So my friend requested that I share how I draw heads—and of course I'm happy to oblige! I didn't know which of my characters to use an an example so I just used the ones that are freshest in my memory.
This isn't a tutorial in the strict sense. It's more me showing my process, since I assume all of you can already draw if it's something you're into. Not sure if this is done often. I guess exposing how to draw your characters is kind of like a magician revealing his tricks. But nobody will ever draw them exactly like I draw them, so I'm not worried.
Their designs are just two years of continual trial and error. I keep shifting the lines around to see which proportions work best. I've discarded literally piles and piles of drawings where they're drawn with different proportions and features. Theodore, for example, has especially come a long way from [link].
Anyways, the key is simplicity. I stick to easy proportions, like 1/2's and 1/3's.
Aaaaand I guess that's it! Ask me any questions if you got any.
If you happen to draw any of my characters using this chart as practice, link me! I'd love to see and I'll post a link to your drawings in this here comment box!
If you'd like to know learn more about my character design process, feel free to visit the following links: Designing Theodore: [link] Smart Character Design Tutorial: [link]
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I'll keep this in my Tips & Tutorials folder, but I'll be moving this to my Scraps soon. So you know where to find it.
Haha! Please don't apologise! Questions are always welcome!
I did it with a pencil in REAL LIFE!! Then I scanned it in and recoloured the lines in Photoshop. I rarely draw in Photoshop.
Though any grainy kind of brush should do the trick if you're going digital. Just set the Brush Size and Opacity Jitter to Pen Pressure and it should come out looking close to a pencil line. Try looking for brushes that have jagged edges or are spotty, like skin texture brushes. I bet those would do the trick.
I'm only speculating, of course. Hope this helps!! Lemme know how it turns out.
I always found six heads tall such an awkward set of proportions to work with, but they really suit your characters well! But is suppose that is a more Disney-esque set or proportions! I went with the more graphic novel/Marvel 8 heads!
Oh my gosh!! Yeah, you're right, 6 heads is suuuper awkward! There are no absolute measurement places where like the belly button or crotch or knees go! But I've gotten so used to it, and I've tried it every other which way. 6 just looks the best on my characters.
But I'm used to it now anyways. The itty bitty extra bit of stress is worth it to have my characters' faces BEEEG on a full body shot. I think that's what the Disney people had in mind, to capitalise on facial animation. Whatever, it works for me!
Just curious...did you do this in Photoshop?? What brushes do you use to make it look so "pencil-like"?
I did it with a pencil in REAL LIFE!!
Though any grainy kind of brush should do the trick if you're going digital. Just set the Brush Size and Opacity Jitter to Pen Pressure and it should come out looking close to a pencil line. Try looking for brushes that have jagged edges or are spotty, like skin texture brushes. I bet those would do the trick.
I'm only speculating, of course.
But I'm used to it now anyways.