Tag Archives: character design

Create Characters by looking at real life animals and insects

Be inspired by real life to create truly original characters.

A beetle crossed my path on a walk the other day. I filmed it and took photos. When I enlarged the photos, there were elements of its design that inspired me to sketch out some ideas.

A triangle theme emerged and I developed that further, each time trying to simplify the character to make it easier to draw again and again.

Consistency is the secret to drawing characters – you have to recognise them in each frame of animation or page of book. So, simplicity and definite character identifiers are really important.

It’s difficult dreaming up new ideas from your head. Go out and look at what nature has already designed and work with those shapes and ideas.

Have fun and good luck! If you have drawing or illustration questions you would like Shoo to answer – put them in the comments box below through the contact page.

Subscribe to this channel on YouTube for lots more drawing videos from award-winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner ?? http://bit.ly/Sub2Shoo

How to create new characters – Meet Penni and Benni

Lots of watercolour painting in this video as I introduce the characters and concept of my new project – Penni and Benni.

This has been a long time coming and I’m going to use my new characters, Penni and Benni, to explain lots of things about character design and illustration.

It started with a book idea, but the characters have changed and developed and grown with me over the years and I have now decided to get them launched.

Starting with their Website – http://www.penniandbenni.com – and their instagram http://www.instagram.com/penniandbenni

In this video I show you how I draw and paint Penni and Benni whilst chatting and explaining some of what the project is all about.

There will be more about Penni and Benni in the coming weeks as I love towards launching them as a picture book kickstarter project.

Make sure you are subbed on the website here on YouTube and on instagram for updates.

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I’ve been made into a character!

I’ve been turned into a story character!

How can this be you ask?

I’m asking the same thing!

I had a text last night from Adam Frith who is a Creative writer from Manchester, starting a degree in animation in September 2017.

Adam has been writing something major and epic, that I can’t tell you about, but apparently I’ve inspired a character – The King’s Master of Art – apparently a minor character but a catalyst in the major part of the plot!

Sounds fascinating. I can’t wait to see how this progresses and what my alter ego gets up to!

I shall keep you informed. Meanwhile why not follow Adam on Twitter to keep up to date with what it’s all about?

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