#greyrambls

1. Asymmetry/Symmetry

One thing I like to go for in character design (that I abuse often) is a nice balance between asymmetry/symmetry, usually a character design being completely symmetrical if not for one or two factors.

It could be as subtle as a halo tilting to one side to as loud and large as a completely different colored/sized sleeve.

A lot of my character designs can pretty much be summed up into asymmetry (Bowli with the different colors, Bow with the heart in her eye, some of my forsaken designs with hair/clothing/etc on different sides) and can actually be combined with symmetry as well.

A prime example of the balance between asymmetry/symmetry I really enjoy seeing is @phobiaexists (sorry for the tag!!) who has like. just phenomenal character designs. They take the concepts they come up with/are given and just go fucking ham. Go check them out, they're seriously awesome and I love the whole vibe of their art SO, SO MUCH.

Their Jane Doe design is something I especially adore, specifically their Jane Doe oc SUNK.. that entire design (since it's technically soso creature) really emphasizes the symmetry of the whole thing, and it really helps the non symmetrical parts of the design pop out, especially the eye... it draws so much focus to the girlypop's eye it's not even funny it's fucking ingenious

2. One/two motifs

Another one of my character designs that I like to use is the usage of motifs! Where you take an object/representation and just go ham trying to put it in every aspect of a character's design ever.

Again with Bowli, I wanted to go for a playful kind of look, so I stuck with the common interpretation of Noli's jester theme.

With 8bit, I've actually been trying to incorporate butterflies into her look! Her horns are kinda shaped like butterfly wings, with how all ends flare out and curl back in.

@theraeveerie (SORRY FOR TAG) is actually a prime example of this (imo) that I absolutely absolutely enjoy seeing AUGH

They take one or two motifs from a character and make those the standing out points of their designs, like the "CK" on their recent 007n7 design and the masks on Noli's design aughughuha I just adore it soso much!!!! It's pretty cool since on their 007n7 design, you can see how the "CK" necklace matches up with the other most prominent features of the design (the red/black arms) and it like. it's just such a dominant part of the character's identity that you can't help but have your eyes be drawn to it first. It really tells a whole story and I genuinely love it soso much...

3. Opposites Attract

Now this one's mostly effective when there's two or more characters being designed as a group, but I absolutely love using this tip so much.

Do two characters have a relationship with each other? Their designs actually tell a lot about their story! Give them completely differing aesthetics but give them matching accessories, or give them similar aesthetics but switch up the color palettes to become opposites of each other. It all comes down to color and aesthetics in the end, I think. That plays a huge part in it.

Matching clothes/aesthetic? That's probably how close they work together/how close they are!

Honestly the entire expression of the clothes really bring out the entire character's personality too. Simple and less accessorized usually means that character has a "doesn't care attitude" on their own, but pair it with a second character who's the complete opposite really amplifies both of their personalities.

If you wanna study that kinda stuff, I'd recommend @just-a-joey (SORRY TAG)

Not only is their Ichance stuff to DIE for, but the way they characterize everyone else (+ their ocs! which I had SO MUCH fun looking through) such a testament to their own skills, but also the characters' personalities! The facial expressions they draw really helps a lot, but all in all the outfits are what sells it. Plus, they draw a lot of outfit variants too! It's such a good way to show more insight into a character's growth/sense of self, since how differing/similar aesthetics are can also say a lot on a character's home life. I genuinely just love joey's stuff, and I always look forward to more.

Yeah! these are. three tips? I like using from time to time? I dunno I hope I explained this well enough I just wanted to ramble lmao

Magic is hidden, and there is a branch of government that makes sure it stays hidden. There are people around you who possess magic that you do not know of. There are people who aren't even human, walking among you, and you don't even know it.

Those scientific theories you learned in school were inaccurate, and you'd have found out sooner if you had known magic existed.

Magic is an energy. And you're living it. Breathing it. Cycling it through your body as we speak.

You are magic.

And you don't even know it.

How sad, hm?

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Resources for this thang

The book on Ao3

Notion wiki link

Playlist

Character masterlist

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Tag list:

#Watcher's Gaze - General tag for the book

#Greyrambls - unprompted rambling

#wgart - art for wg

#wgasks - asks related to wg

#wgmagicsystem - stuff relating to the magic system

#wgworldbuilding - stuff relating to the worldbuilding

#wgcharacters - the characters

#wgother - other miscellaneous stuff