- - Artwork - -

So I was watching 'Barbie the Princess and the Pauper’ cuz memories and I’m a nerd THE REASONS NOT IMPORTANT

Anyway, the song 'The cats meow’ suddenly had a completely new meaning to me.

If you’ve never watched the movie, or can’t remember, the protagonist’s cat Wolfie doesn’t meow, he barks.

When Wolfie starts trying to meow instead of bark, Erica (Barbie) notices.

“I can see it when you’re feeling low

You can’t hide that from me

You’re no status quo calico

So why keep trying to be?”

This childrens movie shows a character who was born a cat (feminine) but has always found it more natural to bark like a dog (masculine). Not only is his friend supportive of that, she loves it.

“if you bark

Celebrate it

Make your mark

Serenade it

Noah’s ark

Shoulda had a cat like you.

And if what you are

Is a strange you

Doesn’t mean

You should change you

Only means

You should change your point of view.”

It’s a message so needed in today’s society and it was made in 2004!? And directed at young children!? It’s so amazing and I’m so proud. This honestly made me cry.

“There is not

One hair on you

That I would rearrange

I love you

The way you are

And that will never change

That will never change.”

You are different. And it’s amazing. Your imperfect and that’s perfect. Be yourself, you are always worthy of unconditional love.

his wardrobe demands respect

Of course.

- Use references. Please. P l e a s e. If you have any respect for yourself you will. If you don’t know how to draw a pose, find a reference photo but DON’T DRAW STRAIGHT OVER IT AND USE THAT AS THE FINAL DRAWING. IT LOOKS WEIRD. Trace over it separately until you understand the curves and proportions of the body and where everything bends and where the shadows are, and you’ll be able to draw it at any angle. This saves you trying to find a reference photo at the exact angle you need to copy directly.

- Get yourself some fashion/interior design magazines/catalogues (or go to clothing or furniture websites if, like me, you refuse to leave the house) because they can provide new ideas as well as references. I have a Next catalogue as thick as a phone book next to my desk at all times.

- I get that it’s difficult with some art styles, but try to give characters different faces. Maybe not quite to the point that even if they all had the exact same eye and hair colour and hairstyle we’d be able to tell them apart but if you can do that then that’s GREAT.

Eyebrows and nose + eye shapes are a good way to do this, as well as the shape of the jawline and cheekbones.

- Different ethnicities ≠ different skin tones. Different ethnicities = different skin tones and different facial features/structures.

- Sometimes clothes don’t go together. Don’t make everything match perfectly, most of us don’t have time for that shit every day.

Whether or not a character’s outfit matches can emphasise their personality (for example a very fashion-forward character who would know what goes together and what doesn’t).

- Typically, clothes aren’t brand new and they shouldn’t always look that way. Colours fade and buttons fall off and zippers break and wool unravels and shoes get worn out and everyone has that one T-shirt where half the design on the front has cracked or rubbed off.

Once again, the condition of a character’s clothes can emphasise their character traits (eg. a character who is stated to be wealthy could very likely have brand new clothes in perfect condition).

- Oh yeah and clothes have seams so draw those too.

- Hair grows. Draw it. Especially if it’s a comic where long periods of time pass. And don’t forget that different people’s hair grows at different speeds.

- Go right down to EVERY LAST DETAIL when designing your character. Flesh them out a bit, make them seem human. How often do they wash their hair? What’s the reason they wear those boots every day? What’s their favourite colour to paint their nails? How do they tie their shoelaces? Do they like pineapple on pizza? Keep building onto them as much as you want.

- Don’t be afraid to give characters flaws. Even the characters you want people to like, not just the ones you don’t. Nobody is perfect. And small flaws/bad habits/things you wouldn’t consider ‘ideal’ count just as much. Have a character talk too much at the wrong time or bite their nails constantly or curse every five seconds or chew on the ends of pencils.

- If you’re drawing a scene in a comic where there’s a joke or a gag (basically repeating something for comedic purposes, someone help me think of an example) use the Rule of Three. Limit the amount of times you use it in a single scene to three or it could sound like you’re dragging it out. 

However, if there’s going to be a long running joke throughout the entire story rather than in one single scene, use it as many times as you want (but make sure people don’t get bored of it or think that it’s ‘getting old’).

Speaking of the Rule of Three, it works WONDERS in comedy in particular. You know how you can only ask someone to repeat something you didn’t hear three times before you feel like you’re being annoying? Have that mindset. For example, “I need a fork, a pencil, and ten gallons of cow’s urine”. Two things can be too short and four things can sound awkward. Three is a good number.

- Sometimes subtlety is key. Let’s say I’m drawing a character who’s married, and I don’t want the character to openly and bluntly say that they’re married but I want the readers to know that they’re married. So I’ll just draw them with a ring on their finger and let people put two and two together.

Or you could have them just casually mention it and move on without making a big deal out of it (eg. “I just have to call my wife and then I’ll meet you outside”).