Sorry for the slightly late submission! I started designing back in early december and had a ton of development and sketches for a totally different character, but my mac froze at the wrong time and I lost all the work, so I decided to start fresh...I think she turned out better than the first character anyway.
I gave her bright, candy pastel colours so she looks sweet enough to eat! Bluebirds and swallows seem like wintery birds to me, and polar bears, self-explanatory. I think she'd look great drawn super fluffy, and maybe she could get a new coat in different seasons! I left the naming up to you. Hope you like her! (:
Name of the person that my design is for: Tessamag
Your reasoning behind the design (optional): Pretty much stuck as much as possible to tessa's form, bearded vulture with fluff in a animal crossing ish style :)
Lynxes, Tigers, White tigers, Snow Leopards, other big cats
Accessories or clothes like goggles or scarves are fine as long as it suits the character and the theme! I would prefer an animal character over a human character.
You could get creative and mix animal features or markings, or make hybrids! I don’t like fully-anthro characters, but I do like the cute, cartoony Animal Crossing kind.
Preferred colour Pallette(s):
Here’s some I like: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/42195086/Palette%201.png
I’m not too fussy but typically I like darker/lighter toned down colours with one or two bright accents. You don’t’ have to stick to any one of the whole palettes, feel free to pick and match colours, or use the images below, or not use any of them if you want.
I wouldn’t say all of the following things match together, so be selective! It really depends on the kind of character you’re going for…but these are just a bunch of things I enjoy, and aren’t compulsory in your design (:
The thing I like most in a design is a standout unique trait, feature, or ability that makes them less like a realistic animal and gives them a story. Eg. A character with a part of them that lights up like a lantern to guide the lost, or another with an extra-long tail to help them steal presents. More examples, Paexie's catpanzees have extra skin around their necks that they can wear as hoods, and I have a species that produces a coloured powder that acts as a hallucinogen when inhaled.
I like well-placed fluff or silky fur, eg. neck ruff, butt fluff, a ridge of back-fur, fur that covers part of their face, etc..
Something stocky with big arms/ hands and sharp teeth on something monstery that can stand on two legs or all fours.
Or, something elegant and flowy with a thin body and long legs, as long as it’s visually balanced with thick fur in places.
Tiny hands and feet are cute. I also like adorable characters that look like you could just pick 'em up and hug 'em all day daww
Things you DO NOT want to see in your design:
An Overcrowded design, eg. Too many unbalanced colours, accessories or markings. If you're having trouble; less is more! Accessories aren't always necessary.
No sparkledogs or character design clichés please, like a regular fox or wolf with wings.
On a scale of 1-3 how much work do you think you will put into the design of the character for your trade?
Probably about 2 or 2.5. I tend to make a few pages of sketches exploring different features, shapes, anatomy and different colour options before I settle on a final design.
Anything else you think might help:
I like really different and unique characters the most, so try out some crazy different ideas. I adore fluff, fur or soft – looking parts in a character. Also, It doesn’t have to be cute or happy-looking, it can be creepy or crazy, too! Whatever suits the character most. I’m pretty happy with almost anything, so don’t stress (:
