CGTalk - Creating own reference (drawings) images for a character, any tips on the aproach?

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KawaTaki

12-31-2004, 12:23 PM

Hi,

I'm about to create a character, like a normal human being and I would like to know how I should draw the reference stuff? Like, from what I know right now its just to make a front view and side view drawing of him with exact scale on everything, like, place lines going through the heads top, bottom, eye brows, eyes, nose bottom, top, mouth, lips, arms, etc. on the whole body to get the thing in right size and stuff. But I wanna know how to draw it exactly, cause usually when I make start on the character I make the head. And for that I use reference images just for it. So should I make 2 sheets with references? Like one with only head in details and one with body or should it just be 2 drawings?

Also, how should he be posed? Like, with arms out, and legs spread and open mouth etc. how? Cause I am planning to rigg and animate him later on using Cinema 4D. With facial expressions and body movements.

Thanks in advanced :),
Kawa Taki

Psyk0

01-01-2005, 05:16 AM

Hello,

i'm not the most experienced artist when it comes to drawing, but based on my personal experience i can tell you that it's best to draw the head on a separate sheet. All character models i've made had separate reference for the head, easier to put in all the finer details.

As for the body layout, i prefer to rotate the arms at about 45 degrees (instead of the common 90 degrees) and the legs slightly rotated as well.

Of course other ways work too, but that method worked fine for me so far.

Here's an example of what i mean:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/psykopat/pics/kam/KAM01.jpg

greyface

01-01-2005, 05:52 AM

You should make several views of your character: front, side, back, perspective and a face closeup. Don't underestimate sketching, you'll get a better understanding of what you're up to. Make the character with arms stretched out, in a T shape and closed mouth and open eyes. But try to get some interesting poses for the perspective views if you make any.

KawaTaki

01-01-2005, 01:06 PM

Thanks, does anyone by any chance have made a character before who could perhaps show how they drew it?

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