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Character Development "Challenge" by Zaezar

Image Post: https://www.weasyl.com/submission/1418605/character-challenge-in-the-new-year
As you may have seen in my comic about this, I am going to be fixing a problem. Let me explain this a little bit better before I continue...
I once saw someone I follow on Twitter mini-ranting about someone who were annoyed that no one understood their characters' personality. "Everyone thinks they are just breasts on a stick and that's it!" was the general tone this person was giving out. The person I follow saw this and basically went "Yeah, because that's all you draw. Show us who they are and we will understand it. We aren't you." That got me thinking. What does everyone know about my main cast of characters? The ones I have had for years and years and have drawn a hundred times? As I went through my gallery... Not much. In fact, I would often draw the "lesser known" facts about them more than their main personalities. It can be said that the extreme and emotional times are the ones that should get drawn more. But when its literally everything I show? Suddenly the character who is afraid of falling in love is a total bitch. The one that is the most well-rounded being is comparable to a 2D cutout in a comic. The smart girl that just wants to live a happy life is just scared and sad all the time.

What has become of these characters I have spent most of my energy on these last few years?

I want to fix this, if only a little bit. So I am taking it upon myself to work on my main characters for a week straight each. Only drawing them doing the things that would explain who they are and what they do outside of the "lesser known" moments. And as the comic said, I would love it if people would join me even if only a little. I'm sure we all have a character that may need a little love. So lets start off the new year with a "challenge" to improve our characters. Its not going to be a challenge to win or lose. There will only be a rough guideline to the rules. The intent is for you to develop the character, not to follow some arbitrary list.

Character Development Week "Challenge" Rules:
1. Only draw one character for the week straight. Lets maximize the time you spend on them, huh? We are doing this for them.
2. Never draw the same thing twice. This counts everything you did BEFORE this week. Show us new stuff, that's the point.

That's it. No list of stuff to follow, no extended rules, no set amount of drawing, no styles to emulate, and no "win" condition. I merely ask that you replace the artwork that you would normally do in your free time with just one of your characters and that you don't repeat anything. Give us new stuff that is old to you.

Cannot come up with anything specific? Feel like you explain the character properly already? Fine then, I will give some examples.

  • What clothing do you draw the character in (if any)? Is it the same general outfit? Throw them into their super casual gear. Workout gear. Formal, work, school, home, and or swimming. I have drawn some of my characters in just different colored tee's for years. I plan on fixing that.
  • Show their morning/night routine. Heck, show an average day in their life.
  • Introduce the character. Open up an "ask me!" post and reply to the questions with a drawing or a sketch. The people following you would be able to fill in the gaps you may have forgotten to show so far :)
  • Make a character study. What is that? Its a page where you break down the character. Draw their body is various poses, have close ups of their complicated details and unique features, throw some expressions in there, and or have clothing examples. Its kind of like a supplemental reference sheet. Example 1 Example 2

Its a complicated idea, but the rules are simple. I will be posting a journal later on about how I personally will be tackling my characters. I hope you have a wonderful day today, whenever you read this :)

Character Development "Challenge"

Zaezar

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