into visual metaphor. You could add a visual element in the background or on the bear, or use value carefully to give us the right interpretation of the image without being quite so literal.