Nov '18

I finally reached to the character design class. And oh God I watched it like 5 times mainly because i couldn't come up with a hero shape. And then i realised what I was doing wrong.
I just couldn't define the character I was going for. I was like "well, ye, fantasy female character, cool.. maybe she'll be a warrior, maybe she'll be a mage.. whatever..." - and honestly, having these kind of thoughts only made things harder for me to make up some hero shape.
And when I noticed what I was doing wrong.. then everything became easier.

I decided to go for a Steampunk Bandithunter guy.
I first collected the pictures that I liked and I turned it into a moodboard.
Then I came up with a hero shape, applying all the details that i though would be cool to have.
I tried to do the thumbnails but I didn't really want to change the silhoutte that much because I don't want the steampunk design look too crazy, so I did what i did.
And then after playing a bit with thumb-s I just went for my character and mixed everything together.
I do feel a bit stiff still doing this kind of process. (theme - reference - hero shape - character)
But, hey, we all start somewhere :smiley:

So here is my character design roughly sketched here and there. ( i think he needs a coat\jacket)

Steampunk Bandithunter.jpg1975x1625 730 KB

cedricgoModerator
Nov '18

I really like your hero shape. I'm looking forward to see how your character will turn out.

There's one thing that I noticed though, and it's that your hero shape is a round shape and has a lot of curved lines. I feel that so far we don't really find those elements in your design. Now, I'm saying that as someone who's still in the earlier terms, so it's possible that I have the wrong idea of how this whole assigment is suppose to work, but maybe it's worth keeping in mind :smile:

Nov '18

One thing that helped me was practicing silhouettes' with just nude figures around 20 at least. Then pick four of your best and start a theme with a mood board. Try not to overcomplicate your design too much.

Nov '18

@cedricgo, thank you for the feedback! i am not sure about hero shape either, i hope i'll finish this piece till the stream and see what marc says about it xD it's too complicated for me.
@luke_james_kid Oh! i see! so you mess around with shapes and then you come up with the further ideas and mood board! that's a nice advice, thank you a lot :wink:

So i changed my hero shape a bit more, because it's true that i dont have anything completely round so the whole idea with it is that the guy wont have anything spiky in his design.
So here we go.
I rly hope i finish it before tomorrow <_>

Steampunk Bandithunter.jpg7900x6500 1.58 MB

Nov '18

quick update with a simple lineart. i dont aim for clean lines coz more likely it will be covered anwya :smile:

3 months later

cedricgoModerator
Feb '19

I love the shape language of her clothes. It's really cool and unusual.

Feb '19

Reply to

echoriel

Hi, I like how this character seems more designed than your previous one; not that im saying your previous design isnt good, its just this one looks like your ideas have been developed more and there is a clearer concept, while not looking over designed. The value work and clothing is very well done - all the materials read as separate materials and the detail work is very good.

If i was to offer any critique it would be the legs look a little bare and unrendered, but this could be that you haven't finished working on it yet. Either way good job, would love to see a full illustration with this character.

Feb '19

@cedricgo thanks :smile:
@alex_fucile thanks! Ye at the picture above I haven't finished the leg part yet.

So I spent quite a long poriton of my day jsut trying out different things with leg design and arms.. so idk.. I gonna leave it like this for now and see if I can come up with a better design decision as this one I dont like so much.
Maybe i hsould try different posture for her so I can make a better type of weapon but for now I am stuck with this one :>

Feb '19

I suck at drawing poses... and i could really find any reference that was to my liking.. also i dont really wanna go super mad with poses coz i plan it to be as a concept not an illustration but id say this pose is somewhat more interesting.. although i dont know.
I might draw the heels later and probably change the hands haha :>
I dont have much time to refine it more as I leave for couple of days.. maybe i will come up with better options for her..
either way, please let me know is there anything I could improve about it in terms of body position?

Feb '19

I think your onto a winner with the claws - they really drive home the flower like elements, almost like thorns or barbs. I like it. Also did you use a Edward Scissorhands reference for the left hand, I recognise that kind of pose from the film.

Your pose is fine, it isn't too flashy but also gets across a the characters more elegant qualities.

cedricgoModerator
Feb '19

The pose definitely looks more interesting, even though it's only a small change. The only thing I think you could change is the leg you moved away. Right now it seems like her knee is bending outwards a little bit. I'd do something like this to correct it.

I hope that helps. I love her design! :smile:

Feb '19

Been enjoying watching this one develop on the streams EchoJK.

As far as that pose goes, basically standing with the weight on one leg and the other one stretched out, you have to think about her center of mass and how the tilt of the hips will change. The frills on her hips having such an accented horizontal line makes the hip alignment stick out.

The hip of the extended leg will be lowered and the standing leg will be bearing all of the weight.
This selection from istock has some poses that are very similar to what you are doing here that will help, note that the foot the women's weight is on is almost always centered in line with the body, very similar to your initial pose (Which I rather like btw the ballerina pose goes wonderfully with the outfit)
https://www.istockphoto.com/search/more-like-this/464608352?sort=best

And as far as poses go, if you are at all interested and havn't heard of it, there is a program called DAZ3d that is basically all about posing 3d models of people, I have used it sporadically to get quick mannequin poses to work with, its quite helpful and has basic tutorials that will get you far enough to pose the model and then move it to whatever 3d software you are most used to working with.

And I like the big black claw hand idea that you have here, it strikes a really different note from the rest of the image, perhaps have her right hand in a "come here" position and the left hand outstretched like you have it now.

Also love the hairstyle you have given her. Overall this is a very fun design.

Feb '19
1

Reply to

alex_fucile

Haha! thanks! Although i didnt use any reference, i just threw in a bunch of strokes haha. Maybe this Edward's picture is embroidered somewhere deep in my brain haha :wink:
Coz ima hairdresser and I know how to pose with scissor hand xD