First Post and Criteria

So I'm finally getting around to actually doing the whole designing part of the character design deal. I am going to post two to make up for lost time, and also because every time I log into blogger, it is an ordeal and a half remembering all of my account nonsense. I then get frustrated, scream obscenities, and drink lots of diet rootbeer in anger. I shall endeavor to get over this, however, and post regularly in the future.

Before posting the character designs, I felt it necessary to give myself a set of design criteria that I can grade myself on. After quite a bit of thought, I settled on the following system: I'd give myself one to five asterisks (*) per category. A good character should be balanced in all the following categories, so I think grading myself will show areas where I can improve. Also, if anyone who actually follows this blog is also an aspiring character designer/just designs characters for fun, I would gladly grade you in this criteria, if you were so inclined as to send me your characters; I could post it on this here blog. You could get notoriety. It'd be fun.

So after much ado, here are the various categories for grading:

Redraw-ability: This is super important, and one I don't pay enough attention to in general. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the all-too-common issue of "This drawing is GREAT! I can't wait to draw this character AGAIN and AGAIN!" only to realize that the character is nigh impossible to recreate.

Originality/Creativity: Let's face it. We've all seen original characters that look like something we've seen before. We've all made them, intentionally or unintentionally. Space pirates, steam punks, zombies, anthros; it's hard to do truly original things nowadays. Sometimes you'll be all: "OH MAN I AM SO CLEVER" only to realize that you had seen your character design somewhere before, and the idea lodged itself deep inside your subconscious. It's hard to be original.

Aesthetic: Brass tacks: does it look good? Does it have a consistent visual language? Are the shapes constant? Is it drawn well?

Style: It is hard to make something look truly unique/interesting in a stylistic way. I feel I lack an interesting style in general, so this will be an area wherein I will probably get low marks.

Silhouette: One of the most important things to keep in mind, by and large. Can your character be distinguished by only their shadow? Mickey Mouse has his signature circle ears. Sponge Bob is a wiggly square. Flynn Rider has broad shoulders and a swoon-causing hair cut. The list goes on and on; it's hella important.

So, let's get started!

Ingrid Stockett, formerly "Lottie"

First up is a character copyright sheet (albeit sloppily done) for a character I have designed and redesigned time and time again. Her name is Ingrid Stockett (tentatively; it's a working name). Neurotic and obsessive compulsive, all Miss Stockett wants is to be a princess. The story takes place in is a fantasy setting, so her clothes are unusual, but indicative of the specific world she's from. Her hair used to be tied up, but I decided it'd be far more hilarious if this woman who wants so desperately to be a prim princess was constantly unable to tame her own hair.

Grading:

Redraw-ability: *****
Originality/Creativity: **** I feel her outfit could use work in this area.
Aesthetic: *** I think I'll redo her boots; they don't seem to work. I like the rest of her shape palette, though, with the bell and pointed shapes
Style: **
Silhouette: *****

Next up is the male counterpart to Ingrid, who, after a long and arduous series of brainstorming, has a much more solid and definite name: Horatio Bolt.

Horatio Bolt

A little bit on Horatio as a character. Known as the Rag King/Beggar King (also in the works); he wants to overthrow the natural order of things and become a king. However, under the surface ,he's motivated mostly by a desire for equality, though is overzealous in his ideals.

Redraw-ability: ***
Originality/Creativity: **** I am a fan of his hair; perhaps the coat could use embellishment.
Aesthetic: ****
Style: **
Silhouette: *****


Wellp, that's it for now. Hopefully this was interesting, and not too rambling! Leave me some feedback on the above if you'd like (specifically referring to the designs), or just general comments, or, if you really want me to grade and post one of your character designs, leave me a message or something! Perhaps I'll grade existing cartoon characters too.

See you around, and thanks for supporting me on my quest!