Figures in Action Part II: Character Design

 Art above by John Buscema

John Buscema demonstrates how an artist can take a simple "stick figure" like gesture drawing and bring it to a finished character illustration.

Character Designer Sean Galloway:

 How are these designs telling us specific things about the personalities of the characters? How does the artist tell us what these characters might act like? What things they might do everyday? What they are interested in?

Remember: Gesture and details such as clothing and props, as well as backgrounds, can tell us a lot about a character.

Gesture

Details

Props

Background

Gesture Drawing: Figures in Action

All kinds of artists use gesture to tell us something about the subjects they are drawing or painting.

                                                     Gestures can be relaxed and graceful:

Art by Vincent Van Gogh

Art by Edgar Degas

Gestures can be action packed:

Art by JC Leyendecker

Art by Joe Madureira

Animators use gesture drawing skills to show us how characters are feeling:

Art by Disney Animator Ollie Johnston

Art by Disney Animator Glen Keane

http://vimeo.com/6663946

Art!

Art!

Art!

Animation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BG3GlQYmsg&feature=related

Art!