When I originally started to plan what my character would look like and how their body would be shaped, I experimented with different shapes to build the base anatomy.
Originally, I tried to create this character with circular shapes, including more curves and a slightly fuller figure. However I immediately knew that this didn’t fit the personality of my character at all and instead gave a slightly less intimidating and softer character almost more matronly in a way. The first sketch was the one on the left. I originally imagined Estry with longer fuller hair as I thought that it would be interesting to use to create more dynamic poses – but eventually I decided against it as I didn’t think it worked with her personality well enough. To me this character below seems more mischievous and loud instead of Estry who I imagine to be more quiet, uptight and intimidating to others.
I knew from the beginning that my character should be made up of more sharp triangular shapes as this matches her more sharp and intimidating personality. So I started to experiment with more drawings and came to a few sketches that I really liked.
I liked this design much better than the other, and decided that this would be the perfect anatomy type for her. I would say that her body type is made up of squares and triangles, indicating her strength but also her intelligence and power.
Her outfit consists of a blazer, a cropped corset top underneath and some black straight leg trousers. These clothes help to accentuate the sharper more angular edges of her body. I decided to give her long zig-zag shaped horns like that of an Antelope. I thought that these horns would look powerful and intimidating but not overtly threatening.
Overall, I think experimenting with shapes was a very helpful way of figuring out how to portray my characters personality into her design and I am very happy with how her design turned out.
References:
Meyer, Michael, 2019 Brow(n) Deer Photo. [Photograph] Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/tXxMqc5M4PE From home page/search: antelope. [Accessed 22 December 2021]