Play with shapes and colours

[Gare]

Igor?

Affinity ___?

Designer or Paint?

Or Publisher? :O

I;m not in a good position to comment on the features you and everyone else can use—because I own Affinity Designer and SUCK at it—but given that, I feel the "pure" Xara illustration has a "focus", and contrast and a sharpness or dramatic quality that I find inviting.

The somewhat warmer and softer illustration where you used Affinity No Idea, sort of warmly attracts you and to spend a little more time appreciating it.

If anyone trusts my opinion—when there's little reason to!—I think the quality that changed is the lighting reacting to the colors. The reason I'm pointing this out is that color palettes play a big roles in the overall reaction you want to get from the viewer.

And this goes for parts of an illustration, not just overall. If you contrast a dark metallic object with a background that is warm coloured and soft...you know where you're going to attract the viewer's eye first.

My Dad would be proud of me using my schooling :(