Alien Flower - How do I improve this?

PaxTerra

Hello everyone! I need some valued input on how I can improve this piece. Some glaring issues that I'm aware of is to get rid of the plastic look and might have to redo some geometry if its necessary. It's suppose to be a flower of alien origin and I have only used Maya and Substance Painter so far.

Brian "Panda" Choi

Add some sub surface scattering.  Petals can be thin and let light into its interior, allowing it to bounce around before the photons leave the volume.

Fabi_G

PaxTerra, I think these points could be improved:

- Some un-organic edges and clipping
- use gradients and color-variation to give more contrast/depth
- break up strict patterns to make things look more organic (push some vertices around for geo)

I'd look at some real flowers for reference.
Here is a paintover to illustrate what I mean:

m4dcow

I don't know if you are asking strictly texture-wise, but geometry-wise try to break up the symmetry, twist/deform the leaves and petals a bit, have subtle changes in scale too.

PaxTerra

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Especially @Fabi_G for taking time out of your day to make that paintover! Very much appreciated!