Sleepy._.Aizawa

similes for describing characters and their behaviors 🗡️ character inspiration

like the sun, radiant and raging against the far horizon, a clear beacon for others to follow

like a panther in the night, patiently stalking its unsuspecting prey

like a trapped bird flitting about, calling out for any help while nipping the hands that try

like a staircase in the woods, worn away by time, building up to something—somewhere—that not even you know

like a tree felled in a creek, uprooted from your home but still holding up to those who walk over you

like the static on old TVs, ever-present and ever-moving, fading to the background

like a cabin in a snowstorm, a comforting mirage as the world clutches me to its icy heart

like the antique vanity resting in the corner, stable in the dizzying array of things that come and go

like a stained glass window, taking the light you see in others and showing them all the colors within

like the glint of a knife, only there when you look from the right perspective

like a cat lounging in a garden, at peace with watching the world pass on

like reflections in a pond, serene yet obscuring what lies below

like a wound that won’t heal, annoying and a reminder of what happened

like syrup wafting through the air, sweet with a touch of familiarity

like the air after rain, fresh with the stench of earth and dew

like my favorite song, an unmistakable tune of nostalgia and hope to dance to

like the nebulae above, a fusion of stardust and the unknown

like a miasma of sulfur and rot, oozing death and corruption wherever you step

When you ask for directions on the street someone will show you the way, even though they have nothing to gain from it.

Do you have any advice on drawing facial expressions?? I’m autistic and I have a really hard time with them.

Howdy again, and sorry for the delay! Not sure how well some of this advice would translate into different styles, this is just what works for me.

Expressions are hard! There's a lot of nuisance and subtle differences between them, and a lot of different expressions share similar features. Ya just have to play around with them.

There are a lot more things that can all help convey emotion, that aren't just limited to the face, like posing and angling, but I focused solely on expressions, here.

Head Advice #1: Everybody’s head is the same size.

Okay, not really, but basically. There’s a reason you don’t have to know your head circumference to find a sunhat. We all have pretty similar head sizes, especially from the visual distance we usually draw characters.

The only exception to this is babies or children under 10. Those guys definitely have smaller heads! (But did you know our skulls are already over 90% their full adult size by the age of 5?)

Different style choices demand different proportions, but in general, it’s good advice to pick a head size, and stick with it!

Head Advice #2: You can use head size to indicate a character’s size.

Big characters don’t look like average sized people scaled up. And you can’t just scale down to get a small person!

You can make a character look very big and tall or very very small — even if they are standing alone in a vast white nothingness — just by how how they are proportioned! The most important proportion (in my humble opinion) is their head size. Look me in the eyes and tell me you can’t tell which of these characters are big and which are small.

Head Advice #3: Don’t go shrinking anyone’s head.

The most common head sins I see happen when an artist is trying to indicate (body) size difference in a couple, and use their heads to do it. The result is an image that looks something like this:

If you don’t want your lovers to look like they belong in different animated tv shows, don’t go shrinking anyone’s head! Use their bodies (hands and feet and bellies and muscles) to show off their size differences.

It's for cleaning your blending stumps! And yes, you are supposed to clean blending stumps.

Princesses live a charmed and privileged life in grand palaces that we can only dream of. However most princesses face a life of a regimental daily routine.

Mornings

A mediaeval/renaissance princess would likely rise very early to attend a prayer service. She would have her ladies dress her and she may even take a walk before breakfast. A mediaeval/renaissance princess would have lessons very early in the morning covering a wide range of subjects from religion to dancing.

An 18th Century Princess would have risen later and had less regimental routine but a more public one. The etiquette of Versailles had this ridiculous routine of the court crowding about the Dauphine (wife of the heir) and watching her ladies prepare her for the day. They would watch her get dressed (only ladies may view this), eat her breakfast and get her makeup and hair done.

More modern princesses (19th century) would have woken earlier than the previous century but not as early as the renaissance princesses. They would bathe, dress and go to prayers before sitting down for a morning of lessons.

Afternoon

The mediaeval/renaissance princess would spend the afternoon with more enjoyable pursuits. She would do charity works, embroider, read and walk with her ladies.

The 18th Century Princess would spend their afternoons doing something entertaining. They would play cards, gossip, sew, walk in the gardens and visit other female relatives.

The 19th century princess would likely spend the afternoon having tea, playing lawn games, riding, going for carriage rides and other artistic pursuits. Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise was an avid sculptor and loved her work even if nobody else approved.

Nights and Evenings

Though we think the nights of a princess were filled with magick they would be also very quiet. Older princesses would be allowed to attend court gatherings, entertainments and balls where young princesses, under fourteen or so, would likely be sent to bed early. A princess at Versailles would be subjected to an evening with a public dinner before thousands, games of cards, gossip and dancing that could last well past midnight. A 19th century princess would have a more refined night. A quiet night would entail an ever of piano playing, reading, salons and tea parties. If there was a ball, she would attend it and go to bed when told to.