Character Design (Week 6)

Unfortunately this week I was sick but I had contacted the people in my group to get caught up on the homework I was suppose to do and any work which was discussed as a group and what I would need to know in order to progress within the group. I also went onto blackboard and got caught up on the slides which were shown by our lectures and which included the days lesson, some in depth and helpful information on how to correctly draw a character, how to go about it and what tips will help with the design. Personally I really struggle at drawing anything realistic and anything with real body proportions, movements or human features. So I really hope that through this course, I benefit from all the lessons and information and take in all what I need to know and learn in order to draw a accurate portrayal of a human. I need to encourage my own abilities within drawing an accurate proportioned human and to also draw a correct 360 degrees of what a character may look like standing stationary, with their head, torso, arms, legs, hands and feet. I hope to encourage myself in drawing features such as an array of facial expressions, head and face movements and to actually show the proper movement of ones face when making certain facial movements.

I had learnt some useful tips such as an acceptable drawing of a human is that their length may be drawn eight heads long and width may be drawn two and half heads wide. This is a accurate drawing of a character and can be added onto if done correctly in order to depict differences within characters such as a more feminine body proportion or a more masculine character.

I also learnt a reassuring lesson that its never going to be a wise idea to expect yourself to create an amazing character design within the first ten minutes of you drawing a first draft, that this no failure is acceptable attitude will only set me up for failure and is a unhealthy mindset to set myself within. A professional and triumphant final design will only come with hours and maybe even weeks of structured approach, trial and error. A great character design comes with many drafts, a good character story and a range of information such as what you want you characters personality to be, what’s their simple shape and structure inspired by, what you want to stand out about your character, who are they, what do they like and just an array of questions that really need to be well thought, practiced and re interpreted to then create a successful drawing. I have become more confident and learnt that perfection really is a journey and something that can be quite frustrating but also an enjoyable and educational process. A process however that is always going to further prepare and benefit you for your future art career or creative journey.

For our first task within class we were instructed to strip back the process of designing a character and really learn how many great and successful characters are made from a combination of simple shapes. Creating a simple character with form and shape and maybe a few striking details, can also make for a quick and easy to draw and animation character. We were shown a number of characters and were instructed to choose such a iconic figure and redesign them to match a simple formed figure. I choose Marilyn Monroe and drew her with a circle head, a upside down triangle body and a square bottom. This was easy as Marilyn Monroe has a very hourglass, ‘coke bottle’ shape and it was also interesting to see how easy it was to draw her and highlight her most iconic characteristics.

Our next task within class was to create a character of our own but to begin them with the simple five step process of first creating and assortment of shapes and then redesigning them into a character. Step one was to choose three shapes and to draw out what height each square was going to be and how they would have a representation on your characters personality and style, I had chosen a small head but tall torso and legs. I then choose my character to have a big head, which can be a character trait of a smart character and then medium torso, to small legs having my character start off big and grow more narrow. I then re-drew my squares into a more 3D shape, drawn over with more curved lines for a more accurate human feature and then finally added in the final details of my character such as eyes, clothing and hair. I believe this method was not too long or difficult and was a good beginning process of character design, as even switching up the positioning or sizes of the squares, maybe having a small head and big body. Can all most create a another character as simple as that, showing another personality, style and can be changed to create a lot more choice.

These are the first two characters which I created, they are called Leaf Boy who is made out of the material leaves and Water Boy who is made out of water. These two drawings had came about before I introduced their personal back story but having the ideas of creating a character out of water and one out of leaves was what I thought best to start within and began to draw. I created these characters on procreate and they were the first coloured drawings I had ever done on the app, as I had only been drawing on a tablet when I first started the university, so I am still learning with every design. During the creation of water boy his personality seemed to develop on its own, as I began to create him as quite a timid and shy creature who would be less daring than his fellow material people. I created him using mostly circle shapes and drew him standing in quite a natural and two dimensional pose. His material is water so he would create himself using the rivers, sea, lakes, rain and is gentle natured created like the ocean were he feels like he belongs. The next character I created was Leaf Boy and this character became very sneaky and devious within his personality. They would be a character within Material World that would stop at nothing to get to the center of the earth and would betray anyone who would get in his way. He is mostly made up of a circle head and triangle body, is made up of fallen leave or vines, travels by swinging from vines and jumping through the forest portraying a very playful and boisterous demeanor. I think my favourite character was leaf boy as I liked the style I had drawn him in and the characteristics and different quirks and ways he would fit within the world of materials.