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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Step 3 - Character Development

We are getting deep into the #PBDummy challenge at Kidlitart, just finishing the third step, two weeks of working on our characters. It has been a fun experience, but a real challenge for me. I have had an advantage in that I have been thinking of these characters for a few years, and some of the characters are based on people I know - it's their experience the story is based on. So the mom and the aunt were relatively easy....although the aunt is perhaps looking a little too chic with those sunglasses - in the story she has been described as being 'wild and whimsical'.

My main challenges are - drawing the character so they look like themselves sketch after sketch, and drawing in a consistent style - I bounce back and forth between drawing realistic characters and more cartoony characters.  Although our character development phase is over I am going to have to revisit a few of these characters for that reason. The little boy and the mice seem more cartoony than the mom and the aunt - which probably won't match up very well. For now, I'll leave them as they are.

If you have any feedback on how I can improve these characters, please leave your feedback in the comments.

On to step four - storyboarding!
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4 comments:

  1. Helga Pearson2/28/2012 10:57 PM

    Lisa! Fabulous! Well done for keeping on top of everything. I think I can help with the too chic aunt - It's the hairstyle, make her hair a bit more flappy or frizzy and it will add a little whimsy!Right now she looks like Victoria Beckham with a pixie-cut :D LOVE your sketches though, look at YOU, all professional-like it's really taking shape. Very proud of your girl, keep going!

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  2. Amy Blake2/29/2012 7:33 PM

    I think these are great! The aunt does look like Victoria Beckham, like Helga said. I like her look but I think Helga had a good idea about the hair if you wanted to change something. I think the mice are very cute and fit even if they look a little more cartoony. I enjoy looking at your drawings and you should be proud of yourself for doing a great job!

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  3. Lisa Thompson2/29/2012 10:22 PM

    Helga and Amy, thanks for your feedback! I totally see what you mean about the Victoria Beckham look. It's funny, last year I did a character sketch for the aunt that did have crazy long frizzy hair. I should post that one just for fun to see what you think of it.

    And glad to hear that you don't think the mice look to cartoony. Perhaps I won't worry so much about their look then and get focused on storyboarding.

    Lisa

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    Replies
    1. Lisa Thompson2/29/2012 10:26 PM

      Truth be told, I am the aunt in the story. I was trying to capture my hair - but I am no Victoria Beckham, of course I don't usually wear fashionable scarves and aviator sunglasses...sadly mostly yoga pants and running gear. :)

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