Expressive Anatomy Part 4 - CHARACTER DESIGN

On Monday and Tuesday, we examined how to narrate expression and emotion using the human body and not just the face. We also talked about PROPORTIONS; to be more specific, cartoon proportions vs. real human proportions. We talked about if Calvin from "Calvin and Hobbes" was real, his body would be the size of his head and he wouldn't be able to walk because the weight of his body could not support the weight of his head.

We also talked about how drawing is about SEEING - and not just drawing. Remember: your eyeballs are muscles, just like your biceps, your thighs, etc. etc. You can strengthen your eyeballs by looking and drawing the same way you can strengthen your biceps from doing push ups. The more you draw, the stronger your eyes become and the better the artist you are.

I want to post a few examples on the blog of fabulous SEEING. Wei Lian did a fantastic job with our expressive posture drawing and I'd like to share his work.

Here is an illustration of a student showcasing the emotion of being surprised and provoked. You can tell Wei Lian is really looking at the figure. Observe how he draws the figure's pants. The pants are NOT a straight line; he is looking at the folds in the fabric. He also observes contours in the figure's arms as they go to cover her mouth.



Here is another drawing Wei Lian did. He notices the figure's clothing once again. He draws the figure's collar in great detail. He also erases in the face and changes the lips from a circle to an oval. The drawing still have elements of an iconic cartoon, but overall Wei LIan is expanding. Great job!

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I'm going to backtrack a little to what we did last week. Here is a photograph I took of my studio's desk. Right now I am in the process of moving and I don't have a desk! It's driving me CRAZY!!! But notice that I take my expressive anatomy handout and lay it right next to the page I am working on. I use it as REFERENCE - I suggest you do the same. Also thank Jack Hamm - the original artist who put together the whole expressive anatomy drawings way back in the 1950ties.

EXPRESSIVE ANATOMY PART 4 - DEVELOPING A CHARACTER

As was stated by Stan Lee in "How to Draw the Marvel Way", "Comic Books (and Anime for our purposes) are the stories of people, period!" Now that we have studied the figure, expressive anatomy and the differences between iconic drawing and realistic drawing, let's apply this knowledge and start making up characters.

This is how the dictionary defines CHARACTER:

1.

the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

2.

one such feature or trait; characteristic.

3.

moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.

4.

qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully.

5.

reputation: a stain on one's character.

Your character is defined by your expressions, emotions, how your present yourself and general attitude. It is scary, but everything you do defines WHO YOU ARE! If you are always negative, people will see you as such. If you are generous, people will see you look kindly towards you. If you are manipulative, people will have a hard time trusting you.

In the west, major comic book publishers such as DC and Marvel create SOOOO many characters they have a hard time keeping them all in order. So, periodically, they'll come out with "Definitive Directories" of their made up universes of superheroes.

Here are some examples of "Listings" in these directories.

Here was have "Valda, the Iron Maiden", "Validus" and "Vandal Savage". All three are definitely characters. To their sides and below there is ...

PERSONAL DATA

Full Name:
Occupation (job):
Marital Status:
Known Realitives:
Base of Operations:
Height:
Weight:
Eye:
Hair:

And then a written History.

ASSIGNMENT

Make your OWN character and then make a character profile! include all the information that is in the DC directory. When you're done with your drawing, write a history. Make sure that the character's expression and body language reflects his/her personal data and history.

Apply the knowledge you have learned. Use ICONIC drawing and REALISTIC drawing. Good luck!