[Porfile picture description: Self portrait by OP. Bug is a girlboy with pale skin and messy yellow hair. He has blue dot eyebrows and a clown nose, and big round glasses. She wears a yellow hoodie, a t-shirt with a rainbow design, and his earrings are rubber ducks. She makes a peace sign to the viewer, smiling with her tongue out. End I.D. Banner description: Drawing of an open field with a rainbow, colorful flowers and a house, from the children's show Hello Kitty's Paradise. End I.D]
Overview of some topics when it comes to drawing characters who are burn survivors.
DISCLAIMER. Please keep in mind that this is an introductory overview for drawing some burn scars and has a lot of generalizations in it, so not every “X is Z” statement will be true for Actual People. I'm calling this introductory because I hope to get people to actually do their own research before drawing disabled & visibly different characters, rather than just making stuff up. Think of it as a starting point and take it with a grain of salt (especially if you have a very different art style from mine).
Talking about research and learning... don't make your burn survivor characters evil. Burn survivors are normal people and don't deserve to be constantly portrayed in such a way.
Consider supporting me on ko-fi if you find this to be helpful.
Edit: How are people seeing this post where I specifically talk about burn survivors being normal, real people, and still tag this as "TW body horror"? Not a single one of these drawings or pictures is a fresh injury. All of them are healed. How the hell would you feel if someone tagged a photo of you as "trigger warning: gore"?
Disabled people are not your fucking body horror. Grow up.
ID: Digital portrait of Phoenix Wright as depicted in the Trials and Tribulations flashbacks. He swallows with a bitter expression; his head is pushed back and his eyes are obscured by a shadow. He bleeds from the corner of his mouth. Dahlia's necklace floats over his throat, shattered and bleeding. There's lyrics on the side, warped decoratively, which read: But I never been afraid of no one breaking my heart. It's not like I'm 'bout to fall and cut my throat on the shards. End ID
you're allowed to draw. draw badly even. draw and then delete it. draw and rework it and then delete it anyway. draw only half of it and the other half three years later. in one style or another. in different styles in the same week. traditional or digital. you're literally allowed to draw however you want
ID: Digital drawing of Trucy Wright from Ace Attorney. She is shown from her shoulders up, smiling cheekily. She holds a spread of playing cards, the bloody ace hidden between them. The lighting is dark and mysterious. End ID
ID: Digital portrait of Phoenix Wright as depicted in the Trials and Tribulations flashbacks. He swallows with a bitter expression; his head is pushed back and his eyes are obscured by a shadow. He bleeds from the corner of his mouth. Dahlia's necklace floats over his throat, shattered and bleeding. There's lyrics on the side, warped decoratively, which read: But I never been afraid of no one breaking my heart. It's not like I'm 'bout to fall and cut my throat on the shards. End ID
Shoutouts to characters that don't know the facade isn't their real self. Shoutouts to characters who put up a front so long ago that they have now forgotten it's all an act. Shoutouts to characters who no longer know who they are because they think they're being sincere. Shoutouts to performers so good they fool even themselves. Shoutouts to characters who fall for their own lies.
throws confetti in ur face and runs away with ur wallet 🐰 🪄 ♥️
[ID: Digital illustration of Trucy Wright from Ace Attorney, drawn with a puffy skirt and freckles. She is throwing star-shaped confetti from her hat, which she's holding at her side. She is balancing on a big rubber ball with one foot, and similar balls are thrown around in the background. A banner over her head reads "Trucy Wright." End ID]
ID: Digital illustration of Kris and Noelle from Deltarune. Noelle, with her eyes closed, holds up her hands in prayer. The thorn ring is equipped, dripping bright red blood down her hand. Kris stands on her side, whispering something to her. With their left hand, they cover their mouth in secrecy; with their right, they hold the SOUL behind Noelle. They grip it very tight, as it bleeds and shines. Kris stares at the viewer, clearly terrified but trying to conceal it. End ID