6 Character Design - Challenge

[Susan Marks]

@theprairiefox This is a great idea! I will watch along as you post here (and also keep an eye on Ig).

[theprairiefox]

Here is this week's installment... Superman!

Learning about the rules differences (or not) of each illustrator between adults and children. Next week will be my first female... it will be interesting to see how each illustrator changes their character design!

[TessaW]

I love this challenge! I might have to borrow a version of it for my own purposes. I'm very familiar with the first three artist's work, so it's fun seeing your interpretations of them and recognizing the styles shining through. I'm enjoying reading your goals and analysis- it's very well thought out.

[theprairiefox]

@TessaW thanks... it has been helpful for me already to dive into why I am drawing what I am drawing.

[theprairiefox]

Finally back in the studio!

Here is Little Orphan Annie. I learned a lot about little girls and curly hair.

I am not sure I did the other illustrators justice. But I guess that is how I learn.

[theprairiefox]

And Gandalf!

I had a lot of fun with this one! Love how they all came out.

It was interesting to compare the one in the style of @Will-Terry with his own. They were similar(ish) but he removed the beard to make it look like 'baby Gandalf' and I think it really throws the character off. I think it is much harder to see 'Gandalf' if he doesn't have a beard!

Anyway, enjoy them!

[theprairiefox]

Wednesday on Tuesday?

Wednesday Addams was next. the most difficult with this one was getting the expression right in all the styles. Not sure I accomplished it 100% but it was good to try.

[theprairiefox]

Princess Leia was fun. I based these off of a reference piece. I noticed when I had finished sketching the one in Will Terry's style that I got the body all wrong and it should have been MUCH smaller.

But I am learning, and consistency is part of that...

[animatosoor]

Such a sweet challenge, @theprairiefox! Seeing all of your drawings in this thread made me smile. Can't wait to see all the rest!

[theprairiefox]

@animatosoor thanks. It has been really fun AND I am learning a lot.

It has has been very informative to learn how each illustrator handles differences in sex, age, situation, species, etc. And it some of that has gone into how I have been approaching characters in my world-building as well.

For example, most of the illustrators have much larger heads on their children than their adults. The adults tend to be proportioned 'closer' to reality (usually still very exaggerated but closer.) I have decided to do the same thing in my style. Children's heads are wider and their bodies are 1:1 with the head. For adults, I am using round heads and their bodies are usually 1.5x-2x the head height.

For another project, I am building out fantasy races and this comes even more into play as I am using proportions to help define the races. It is nice when one project informs and reinforces another project... got to love synergy.