Character Design

“Over the years I have created many characters. In the galleries below you can see my character design process.”

In character design I focus on shapes and exterior details instead of accessories and patterns. To me the shape and silhouette of the character always comes first as well as making sure the character is not cluttered.

A good character design, to me, contains flaws. Not breaking the rules of character design but giving these characters noticeable quirks such as tooth gaps, patched clothing, overbite, and more. These things help the characters to feel more relatable. Everyone can relate to imperfection, and it naturally endears us to a character.

Sasha Sasher: UPA/50’s styled character

“Slishy Slasher” is the most thought out and structured of my characters. The process of creating her involved reading through art history books, refining her silhouette and proportions multiple times, and exploring how ever part of her worked in union with the overall design. Although not included here additional pages like the ones above were created for her eyes, line coloring, and more. She is my most dynamic and angular character to date, with an extremely triangular form.

Molly Molly & The Imaginary Friends

“Molly Molly” is one of my oldest characters. In her earliest designs she leaned into a safer and evenly proportioned body. I was not satisfied with this as she was meant to be a fantastical imaginary friend brought to life- and then turned into a polka dotted nightmare. Below you may see how I went about fixing her design.

Molly Molly redesign process. Creating silhouettes with a focus on exaggerated proportions. Eventually I began to think of how she could be made fantastical. As development progressed, she was given a large head that any real creature would struggle to lift. From there it seemed natural to have it act as a balloon, fitted with large oar like ears that Molly Molly would use to propel herself through the air. I wanted her to have an “Off-putting Cuteness” Something that children would find endearing, but parents would find off-putting, and the final design finds a balance between that.

Multiple concepts of “Imaginary friends” Creatures who once lived alongside children but who now are afflicted with a mysterious plague.
Multiple concepts of “Imaginary friends” Creatures who once lived alongside children but who now are afflicted with a mysterious plague.
Multiple concepts of “Imaginary friends” Creatures who once lived alongside children but who now are afflicted with a mysterious plague.

More Character Designs

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