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Questions regarding Character Concept creation (Patreon)

Published:
2020-07-22 18:22:38
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Hey!

So, I wanted to leave this up here before I jump into recording the next bit of my character concept process so that I could have some talking points to address throughout the videos. If you have any specific questions regarding creating character concepts, please leave them below, and if you think someone else's question is something you'd like to hear more in depth please leave a like on their post so I know to dive into it more. 

Hopefully this will be more helpful than my stream of consciousness that I normally do!

Thanks!

Dave

Comments

Faolan Grady

When creating a character, at what point might you start developing a backstory for them?

Spenser Williams

First-- thanks for the videos. I just started watching, but they've already been incredibly helpful, and it's nice to have them going in the background while I work. Q: How specific are your ideas for a character before you start? You mentioned oceanic creatures being one starting point for some of your sci-fi character designs, but do you get any(or much) more specific in planning a character before you start sketching? Or do you keep it really loose and let your shapes dictate thematic elements? Looking forward to the next Starveil characters, I'm so glad to see you starting back on it, I've been craving more for a while!

Jason

You tend to just sketch and scribble to find your ideas initially, versus an approach to explore ideas through simple thumbnail silhouettes first. Ever tried that method, or have an opinion on it? Useful? Limited?

Chancellor!

How much time do you spend pre-planning/figuring out char concepts? I tend to spend what feels like a lot of time doing so (8-10 hrs on some characters) and Im curious as to what that phase might look like at a professional level.

Louis Whitworth

Hey Dave, just wondering what is the biggest difference in the concept art world now compared to when you first started working? Obviously nothing has been the same since Mr. Concept Art, but is “what the industry wants” something that changes frequently? Thanks!

Conon Kudo

Thanks Dave! This is super helpful! Q: How would you go about creating a character with that "cool" factor for a more grounded world like Last of Us or even for relatively simpler characters like Ryu and Ken (fighters in a gi uniform) without relying too much on style?

Deendrew

Any tips on choosing colors for character designs?

Figmenter

Hi Dave, thank you so much for doing all the q&a and videos. Question: Do you tackle function first before form? Or vice versa? Or both at the same time? Or is it case to case?

Jeremy de la Garza

Hey Dave, thanks for doing these videos, they are really helpful. How much reference do you use when designing characters? Thanks

Jimmy Kucaj

Love the patreon , and appreciate the work you’ve been putting into it. Q: When do you find it important to put a turnaround in your designs? Is this something studios/companies ask for in particular? Or do you choose to add it if there’s something important on the back of the character? As in Spider-Man’s back spider logo? Thanks in advance

Nicholas P

I'd love to ask you to elaborate a bit more on how you use the stuff you loved as a kid for design inspiration. I remember a lot that I liked, but when I go to do a design now, all that stuff seems to go out the window. Did you spend time doing studies of the stuff you loved, or deliberately practicing loosening up/getting weird with it? Thanks man, watching you work is super inspiring!

Echjar

I'm currently drawing poses to improve my stuff because everything I've done until now looks to have no substance/story and have just been expressionless girls staring off into nowhere, is there anything else that you've found that improves character art other than the poses, expression, clothing, background and composition? (those are currently the things that i am aware of and are working to improve upon) if you have some funny ridiculous out there tips I'd ask you to not hold back on saying those also :)

Yumm456

Hey Dave, thanks for doing this. I feel like I have a decent grasp on designing the big defining shapes on a character, but when I get into the details of the armor, for example, I have trouble creating interesting patterns/designs. Your old LoL piece of Garen comes to mind- he has big cartoony chunky armor, but the small little patterns you add make it feel super real. Wondering what your thought process on making that stuff look good is, when I try doin it, it looks like random scribbles. Thanks! edit- Also your Nocturne piece for LoL is an even better example, he has a strong shape design, but you've added so many swirly intricacies that really push it to another level.

AC

Hi Dave, Often I find the designs of my characters are repetitive and boring, even if I use interesting reference...can you advise how to make a character's Outfit/Armor, specifically, to be more interesting and appealing?

Pablo Ilich

Hey Dave! I'm new here, so I hope thiis isn't a question you've already answered. Do you have some advice about how to add movement and expression to the poses? I'm usually too concerned about anatomy and other stuff and everything ends up being too static.

Zack Thornhill

Hi Dave thanks for all your videos. Your ideas on practice really inspire me to keep working on my art. (Draw Loomis 20 times and then try to do it from imagination, for example). My question is: how many iterations will you go through on a character when designing? Have you done any jobs designing props/objects or environments?

Benas Bratkauskas

Hey, Dave, got any helpful tips on working with layers? I'm mainly interested in managing them because i always get lost between them, forget to create new ones so the stuff overlaps and similar. So was wondering if you have any insight