Character Design

Our third milestone was today, and I'm gladly up to date with both my 3D and traditional work. I'll be doing some changes for my sculpt though - so Cookie will wait for another post.

When I checked my schedule 2 weeks ago, I panicked. Sheridan has this understandable requirement of  a character design, with expressions, actions poses, and a six view rotation. The ones who got in were very cartoony, simple, and appealing. Something about the concepts of simple and appealing make my brain shut down. So I did what any artist naturally does - I sketched. And sketched. and sketched. I found some, let's say, valuable critiques from my best friend: "Not EVERYTHING needs huge paws" "Exaggerate it more.""Do a reptile!" "Give it a scarf."

Helpful as they were, none of it looked quite - good. I'm uncomfortable with giving things intentionally wrong anatomy. I want to do it intentionally and wonderfully, but I don't. Then, with no prior notice, Anna Hudzik ran in with a cape and rescued my poor, lifeless sketches. Or maybe she just sent me a link over Facebook with some character design tips. However, when she doesn't know you have character designs due, and you're sadly moping at home trying to muster something up, it sure feels like she's coming in to rescue your artwork. The tips were short, and simple ideas, but they helped so much. Simple shapes. Contrast and volume in those simple shapes. Movement curves. Still using references for those simple, cartoony characters.

So, here they are - nameless, as I hate naming.

This is a lazy, grumpy, mildly viscious, grotesque, but affectionate binturong. She's the type of creature to nap most of the day and stick her tongue in her nose, soon after attempting to attack something twice her size. Yet she's so forcefully affectionate once she likes you. Binturongs are these magical little things also known as Asian bearcats. Their name fits them well.

They truly are "bearcats", and really, what has more personality than a bearcat? It's one of those hybrid animal situations where nature reminds you that it already did that.

This little boy is a timid, hyper, and playful baby armadillo. Here, I tried more for a vomit-inducing cuteness, while the binturong was meant to be more of an adorable tyrant. 

This is my very proper, very fancy, intelligent gay alligator. He loves tea and books, and has very over-emotional reactions and a dainty and joyful walk cycle. I'm not going to lie, he was the most fun.

They took more work and planning than expected, but I'm oddly happy with them, and they gave me a bit more comfort working with simpler characters. For Sheridan I would have to do six view rotations and such, which wouldn't be a problem, but who knows if I'll use these guys or something else I come up with later in the year.