Character Design and Consistency: Drawing Characters Repeatedly

As an artist, one of the most important skills to master is character design. Whether you're creating characters for a comic book, animation, or video game, it's essential to have a consistent and recognisable design. However, designing a character is just the first step. You also need to be able to draw them repeatedly without losing their unique features. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips for designing and drawing characters consistently.

Designing a Visual Story

Before we dive into character design, let's talk about the importance of creating a visual story. A visual story is a narrative that is told through images rather than words. It's a powerful tool that can be used to convey complex ideas and emotions. When designing characters for a visual story, it's important to consider how they fit into the overall narrative.

One way to ensure consistency in your character designs is to create a character bible. A character bible is a document that outlines all the details of each character, including their appearance, personality, and backstory. By creating a character bible, you can ensure that each character is consistent throughout the story.

When designing characters for a visual story, it's also important to consider their role in the story. Are they the protagonist or the antagonist? What motivates them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? By answering these questions, you can create characters that are not only consistent but also compelling.

Creating a Compelling Narrative

Once you have a solid understanding of your characters and their roles in the story, it's time to focus on creating a compelling narrative. A compelling narrative is one that engages the audience and keeps them invested in the story. It's important to consider the pacing of the story, as well as the emotional beats.

When designing characters for a compelling narrative, it's important to consider their arcs. An arc is the journey that a character goes through over the course of the story. By giving each character a clear arc, you can create a story that is not only engaging but also emotionally resonant.

Another way to create a compelling narrative is to use visual storytelling techniques. Visual storytelling is the art of conveying information through images rather than words. It's a powerful tool that can be used to create a sense of mood, atmosphere, and emotion.

Tips for Creating an Engaging Visual Story

Now that we've talked about the importance of designing a visual story and creating a compelling narrative, let's dive into some tips for creating an engaging visual story.

Tip #1: Start with a Strong Concept

The first step in creating an engaging visual story is to start with a strong concept. A concept is the basic idea behind your story. It's the foundation upon which you will build your characters and plot.

When developing a concept, it's important to consider what makes your story unique. What sets it apart from other stories in the same genre? What themes do you want to explore? By answering these questions, you can create a concept that is not only engaging but also memorable.

Tip #2: Use Colour to Convey Emotion

Colour is a powerful tool that can be used to convey emotion in your visual story. Different colours can evoke different emotions, so it's important to choose your colors carefully.

For example, warm colours like red, orange, and yellow can evoke feelings of warmth, passion, and energy. Cool colours like blue, green, and purple can evoke feelings of calmness, serenity, and sadness.

By using colour to convey emotion, you can create a visual story that is not only engaging but also emotionally resonant.

Tip #3: Focus on Body Language

Body language is another powerful tool that can be used to convey emotion in your visual story. The way a character stands, sits, and moves can all convey different emotions.

For example, a character who is slouching with their arms crossed may convey a sense of defensiveness or insecurity. A character who is standing tall with their arms open may convey a sense of confidence or openness.

By focusing on body language, you can create characters that are not only consistent but also emotionally engaging.

Tip #4: Practice Consistency

Finally, the most important tip for creating an engaging visual story is to practice consistency. Consistency is key when it comes to character design and drawing.

One way to ensure consistency is to use reference material. Reference material can include sketches, photos, or even real-life models. By using reference material, you can ensure that your characters are consistent throughout the story.

Another way to practice consistency is to create a style guide. A style guide is a document that outlines the specific details of your character designs, including their proportions, colour palette, and clothing.

Final Thoughts

Designing and drawing characters consistently is a crucial skill for any artist. By focusing on creating a visual story, creating a compelling narrative, and using tips for creating an engaging visual story, you can ensure that your characters are not only consistent but also emotionally engaging.

If you're interested in learning more about character design and visual storytelling, I encourage you to check out "How To Design Your First Visual Story" by Lily Stock. This workshop is a great resource for artists who want to take their character design skills to the next level.