Agro Is Learning How to Draw Part 2: OCs Up the Whazoo

[Agro]

So one of the classes I'm taking is a character development class, and the only way to get an A or B in the class is by submitting multiple versions of an assignment except with your own characters and ideas instead of whatever the original assignment prompts called for.

 

The projects we've done range from initial design ideas for a character, layout sheets, and expression sheets.

 

Honestly, this is my favorite class. I just really enjoy designing characters.

 

[spoiler=Character A aka a Lab Tech]

 

This is what I turned in for my expression sheet.

 

 

 

Character concepting is a long process that takes a lot of trial and error and just basically ends up with a sheet of images you can use to pitch the character to someone else. Im not exactly there yet with this next guy, but you can tell where I want to go with his clothing, and his face has greatly improved (from the top right through the bottom right.) And yes, for those wondering, this character is where one of my older and classic avi's came from. For now, he is simply known as "Wraith".

 

[spoiler=Character B aka Wraith]

YES I KNOW THAT HIS EYES ARE UNEVEN ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT.

 

 

 

But once I started working on giving characters expressions, I realized that giving a character an expression makes it easier for me to design them. It helped when I started doing it with the above dude, but it especially worked with the following guy, who is my son.

 

[spoiler=Character C aka The MC]

Notice how the worst versions of him are definitely the 2nd and 3rd and that neither of them really show an expression? Me too.

 

Not coincidentally, the order these were created in goes 2, 3, 4, 5, 1.

 

 

TALK TO ME. I need feedback, suggestions, and comments.

 

Anything to make me think in different ways throughout the process.

 

I'll be back tomorrow with more drawings.

[Techi☺]

This looks awesome.

I admire you, finding something like this to feel so strongly about. Personally, although even my stick figures look wobbly and poor, I love concept and drawing art and have great admiration for anyone who can really pull it off. I have a perfect null when it comes to being constructively creative and find the only way I can express myself would be in writing. (And if I couldn't type it, no one could read it. Wobbly awkward big hands Y_Y)

 

Personally, I think you are on to something with this whole expression concept. The pictures that were meant to relay more expression definitely look more composed. Like, almost as if there was a period of practice between them and the drawings with more neutral or a lack of expression. I wonder if this has anything to do with our psychological desire to see smiles and frowns and eyes in almost everything. Hmm.

[Agro]

This looks awesome.

I admire you, finding something like this to feel so strongly about. Personally, although even my stick figures look wobbly and poor, I love concept and drawing art and have great admiration for anyone who can really pull it off. I have a perfect null when it comes to being constructively creative and find the only way I can express myself would be in writing. (And if I couldn't type it, no one could read it. Wobbly awkward big hands Y_Y)

 

Personally, I think you are on to something with this whole expression concept. The pictures that were meant to relay more expression definitely look more composed. Like, almost as if there was a period of practice between them and the drawings with more neutral or a lack of expression. I wonder if this has anything to do with our psychological desire to see smiles and frowns and eyes in almost everything. Hmm.

Thanks so much! idontgetpraisedoften

 

I'd like to think that drawing expressions help with facial formations. Without stuff like making a character need to half-shut their eye or raise an eyebrow, I probably wouldn't have taken note about how the brow ridge and eyelids are formed and drawn. It's especially helpful with the mouth, obviously.

 

Plus no expression just makes a character look lifeless. Even if someone is just resting, they're going to have some sort of look on their faces. Looking dead just looks weird, obv.

 

 

 

Also of note: I'll be posting a brand new blog with some updated drawings from today.

[.Rai]

You've got a strong sense of expression. It's sometimes hard to coax more than five or so good expressions out of a character, and you've done really well there.

 

I think biggest place to work on is anatomy.

[Agro]

You've got a strong sense of expression. It's sometimes hard to coax more than five or so good expressions out of a character, and you've done really well there.

This part makes me really happy. Since I have fairly mild Aspergers, when I told my mother we were drawing expressions, she made a statement about if I even knew emotional expressions– not really with any real malice, just as a kind of joke she thought would sit well. I haven't the slightest idea why she thought that would sit well, but nonetheless it made me a little self-conscious and troubled, so hearing that I'm doing that well really takes a load off. Luv u bae <3

 

I think biggest place to work on is anatomy.

Yeah, it's rough. Especially when you have the basic idea of where something is but you have the form off by just a little bit. I'm taking a life drawing class right now that I think is really helping, but it's still a work in progress. 

 

[spoiler=Speaking of progress, here" s one of the pages I was sketching on in that class today]

 

 

 

I'll link to the new blog HERE when it's ready in a minute or so.

[Simping For Hina]

Work on the structure of the head. Facial expression is great, but the shape of the head is off.

[Agro]

Work on the structure of the head. Facial expression is great, but the shape of the head is off.

any part of the head in particular.

[VCR_CAT]

From what I learned in art class re: proportions and drawing humans, using real models (at least in picture form) is suuuuper helpful for getting proportions right, as well as helping with how poses work. You can do this with "Gesture Drawings" where you keep your wrist pretty loose and go with really rough lines that use a lot of pencil strokes. Finally, I highly recommend practicing your eyes a lot and finding a shape that looks best to you. Eyes are super difficult to get right; especially their positioning on the head. Using this sketch as an example: http://puu.sh/kLi5K/4b699c557a.jpgit'll help to pay attention to where the eyes are in relation to where the nose is; it's really easy to accidentally make the eyes really far apart in angled shots, so that's one thing to watch out for.

 

Finally, practice the heck out of your hands. They can be really hard to get right to start with, but once you get the hang of them it's really rewarding.