#eitherangel

I use the iPad pro + Procreate + the Dizzy Tara brushes (oval sketch, almost always) or the inking shale brush (and various other basics from the app). 

Ahh I always feel bad answering questions like this because I always sound so wishy washy, haha! I honestly don’t know what my process was with character design, but I will try and pare down some of my history with it? I don’t think I’m that far along, but I’m flattered that you see me as someone with something to offer on the subject haha. I’m still learning! 

I have always enjoyed drawing people and drawing them from life. As a kid, I loved looking through concept art for animated movies as well as paintings and doll designs. I was always fascinated with the human form and when I was constantly told that people are the hardest to draw, I felt encouraged to study them even more! In addition to this, I am neurodivergent–and I struggled to fit into social groups. Sitting back and observing people was a coping mechanism for me–and sketching provided an outlet for nervous energy. 

A few years ago, I started pursuing more formal Character Design as a possible career option. I began to be more critical about the way I drew and I started to frequent blogs like Character Design and listen to podcasts like the Chris Oatley Artcast, Paper Wings, and started to study Art Of books (I own the Tangled, Ratatouille, Princess and The Frog, Monsters Inc, ones). I was put on the character design team in a group project for a story mentorship class (via Oatley Academy) and that really helped me get a sense of the process of asking questions and looking for reference, seeing what’s been done before, what works, what doesn’t, critiques, etc. 

Now, I still observe people (kind of stalkerish haha) and I love finding ways of seeing their “character design” manifested in them. I love asking questions like: Why does that one guy always wear the same shirt? What does a moody teenager actually dress like? What are the current fashion trends? What silhouettes are in style and what do they communicate about the person/society ideals? What makes that body type really unique? How does she carry weight differently than her sister? How does light interact with the color of his skin, vs. their skin? Go into your local grocery store and spin and point–make the person in nearest range your new protagonist! My local Walmart is a wealth of character design (and consequently more diverse than Hollywood ajsdfh). 

When given a character to design, I like to ask a lot of similar questions about them and their story. Who are they, what do they do, do they have bad posture, what’s their story theme, etc…Asking questions is the best start, imho. You start seeing the character as a soul instead of leaping to visual (and usually trope-y conclusions).

Hello! I usually draw them out of my mind and only use reference if I need help making the pose work/anatomy. I also will use a mirror to study hand poses or facial anatomy of my own dumb face. Although sometimes it can be really difficult to find the right reference so I often will try and break down the structural anatomy of my pose idea to see if I can help it be a little more accurate. Not a perfect set up, but I’m still working on finding that reference groove. I didn’t use to use reference at all for poses (I didn’t really understand how they worked) so I am still learning!

I tend to see things in film-form in my head (like the characters acting out a sequence, etc) and that also helps with pose ideas. The problem is that comics only allow you to show one or two “frames” out of a sequence of “film” in your head. I try and pick the poses or placement (and angles etc) that best captures the line or the scene that I’m working with. That’s why I love a more storyboard format of comics, as it meshes with how my brain sees the story a little bit better. 

Haha…oh gosh. Well, I am currently working freelance while in school, so I’d like to pursue that path post-graduation–and probably seeking representation with a company. I have been doing some illustrations, production/character design, and comic work and I’d also love to keep up my etsy and Patreon and continue work on Fantomestein. If I could get to a stable income via Patreon and etsy, that would be awesome!

So most of what’s posted here is based on now defunct RP blogs.  But you want Wilbur Whateley Goes Shopping part 1 then 2, then Whateley Family Fluff.  Keziah Mason meets The Whateley’s can kinda be slotted in anywhere.  

And the two Highschool AU fic’s are part of a highs chool AU and that’s all the context your really need.  

I do occasionally still do things with The Whateley Gang, but I’m usually posting them on my personal writing blog since they aren’t related to the RPblogs anymore.  

I might post things on AO3 At some point, but I’m honestly super nervous to do so.