Creating Appealing Characters! "Drawing a ___!"

[@Dawn_is_a_nerd]

I just realized that I don’t need a normal art teacher, I need an art teacher that *specifically* talks about cats

[@Timmynoona]

Same lol-

[@Mc_Gaming_Genshin]

I also need that and he does it perfectly

[@galixypawerpack]

Bro same

[@Ad_der]

same lol

[@StickersTheFox]

Exactly

[@Its.me.ur.pookie]

I wish Tennelle was my high school art teacher

[@Watchwatch1]

Yes I agree lol

[@lemitak3867]

One day ago, but it was posted 5 hours ago…. Are you from…the future? 😮

[@zocritter]

@Snappy Storm yeah, I’m surprised they aren’t

[@jamborei]

I had an art teacher who’d always remind everyone that ‘art has no rules, only consequences’ everything you do has an impact, all the ‘rules’ are just there to help you take advantage of those things well, but if you have an idea, you can use those things however you want. You just have to be aware of the consequences of your choices I always liked that- you can be free but here are some guidelines so you can play and make the most out of your art

[@7catsinatrenchcoat789]

Ah, that's such a perfect, concise way to put it, i love it

[@harperthegreat]

Oh my goodness, thank you for making this video! Myself and so many others needed this. I need you to be my high school art teacher.

[@eileahsims8092]

This is great! I have been trying to design an innocent dragon character with child-like personality qualities. I had been drawing her eyes like I always draw dragon eyes, angular, and she looked too harsh. But after watching this, I made her eyes more rounded and she looks so much more like my vision. Thank you Tennelle!!!

[@milkhoney45]

Oh man,, I love this video. It is so ridiculously refreshing to finally have an answer that isnt just "practice." Not to say that practice isnt important, but videos that help point out which tools and techniques to research, try out, and examine are very helpful for beginners. I adore how simple, easy to digest and open to experimentation your explanations are. I've been watching your channel for years, so much so that your style has influenced a portion of mine- seeing you, someone I look up to so dearly, cover the kinds of studies you've done and sharing what you've learned over the years in such a simple manner is beyond helpful and inspirational. Man, I need to get designing!

[@gibbdoodles]

Another great video! Character design has always been an interest of mine and you've done a fantastic job at explaining the basics. An additional observation I would like to make is how expressive the characters are. Do they make big gestures like Goofy, where even the smallest emotion is obvious? Or are their expressions more subtle and difficult to understand? Do they express with their hands and/or their body, or do they keep it to the eyes? I have found this really helps with character design and helping understand who they are.

[@PixylMawthz]

TENNELLE I'm just yelling because I was LITERALLY struggling with a design when I saw this video. This was a really good reminder of the basics for me, always love your tutorials and the way you teach!

[@emmasnyder6280]

this was soo helpful! i found myself using the same muzzle and just same body shape a LOT. and my friend even pointed it out, so watching/listening to this really helped! thanks so much for making this! your tips always help 😄

[@crimsnvines]

My first thought after you added the colors was panda.

[@torra9979]

My art teachers never taught me any of these concepts in this video. And I was doing art GCSEs. This is a great explanation-and gives me another perspective on character designing! Thank you!

[@handsomed0g428]

10:01 oml i just realised one of my ocs designs was unitentionally informed by his personality. Hes a very black and white thinker and hes a tuxedo tom/pos.

[@syckory]

Ready to see this. I've been really struggling with character design lately.

[@RoselinBooksOfficial]

Not me sobbing in gratitude! I always feel like my character designs are underwhelming. I hope that applying this advice can help me make designs that really pop!

[@cheyennepepper301]

Could you do a study on paws? How to draw them, how they should bend, react, the claws, the “thumb”? Also, I have a question! I like to draw closer to realistic anatomy, which cartoonish features. It makes it hard to truly make a lot physical differences in my character design. How would you suggest mixing the two?

[@dragoncatsketch8195]

I feel like I should be taking notes Sitting in the comfiest chair in my house twiddling my Apple Pencil with my artist fingers is the only class I want to be in.

[@Mc_Gaming_Genshin]

Lol that’s was I was doing

[@InuMokuba]

I appreciate this so much! Taking the time to teach your viewers valuable skills that they may not have gotten from their own art teachers. It even helps seasoned artists who need the refresher for one reason or another. Thank you for doing this and I hope you do more of these lesson videos in the future.

[@Romanticoutlaw]

this is so helpful omg. I knew about all of these concepts just.. in concept, but I've always struggled to apply them. These examples are a huge help

[@BumbleTus]

Very very helpful stuff! Thanks for taking the time and making this for us Tennelle :D and love that first design? simple and very cute. friend shaped

[@ratboy2]

This is the first of your tutorials I’ve watched, and I really love it. You’re good at making the concept easy to understand, and your advice seems good. I’ll definitely be trying out that activity suggestion later and watching more of your videos ❤ The character you designed is super cute

[@BeeBopple]

This video is so helpful!! I'm currently redesigning a bunch of characters for a comic and now I have so many more ideas for how to make their designs appealing! Thanks so much for this :D

[@tysumibi]

i needed this so much

[@Spidermonkey43]

Kinkajou is a her :) (and yes she is a bean)

[@eugeneveresk3756]

Thanks for the video! Watching your speedpaints is always so inspiring to me, I almost always go to draw after watching them.

[@quicksilveryt4000]

I think responding 'Well, yeah, but it'd suck If I drew it like this' isnt a good sign lmao

[@quicksilveryt4000]

Jesus past me needs to calm down- Anyways I'm cooking like hell now >:]

[@ZymRules404]

I use shape language all the time since it shows more of my character. Like when I take two main traits from my character I'll incorporate it into the design. Character is a mean character, then their main design portion is that they're pointy, but they have a soft side, then ( wether it'd be hair, skin, fur, eyes or whatever ) there will be a softer part of them. I also use colour for the more show part of their personality, if they are a villian then I'll use cold hues, if they're a better person then warm hues. Shape language isn't the only thing I use, I am learning different ways to write to give even more of an in-depth character. I tend to get bored easily, so I always make or do something new.

[@infinitepossibilities2862]

Thank you so much for making this video, I'm making character designs for my story right now, so this is super helpful!

[@SpiritWing07]

wow this is amazing! tysm for the tips tennelle! this will help so much! ♡

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

Thanks for the insight, Tennelle! As an aspiring cartoonist who's currently working on a comic, this is definitely something I will find useful. :)

[@Ivybug61]

Cat anatomy and shape language was a real struggle for me, and omg it still is, but I think I'm getting better. I've started studying realism so that I can turn it into my more cartoony style, but it makes me so mad when some says "iS tHaT a dOg??" I think I just have to find out what makes a cat a cat, not just trying to stylize.

[@alexkitty149]

Both you and another yter I like have made a character design tutorial! AND I AM GOING ON A RAMPAGE DESIGNING CHARACTERS! Whoa. The universe has been kind

[@itsflappletime]

Currently working on a bunch of designs for a project so this is helpful!

[@Brainxjjuicey]

OH MY GOD THANK YOU MY CHARACTER FINALLY LOOKS GOOD :D

[@AnimatingOwl]

This helped me so much and I thought I was getting better at Drawing but things like this is what I need to know I need to watch videos like this more! Watch the same videos until my brain remembers the tips

[@lnactive92]

i just woke up what a wonderful surprise! edit: Also, can you do a lip sync tutorial (or something like that)? I've been having a lot of trouble

[@erinwoolbright816]

No matter what I try, I always either making tabby pelts too detailed or not detailed enough, or you just can't tell that it is tabby it's so frustrating.

[@ratzart4736]

Another great example of using shapes and creating distinct characters is actually the classes from TF2 They’re honestly just great characters in general lol

[@arapaimacelosia2480]

Love the episode, was just wondering on this the other day, I did want to ask though. How are these concepts applicable to more uniform sets of characters, like the clouded moon cast or in some sort of comic, where each character has a definitive shape but nothing is so outlandish as to break the suspension of disbelief?

[@TennelleFlowers]

Hm, well, I think you answered your own question there a bit. A lot of times in those situations the differences are still there, but are just more subtle. You can also go a really long way with body language and how the characters holds themselves. Take, for example, the difference between how Wolfthorn and Swiftmask hold themselves.

[@arapaimacelosia2480]

Thankyou, that is quite helpful. It would probably make a good study too

[@arapaimacelosia2480]

Oh, and as for the pronunciation of my name because I do feel quite badly, it is the fish Arapaima and the flower Celosia

[@Chordata-flyer]

Silver's design makes me think he'd be a part of that Biker Club that escorts and protects children that are victims of SA and Domestic Abuse. He screams father figure that absolutely loves to beat the fuck out of the parents of bullies. He'd let a little girl paint his nails and in the same breath break someone's nose and complain their blood messed up his nails. I love him.

[@PumkinPeter]

MY GOD YOU ARE GODSENT- IVE LOVED YOUR CONTENT FOR SO LONG

[@randomdoodlesstudios9215]

Yess tysm for making this video!Ive been trying to figure out how to make a good character design,this really helps!

[@Bee8467]

I love character design so much, i am still have a lot to work on tho, so i very excited to watch this!!

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

16:27 Come to think of it, you're basically describing Cruella De Vil's design, and I can definitely see some Cruella influence in Yzma.

[@birdbeep1s947]

this came to me at the perfect time!!! thank you so much for this video

[@ferretsplash6872]

OMG A DRAWING A BLANK YAY

[@DrFuranimationStudio]

Yeahh ! I love those type of video, I was looking forward for the next !

[@TrashgarbageXxx]

Thankyou, you're awesome

[@popsicle935]

✨i am round ✨💥i am pointy💥

[@Ueglqbroqvrj]

Question: how could you make a design for a white cat more interesting?

[@lemitak3867]

Kinkajou! Kinkajou!!! Kinkajouuuuu!

[@tigerpeltofwindclan8431]

Thank You!! I'll Watch This Later, This Will Be So Helpful! *Edit: I Was Right, Still Have The Same Face Problem, But I Don't Mind That.. I Rely On Pelt To Tell My OC's Apart And I Like It That Way! Srry It Took So Long For Me To Edit It, But I'm More Pleased With My Designs I've Made Since Originally Watching The Video! So I Guess It Helped.*

[@StickersTheFox]

I really need you as my art teacher😅 Edit:Whoops i said tart teacher-😂

[@sb6388]

YES FINALY!!

[@flatpigeon9349]

thank you for this video very helpful

[@Patch_soda]

Maybe as a topic you can change anything about a warrior cats

[@dr00g35]

Broooo your voice is so deep now, from one transmasc 2 another.

[@lynxietheroaha5240]

lil baby man so cute lil kitten go brr

[@emilymonahan5232]

i appreciate the yzma representation 💪

[@TheBestPplAreHere]

How did I learn in a free KZbin video then I did in a $200 art class

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

"Maybe they're all white!" LOL, it sounds weird hearing that from Tennelle.

[@A-R-e5g]

What do you use to draw?

[@sofiaharustiakova4288]

you helped my so much! may i ask in what program you did this? and what graphic tablet you use?

[@FullOfBlissTheYeep]

Please tell me what brush you you! I have clipstudio and I really can’t find a good brush. Also do you have pen pressure?

[@purrpletoast]

bruh I watched Treasure Planet last weekend and I almost cried

[@Catsmakemeselfconscious]

How dare he be able to draw a cat. When I can’t

[@SeptSapphire277]

7:33 ...Bob and Larry??

[@TennelleFlowers]

;)

[@velociraptor1551]

TY!!!!

[@Icepiq72]

Whoa I got surprised when I clicked this video and your voice was two octaves lower /pos

[@-touya_todoroki]

So, this probably won't get anywhere, but what about if you lost your touch in drawing suddenly, like you used to be able to do all kinds of things but have progressed backwards suddenly, and it's not art-block your quality of art just suddenly dropped, and now you begin reverting to what you started out as for me it was drawing from images and bases and I grew my art out of that to my own images and refs, but now... I can't do anything without an image or base...?

[@TennelleFlowers]

A lot of artists go through this! It’s perfectly normal. I’ve seen it most commonly explained as the phase in your art where you can see the flaws in your work and you feel like you’re in a funk, then you find something new/try something different/ect that helps you “level up” your art skills! It can be frustrating while you’re in it, but keep persevering and you’ll likely come out happier with your art on the other side!

[@-touya_todoroki]

@@TennelleFlowers first of all HOLY Shiii I was not expecting a response at all... Normally when I post something in comments basically no one sees it... Contenuing on from my surprised Pikachu face lol, I will definitely try that... Maybe I should re-try drawing an animal with feathers... Damn the feathers >:|, feathers are hard to do, but yeah tysm for replying I can't express how surprised and happy I am to receive help from you on this, I seriously admire your work! Its so easy to follow and to understand and when it comes to you video's and how you explain things I seriously admire that

[@Sa-wn3qj]

I love your videos but they make me a little sad because I won't be able to draw cat bodies no matter how art tutorials I watch 😿

[@planet_gamez3427]

which program do you use for drawing

[@StormyIsGone]

Do I HAVE to use the golden ratio??? I don't think I'll ever remember it, I already have a hard time remembering how to draw wolves (and they used to be the only things I drew)

[@bored-and-stuff]

It's probably best to use, but as they said in the video You don't need to, these aren't rules, and not using these won't necessarily mean your art or designs won't work. Don't stress about it to much

[@malizzeispolka]

Where you drawing this?

[@SchizoAndPhrenic]

What drawing soft ware do you use? please respond i want to know

[@Ueglqbroqvrj]

he uses both paint tool sai and clip studio paint

[@SchizoAndPhrenic]

@@Ueglqbroqvrj thank you

[@SchizoAndPhrenic]

@@Ueglqbroqvrj btw there pronouns are he/they

[@Ueglqbroqvrj]

@@SchizoAndPhrenic I forget things :/

[@SchizoAndPhrenic]

@@Ueglqbroqvrj all good 👍

[@-aureum-]

This looks like a very user friendly but customizable art program, is this Krita? Does anyone happen to know? 💛

[@TennelleFlowers]

I always put the art programs I use at the end of the video! 👍

[@-aureum-]

@@TennelleFlowers Thank you sorry about that!

[@mealsome5079]

Hi, Tennelle. I have been subscibing forever but i have an issue with my drawing. It's really bad at the moment but i really like your style. Could you please make more of these kind of vids the are so inspiring

[@moonheartdebates7681]

All of these are amazing tips and though I typically don't go for realism in my designs it's still nice to know these things in case I ever want to incorporate at least a little bit of realism into any one of my character designs. Though I'm not an animator even us verbal storytellers can create characters. I'm not the best at drawing but I am amazing at creating characters off the top of my head both design-wise and personality wise, it's just something I'm personally good at and I'm sure some of you guys are also good at it too. if we could work together I'm sure a lot of us could create some amazing characters and story lines, maybe if some of us like myself work on our KZbin channels together to create some unique stories and you know make some new friends because though I love the stuff and I love creating characters and stories, I am very lonely at the moment and I'd love to get to know some of you guys a little better and, maybe work with you like I said t wouldl be great experience for us all to learn about each other, about ourselves and to extend our storytelling and character creating promise.

[@Dragon_Fox]

oh that sounds nice sadly I'm not that good at character making :/ but, I hope you find friends :)

[@moonheartdebates7681]

@@Dragon_Fox I'd like if, you could be my friend? I'd really appreciate it.

[@Dragon_Fox]

@@moonheartdebates7681 maybe but would we talk?

[@moonheartdebates7681]

@@Dragon_Fox I don't mind talking to you, if you don't mind talking to me?

[@Dragon_Fox]

@@moonheartdebates7681 How would we talk? Is what I meant to say sorry

[@Lovejoyisthebest]

13:22

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

9:08 "If there's no variety in shapes and sizes, there's no contrast!" Well, now we know why guys who say they like "big butts" will take a slender woman with an average-sized butt over an obese woman with a *huge* butt.

[@I_live_in_a_sewer]

Dude I’m so bad at character design so I really appreciate this