This is my third blog post about character design. This topic will build upon my previous two topics on character design, appeal and line quality. Proportion is one of the more technical aspects of character design and I thoroughly enjoy breaking characters down and figuring out how each feature in their design relates to one another….
Author: Steven Walker
Steven Walker has been working in the artistic field for over 15 years, specializing in character designs. For 11 years, Steven taught drawing classes at the Walt Disney Company in both DisneyQuest and Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme parks. At Disney, he apprenticed under the Disney Design Group, the artists responsible for creating much of the merchandise around the parks and eventually began to train other artists to draw in the Disney style.
Currently, Steven is working as an Digital Art Director at an industry-leading design company near Tampa Florida, where he helps create themed environments for children.
Steven has worked on two animated feature films and several short film projects as well, and also with many different teams of quality artists.
Steven is an alumnus of Ringling College of Art and Design, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a specialty in Computer Animation.
Character Design: Line Quality
Beware the “hairy line”!
One of the biggest challenges I sometimes face with my artwork is what I call the “hairy line”. This is a line that usually looks very scratchy with “hairs,” coming off of it due to layer upon layer built up, and often committing to the lines too early in the drawing or being unsure of their placement.
Rock the House Music Video featuring Classic Schmitty’s Toons! shorts
I recently stumbled on a song in my archives that my friend Shael Riley wrote a little over 10 years ago featuring all of my classic Schmitty’s Toons! characters! The song was titled “Rock the House”, which was the first song featured on his first official album titled Toybox. I even helped create the CD cover! I…