When I was looking over the site last year, what attracted me to the graphic novels/comic books forum was the art, especially (not to minimize the awesomeness of any other graphic artists who showed their stuff on the thread, everything was great) leftyfooty's Helle. Shallow, maybe, but I love a well-designed character.

I made a Photo Bucket album with eight of my character designs here.

So I started off, and Natnie's got a pretty fantastic picture of her main character with a dragon on the intro thread. Anyone else make any designs/characters yet?

Well, the only one I can show you from this computer is the image set as my photo. It isn't even really a character in the full sense of the word; it's the main character from a fictional show within the universe that my graphic novel takes place in. What happens to him will be symbolic of what happens first to my main character, then to society.

Heh. I was just updating some character images (I check the forums while I save and stuff) for my GN.

I've got a few "sketches" over at my gallery, though so far it's just the characters proving significant as I work out the treatment.

I've had my characters in my head for a while, so I have a few designs ready. I did them months ago and Haunted's not a character anymore so they're not really accurate, but I think they're fun anyway.

My first ever coloured Mouse. It's dated 2007... when I said I've had these characters in my head for a while, I'm not lying.
Metafiction. Cake. Quote. Nameless. And the whole team (Compare Mouse's original design to the new one!).

Uh, since I've drawn these I've taken an Anatomy course, so I might post new sketches up later.

I posted some of my character designs from Spanner on last year's Character Designs thread. Spanner takes place in 2014, but certain of the characters look almost exactly the same in Bad Company, which takes place in 2007-8 and ends just after the Obama inauguration (the event that threw the proverbial spanner into my plans for Spanner, ironically). I could repost those old designs if people ask, but this year I want to do new ones. I'll post those when I get them done, perhaps later this month, before Screnzy even begins.

I'm working on drawing them... I don't know if I'll ever get a good one done, though (especially since I've just begun drawing seriously-ish ^_^ I can only do heads very well, so. XD).

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WaterRat: You call them sketches?? What is the finished product going to look like, renaissance art?

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Hee. :) I call them sketches because they take less than half an hour to set up in Daz Studio, which is the 3D rendering program I used to make those pictures, and I didn't fiddle with them further in GIMP.

Of course, that I had the characters themselves previously set up in Daz Studio with all the shaders and everything in place probably helped on the speed.

I can't draw very well, so I don't have any character sketches, but I do have a mock up of what I want the cover of my comic to look like.

Cover Art

The comic I'm working on now is the first of a series (or rather, a series of series). I think I've been plotting it since about 2000? I have a couple sketchbooks fulls of character sketches, to the point where my Dad was telling me to quit writing (since it was going nowhere) and just start selling my sketches.

Three of these character sketches made it online, but I have a few more sketches scanned and ready for me to turn into complete pieces.

The would-be love interest, Kane [Title Character]. Kane's goofy, extremely feminine friend, Aizawa. And the inadvertent comic relief, the Captain of the basketball team.

Which is all the main characters except for, of course, the main character, Kimi. And the Doctor. And Kane's childhood friend (who turns into the series antagonist).

AIZAWA PENCIL-WAIST

Honest, he was perfectly proportioned until I put clothes on him. >_>

I personally blame it on him wearing clothes made for someone at least ten sizes bigger. We're just lucky his jersey didn't turn into a dress. XD

No, I think the problem is that you have absolutely no sense of proportion. The top halves of these people are at least twice as big-boned as the bottom halves. Have you tried starting your drawings out with anatomical stick-figures and gradually cleaning up and adding detail? Stick figures are good for getting proportion when you're starting out.

EDIT: Here's a rough sketch of that symbolic character from that fiction-within-a-fiction that I mentioned earlier on in the thread:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/sillyputty_clock/axeymcchopchop.png
It isn't nearly perfect, but notice that his torso doesn't narrow to arm-thickness as soon as it extends beyond the bottom of his ribs.

EDIT EDIT: His name, despite what the file name might lead you to believe, is Stan Rapeman, and he'll be drawn in a much cartoonier style than all the other characters, since he himself is from a fictional animated show within the graphic novel's universe. I've already explained who he is on another forum, so I believe I'll copypaste what I typed there:

Stan Rapeman is a fictional main character of a popular Internet video series. He is sick, twisted, violent, and apathetic, often killing every occupant of a room for no reason beyond a minor annoyance or his own entertainment. On the surface, he represents how shallow people can be, because he is a quintessential "badass psycho" character with absolutely no redeeming values or three-dimensional qualities. Many people love the show that he appears in, but the show is nothing but an Itchy-and-Scratchy-esque meaningless collection of flimsily connected moments of badass. In addition, as the script goes on, his acts of violence grow more and more violent , chaotic, and meaningless, indicating the downfall of society as a whole. Possibly his only admirable trait is creativity; he regards killing as an art.

May I please point out that it's a character sketch, not the actual comic, and I don't see the point in your knocking pictures that are over a year old?

I'm not arguing that there is large room for improvement--and I am, in fact, very grateful that you took the time to look at it, because I'm big on self-improvement. But isn't the whole point of art that it's a work in progress?

If you see flaws in my art (which is all too visible, I don't deny), I don't mind constructive criticism...but I can't help but notice that your remarks are more critical than helpful. And, of course, if you would please post that criticism on the character sketch pages in question, so we don't clog up this thread with off-topic remarks? Thank you. :)

>:C
GRR

BEWARE OF TROLLS

Even if it's a character sketch, usually it should be at least very close to the same quality as the comic, unless it's a very rough one, which the one you gave us didn't look like. (But, I may be wrong.) Also, you didn't mention that it was over a year old on your original post, so I don't think you should attack him for "pointless" knocking.

And, yes, the whole point of the art is that it's a work in progress, so people are able to point you in the right direction before you're totally completed with it.

His remarks were critical about your drawing, but when it comes to constructive criticism, critical = helpful. An example of deconstructive criticism would be, "it sucks," not "the anatomy is bad, you need to work on that." No matter how negative the criticism is, if it points out to you what you need to fix, it's constructive. You may be used to the hugbox style criticism on DA, but when it comes to critique outside of that website, it's generally going to be more criticism filled than praise filled. You need to learn to not take it personally, and that it's meant to help. We have only good intentions.

You're right, that's true. It's unfair to assume that people would read the date listed on the DevArt page. (For those looking now, it's right under "Details," just below the picture.) I apologize.

Though I still don't see the point in offering criticism, constructive or not, on this thread when I didn't even ask for it. And it was only offered to my pictures, which also seemed strange; is that because the picture looked "finished"?

And I do think that it's perfectly reasonable to wish that people are at least polite when offering criticism. You don't necessarily have to pat my head when you offer it; I can probably take a "moderate" critic. But I don't think that it belongs in this thread, especially when it's not specifically asked for.

And am I the only one thinking that we're completely derailing this topic? Quick, someone post a picture before I'm forced to erase all of my entries to keep this from going on.

EDIT: I'm reading my posts again, and I'm apologizing--again. I realize how critical that my own posts have been, and I'm sorry. I'm even going over this post again, because it's just awful. Sorry, sorry. I honestly wish that I could edit my earlier posts...something that I just noticed that I can't do.

Let's just call those three pictures an exercise of perspective that failed miserably? The intent behind them was to show a person turning around, upon noticing someone behind them. During that movement, the person was supposed to change from Kane's sister (walking away), into Kane (noticing someone behind them), then the Captain (turning slightly and lifting a hand in greeting), to Aizawa (turning further to smile at the viewer), and finally to Kimi (fully facing the viewer, laughing and gesturing the you to join her). Then the scene would end.

As a theory, I thought that the scene had promise, and tried to sketch it out. And when those sketches failed, I decided to color it, because I hadn't posted anything on my DevArt gallery for a while.

Now please, please, someone post a new character design?

Err, well |D Have a Crow...? Still tinkering with his design (the pink sandals are a joke xD) He's looking like my main character at the moment.
Still experimenting with this whole character design business, though this tutorial is helping me a lot. The threads are full of w.i.p. character designs too, maybe it'd be interesting to you guys? ^^

Nice cover, vnflcards. And WaterRat, I'm envious of your software xD

Nice find Saubey, I'm going to check that thread quite a few times from now on :D

Crow looks cool too. As I've almost decided on the idea I'll be going with ( or rather on the world it shall take place, the actual story still needs to be made up ) I'll post some designs soon as well.

Very Nice.

I have to admit, I'm envious of those of you who can actually draw. Using Daz Studio is more akin to photography, which I didn't realize I was better at than drawing until I started working in 3D.

His remarks were critical about your drawing, but when it comes to constructive criticism, critical = helpful. An example of deconstructive criticism would be, "it sucks," not "the anatomy is bad, you need to work on that." No matter how negative the criticism is, if it points out to you what you need to fix, it's constructive. You may be used to the hugbox style criticism on DA, but when it comes to critique outside of that website, it's generally going to be more criticism filled than praise filled. You need to learn to not take it personally, and that it's meant to help. We have only good intentions.

Wow. Thanks. I think I owe you one. I would have gotten myself into trouble if I'd tried to say that. I have a way of getting rude in the Internet. I think it's because it acts like a desensitizing screen. I find it funny that it would affect me on this particular site, because that's actually something I'm going to incorporate into my script.

Yeah, though, DarkeAOU, my intentions were good. It was kind of a "STAY AWAY FROM THE DARK SIDE OF DRAWING; IT WILL DISTORT YOUR SUBJECTS LIKE A FUNHOUSE MIRROR" thing. As I said before, I can be rude and insensitive at times on the Internet. This probably isn't helped in the least by my belief that people should be able to just speak their minds without having to worry about offending others. Suffice it to say that I'm a fan of George Carlin's work.

EDIT: And Saubey, I must say that I both like your dirty-lined, inky looking style and your character design for Crow. Good job. Here's to hoping that your script-writing is as good as your drawing.
EDIT EDIT: I took a look at those character design lessons, and I must say that I was impressed. I might be using that method myself to design the remaining characters.

Honestly, saubey, I think that the pink sandals rock. My favorite part of character design is sticking clothes onto characters that they would absolutely never wear, just so that they can yell at me about it. They may never make it into the final design, but you have fun drawing it anyway.

I also like the expressions that he has. And the freckles! I honestly can't draw characters with freckles (though my Hisoka would make them look cute), if only because the coloring would make me have a fit. So I automatically love characters with freckles. Especially when those characters also look like they have attitude.

@Shiaj: I just have to say it, "the Dark Side of Drawing" ? Okay, I'm better now. I'll make sure in the future to go back and sketch my pictures out properly before drawing them completely. And probably look for more workshops on how to draw clothing correctly...the fold thing still has me puzzled. I apologize again.

Would you be relieved to know that my model is supposed to be coming home again in May? (He actually moved away about a month before I drew those pictures, leaving me without a replacement. Stupid brother.)

Yyyyyyeeeessssss, DarkeAOU. Let the hate flow through you...

Just today I've drawn up what my main character's head is going to look like. It's here. It was inked with nib pens, and colored (very roughly) in Photoshop.

My character designs can be found in this section of my gallery: http://onlyabrokenangel.deviantart.com/gallery/?8676223#Grey

I too like to be able to speak without someone thinking I am attacking. Great conversation here.

I do want to disagree with the poster who said the quality should be close to the same quality of the finished product. This is a quick rendition for a graphic novel for some of us and I see even stick figures as being welcomed. Some on here have 12 hour work days during the month of April or families to care for or endless chores with horses or caring for their elderly parents so their Script Frenzy is not their only time-sucking project.

I have enjoyed the art work posted. THANKS to all for sharing with the rest of us.

Crow certainly rocks on for me. Maybe at a crutial point in your story, when Crow has to grow up or prove himself or defeat some evil, he can take his shirt off and display an awesome 6-pack! He will be a terrific hero for your story.

jade

I agree with jadedragon. Right now my sketches are just sketches. At some point I may try adding some color to them just to see what it might look like.

My story is steampunkish so here's my industrious inventor Zekial Studgeon
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu283/je99ifer/zekial.jpg

And his cat Newton for whom he developed a false leg. http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu283/je99ifer/newton1.jpg

And Zekial will soon be discovering that his newly hired maid is actually a very life-like automaton. (normally she'd be in a maid's dress and apron, but here I was trying to imagine what a late nineteenth century robot might look like. In my universe.)
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu283/je99ifer/galea.jpg

And thank you, Yumira, for your little shout-out. Glad you liked some of my work last year.

saubey, I hope you keep the pink sandals... They would make a great (indicator of a) personality quirk, or a great running gag, or a fight starter, or whatever you wanted to do with them...
(I know a wilderness guide, a guy, with neon pink crocs. It's a great way to make people double-take.)

Ooh, you're continuing the Spanner saga? I remember reading about that last year and the year before, and really being intrigued. It's nice to see you're still around Screnzy. :D

I made this entirely this evening. Phew, it took a bit out of me. This is my main character Linda and her three friends Katy (left), Alan (the guy) and Philippa (right).

I think this is the most detailed group image I've ever made with my graphics tablet.

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Sorry if this is rough or anything, but I like the sketches in the background much better than the group in the front. These sketches are very nice :D

These aren't quite character sketches, but more sketches of species/races of humanoid creatures that will appear in my GN:

http://k0uran.deviantart.com/art/Dusk-bear-117784361
http://k0uran.deviantart.com/art/Hairy-face-117905363

The Duskbear will be a big ol' ape creature that walks around being dangerous and murderous with a very lazy look in his eyes.
The Hairy face-things are nocturnal folks. None too unfriendly.