Assignment 1: Testing your level

(orignal image)

Hello and welcome to Arctic Bunny schoolism, an extended branch of Arctic Bunny Animations.

Recently I signed up to a character design course run by the renowned and amazingly talented Steven Silver. I wanted to better my skills in this area so thought who better to learn from the master. On this this blog I will be posting up my work for assignments and experimental pieces that accompany it. Each post will have personal comments of my assessment, as well as Silver's critiques.

Ok so lets begin with Assignment 1. This assignment was a general character design brief. I had to come up with a character concept for a fictional character named 'Walter Chipworth.'

Description :
NAME: walter chipwitther
WHO: wealthy entrepreneur
AGE: in his 60's WHERE: London, 2011 PERSONALITY: jolly, full of laughter, enthusiastic man happy to be alive and well.
CLOTHING: Wears a bow tie, smoking jacket and monocle
LOOK: Heavy set, around 5'6

(picture coming soon)

Me: I thought I did pretty well as I managed to capture a merry, aging gentleman who clearly has cash. I think I have gone too 'American' on this, using Jack Donaghy from 30 rock as a reference. I think I should have pushed the characteristics of him being British and played on some stereotypes. I had him perched on the seat rather than sitting in it, which doesn't communicate his heavy set form.

Silver:

The pose can add a lot to the personality of a character; pull out elements like the martini glass, so it breathes more. Think about FORM. For example, buttons wrapping around his body etc. By having him sitting in the chair more makes him appear more grounded and confident. It aslo brings gravity into it, which affects parts like his trousers. Keep your drawings loose, so that you can play and adjust the construction and thus avoid the ladder affect and making your character look like he's about to lose balance.