Top 5 Tips for Character Design

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Revealing another original character in my upcoming book NIMA! I've been drawing characters all my life and I gather my most essential tips when creating characters. Hope you guys enjoy her!! I love her so much lol 😭
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Edited by / _jhinxx

[@RossDraws]

My patreon’s NIMAVERSE update is live!! Can’t wait to help you guys build your own worlds! Also giving free Nimaverse pins for my patrons! Next week is Top 5 tips on LANDSCAPES! Hang tiiiiiight!! ٩(◕‿◕)۶ 🌸 patreon.com/rossdraws

[@_reko_387]

(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞ ^_^

[@llrainll]

I’m currently working on a project ~ following after your steps~! I have two characters illustrated. I started with portraits first. ; u;! I’m learning a lot from you ! I wish I could send you my work, someday to review, even in its unfinished-state 💪 ! I love your new character!

[@Glあss]

what tier(s) will the world building class be avalibe for? (im really looking forward to it and i want to make sure that im not signing up for the wrong tier)

[@nicoleblack5268]

Hello Ross !!!

[@fallenangel5603]

What program do you use to draw?

[@keyarrah130]

"i feel like a lot of us artists don't have a good posture" i feel attacked

[@shizunnanase543]

Why Did you mentioned it 😭

[@TNinja0]

I have tried to fix my posture for a year now, and it usually don't last long, and I just revert back to the crooked mode. It kind of hurts after sitting straight for a while. Not quite sure if it's just part of the routine.

[@miina4725]

I didn’t like your comment just to leave it at 666😂

[@Prinzherbert]

I'm either completely on the chair with my legs between my arm and holding my body against them, or with a leg on the chair and another one on top of my desk.

[@copperflare3817]

Lol same

[@catswing250]

1:06 tip 1: Story 2:14 tip 2: Shapes 3:43 tip 3: Flow 4:48 tip 4: "3" 5:56 tip 5: Become your character

[@briteknight4188]

I have achieved heaven... look at the number of likes

[@aaronsteventon705]

You are a legend

[@potato5052]

My school asking for a quote in the year book me: Every day is a color dodge day Them: Whut?

[@haketyu7891]

Loool

[@hsmacaraig]

Loool

[@yzizajume921]

hey, I'm from planet jume 🤗 humans are saying my movie is magical and full of art inspiration 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpnVh4Ggd7ifidU

[@TrinityJules-l9l]

lol

[@LILCJ1204]

My biggest issue is coming up with an outfit for my character, I try to use references as much as possible but I still struggle with it a lot, idk if there’s a specific way to learn

[@yousmelbad2345]

Oh, usually what I do is take inspiration from non- clothing items. For example, a queen character may be based off of a particularly glamourous handbag. A theif may be based off of a weird looking tree you saw that one time. The possibilities are endless with so much stuff in the world. I sincerely hopes this helps you out!💖

[@chariotmoon]

Yous Melbad oh, good advice! i’ll be trying this out.

[@Sara_b024]

@@yousmelbad2345 OMG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS TYYYY!!

[@awebtoonreader4979]

My biggest problem with outfit design is like, options are literally endless there's so many cool stuff how do you know and choose

[@nova_soda27]

@@awebtoonreader4979frr

[@mimipeahes5848]

I think maybe instead of "Become your character" it should be "Be passionate about your character". I feel that if people tie their sense of self too closely to their characters it makes it harder for them to notice any flaws or receive criticism. If you *are* your character any critiques your character receives feel like attacks against you as a person.

[@mimipeahes5848]

Okuyasu Higashikata I understand those things yes, I just feel like “become your character” is advice that can easily be misinterpreted by beginners who this video is aimed at.

[@BologneyT]

Becoming your character is different from being passionate about them, though. Passion and understanding aren't the same thing. Trying to walk in someone else's shoes is a great way to get understanding and learn empathy for IRL people. You make a good point, though. People who can't take criticism, though, need to either learn to take it or simply stop inviting it.

[@luna-xn4gr]

i'm pretty sure you should become the character. i love acting out my character, thinking from time to time "i wonder what my character would do if this happened to them?" i write down those notes and revisit them a day later with a fresh eye and mind. This helps me have a deep understanding of them as well as an objective view. plus, you will need to take criticism for both your art and you if you want to improve anyhow.

[@awebtoonreader4979]

It's weird I have 3 main ocs and I'm extremely attached to one of them and they genuinely feel like a real person that I'm friends with, and I love my other characters so hopefully over time it'll be the same with them

[@WyrdFayth]

Then you have creators like me. I recently copied my own character's haircut (despite him being very masculine and me not being a guy) literally just because (a) it seemed manageable, and (b) he's my favorite OC at the moment and it sounded kind of fun to get an idea how it feels to have that hairstyle to get even more into his head. At the same time, I am so afraid that when I finally start making content to share of the story he's part of, people will not criticize him _enough_ lmao. I adore him but he is deeply flawed and needs to be called out on his shit sometimes. My opposite fear is that some people will see him as irredeemable, but I deeply hope I can manage to convey that he is not and will never be a particularly Good Person but is still capable of learning to treat other people decently regardless. 😌

[@rawsueshii]

One day I hope to collab with Ross when my skills improve that would be so awesome! Love your art! 😭🙌🏽✨

[@sShinso]

Christina Lorre' your art is already good also u just got a new subscriber

[@paskky913]

@@sShinso It's good but it's certainly not on par with this guy's.

[@bbi2.052]

Omg ilysm i hope your hopes comes true!

[@cabra0693]

I didn't know you until now, where have you been all my life?

[@KF22TV]

@@paskky913 art is subjective.

[@a.r.633]

Lyris reminded me of Esdeath from Akame Ga Kill "She's like,, elegant and beautiful- but she's deadly." lmao

[@arindommazumdar371]

Whoa you're right! I never thought

[@1ksubscriberchallengewitho818]

I cried when tatsumi died, and when everyone like bulot died from night raid

[@evanrivet5532]

@@1ksubscriberchallengewitho818 Don't worry. Tatsumi's alive in the manga.

[@Nana-lf9hr]

peachii artist don’t like hearing that their OCs looks like another character...

[@alyannagonzaga7062]

Yeezzz

[@Lynsian]

0:47 HE USED THE MATING TURTLE NOISE I CANT BREATHEHWJWJ

[@purplex360]

I can't unhear that-

[@bigwijdsljla]

_how do you know what a mating turtle sounds like_ O_o

[@Lynsian]

Puffy Penguin let’s just say I went into the deep depths of KZbin a long time ago

[@neutral3570]

BAHAHAHAH

[@jeremiah3355]

@@bigwijdsljla kzbin.info/www/bejne/ena8aphmdrd4o6M

[@spacefalls8260]

Time Stamps (for me) 1. Story 1:06 2. Shapes 2:13 3. Flow 3:42 4. “3’s” 4:46 5. Become Your Character 5:54

[@fennex2706]

I love how Ross constantly seems surprised by the things he creates, its so wholesome

[@skayrrmangastudio4634]

Does anyone have any other tips you use for drawing your own characters? I'm thinking about making my channel a sort of art class where there aren't any teachers, just us classmates trying to help each other become better artists.

[@xipeichen3906]

Don't make it to detail

[@skayrrmangastudio4634]

@@xipeichen3906 ah yeah, that is a good piece of advice especially if you are just starting to draw or you don't know where you are going with the character.

[@robertpowell9982]

Use reality to generate fantasy.

[@longdong7667]

Make multiple "bases" for the character you want to draw, that way you can test out different hair, clothes/costumes, colors, etc. and see which one looks the best.

[@longdong7667]

What kind of class mates? Like the audience or actual members of the channel? You don't have to answer if you don't want to.

[@morithedoll7537]

alternate title: guy fangirls over his characters while teaching us how to improve our own characters

[@daisucce3110]

"I feel like a lot of us artists don't have a good posture" **cries in scoliosis**

[@fwMMVII]

Same.

[@metra8604]

F

[@mindofjowie2195]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5esdJyLjLmSbJI :)

[@BritsyElyse]

I'm honestly getting really emotional for what you are putting yourself into. It's a very beautiful thing that you follow your passions.

[@adannascartoonclub2499]

Hi

[@phoney2627]

Right now I'm trying to design a villain for a comic that I'm working on and he's literally just shapes. So when you told me to draw that character using basic shapes nothing changed. And I mean nothing. But I was going for a simple design so I guess that works.

[@pleasantvillearchive]

NGL, the other lady just looks like Lyris but with red colors.

[@yousmelbad2345]

T-T no

[@ethan4sias]

lmao nooo 😭

[@vanny2464]

Maybe like a counterpart!

[@NewPGMpro]

That's the problem because all of his female characters have the same face and body ^^' quite ironic when he talks about the importance of shape variety

[@c.j.5455]

He had same-face syndrome. All his characters have similar features. But it's still nice

[@p_stains]

becoming your character seems more like simping for your character

[@fr4ily0uth]

Ross, next time can you show us HOW you finish your art? The finished piece always looks so different than where you leave us. I really love your art and I would appreciate it if you took this into consideration

[@mysryuza]

I love that you mentioned “become your character” bit. I kinda interpreted the phrase as in “know your character, be in their shoes, understand what they are like, get to know them like a person” without your context lol

[@onjikun]

I would’ve loved it if the final illustration had Lyris in the same outfit as the concept art.

[@estimazz1862]

Him: So, I'm going to finish this... (7:18) Me: IT WASN'T FINISHED???!!!!

[@LuminousIris]

Thanks to tabletop RPG's I can really grasp how the character behaves, speaks and deal with different situations. Plan to illustrate them with the sessions I had in mind.

[@Starks95yt]

I love the energy you give off when you talk about your art, It's so inspiring and silly I can't help but smile :D

[@DamienZshadow]

I don't know if it was just your artwork, your insightful tips, or just your adorable use of voices in sound effects alongside your examples but I just had to subscribe by the end of this video and I also never do by only one video alone. I'm also crafting my own graphic novel and you had so many points that I truly believe in. I believe there's so much I can learn from your example and I am so in thrall to learn more about your world.

[@shivajoshi9068]

Ross what's ur "drawing process!"

[@samzheng5803]

Shiv A Joshi check out his patreon

[@neonmaulerr]

I recommend you checking out BaM Animation if you don't wanna spend some bucks over some drawing process about character designing lmao. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqjQaqefYsytgq8

[@GaryCandyPrince]

question or statement? why is there a random exclamation mark at the end??

[@yousmelbad2345]

Please be respectful, I don't really want to be 'that guy', but Ross puts time and effort into his videos, even if you don't appreciate it. Plus, this is about designing characters, not drawing them.

[@dinneyney4043]

@@yousmelbad2345 it is still considered drawing and designing tho

[@feralfeline2885]

She reminds me of Evangeline Samos from Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

[@marteberntsen3888]

Omg YES

[@miyu5680]

Y E S

[@jirinheizeru]

*yes*

[@moonshroom5632]

Did you read the red queen? I really wanted to and I was gonna go buy the book but all the reviews say it goes down hill, but I still really want to read it so can you give me your opinion on it please? Thank you

[@loyalravenclaw7191]

Yes

[@mr.flafls738]

Just wanted to say that I am really thankful to you for inspiraing me to continue drawing my art. I am just a beginner and l really really want to learn how to draw people and character's, but it's hard to keep drawing when I fill tired or down. So I'm really thankful for your helpful, positive and inspiring videos! ❤️ P.S. Sorry for my bad English

[@aeflare4704]

I love your tips and youre an amazing artist :) You missed an essential tip number 6, which is difference - i feel like making characters easily recognizable even when theyre together is just as important. personally i think that your characters, even though they are well developed, are too visually similar, but yeah theyre cute

[@jankespielt1259]

Bruh why is this dude so fucking funny without even trying. Also he literally says so much useful content in such a short time. Love this guy and congrats to your book buddy

[@kaizu8326]

"I'm in the shower and I'm playing with my characters...that's really weird" *LMAO*

[@tylerkrone8684]

All I'm good at is becoming my characters feel what they are supposed to feel. I really can't draw that great yet I'll be there someday

[@stupidheadwisp]

0:22 Me: oh hey that looks like a pretty cool character My brain: haha it looks liek zhongli

[@mauu5920]

i love watching the tablet wiggle right after he draws on it

[@fabih5236]

'Become your character' bold of you to assume I don't create my characters in order to project onto them

[@markging6745]

I’m so interested in his flame headed character

[@allyb1772]

this was so helpful!! i love creating characters and the fact that they're all part of our own self is so nice :'D i refer to them as my own children haha

[@herocuke]

Thank you for emphasizing the passion behind designing the character in your tip #5.

[@kuuroosimptetsuro2498]

All Artists in the world that sits and draws: **back ache**

[@metra8604]

and i wonder why my back hurts

[@anaarabear]

It's crazy how amazing and creative your mind is, I COULD NEVER

[@itsmeart]

I love rossdraws art so much 🥰💖

[@encara1]

Thanks you Ross!!, You really poked my brain with a stick this time! That was great help, and content! 👍

[@LACHRYMA]

ross can i just say i -feel- know its gonna take me ages to get to ur level but i love how you talk to us as if were all the same. + i rlly love ur enthusiasm :]

[@pilhiltrebisko4571]

as a hs student who wants to go to art school and a newbie, I hate myself being impatient like I cant drawing 2 symmetrical eyes

[@Lalo-uu4dg]

Story of my life.

[@sudharma66]

Omg congrats on 1.1million subscribers! Hope you get 2 million soon! The video was AWESOME and really amazing! Your a good teacher!

[@shadowstone13]

"When I'm in the shower, I kinda playing with these characters." "That sounded weird." Pssh, you knew what you were saying :P Sidenote, I love your energy, you are just so peppy and enthusiastic ^_^

[@-lexdrawz-8262]

I has finally discovered my brand new top Artist! Yeyyyy thanks for the insperation!

[@Paul-t9x5d]

I also have a character based on dragons. He wears a black cloak with a cuff, no hood and he has red highlights on it as well as red hair and eyes and dark skin. When angered to a certain point Black stripes appear under his eyes and he sprouts black horns, and the shadows he controls start acting more aggressive and volatile in their movements and shapes.

[@sozistarlighthiwa4838]

1:36 'THROW THEM INTO A PARTY' I don't know why but thats the definition of Pinkie Pie to me

[@ah_here_we_go_again5310]

Okay that party trick is genius!

[@Joe-bob]

This advanced art because all of this just went right over my head

[@thecatdragon589]

i have an extremely vivid imagination and almost all my characters were made as a blank canvas with an idea, and i made thier design as i build the story around them. i almost always do it in the pov of said character, giving them personality, fighting styles and detailed backstories that i really ashpouldnt be spending the whole day on

[@troubledknits]

Since I believe in like “magic” and unknown theories, I believe that all of our characters could be real, just on a different planet

[@CKTenju]

feels like you have covered the basic and I can start now

[@sunshinedesigns9303]

Thank you sooo much for this video. I literally tried these tips out immediately after the video. Actually, I ain't even finished the video cuz I got so excited. It works. I now have a character in a matter of mins. That is crazy.

[@klkl4025]

Hope someday he'll be the animator in the one of the famous animation movies.

[@cassiehoalaia9179]

Thanks^^ I struggle with original designs. This helped me a lot.

[@thespudbud2351]

I have so many characters I want to design, but while my mind knows what's up, I cant' translate it onto paper >~

[@snopsnopsnop]

I literally feel like everytime I draw :/ I have so many ideas in my mind and I cant decide what to draw, and if I choose one, my arms just physically stop working

[@amirashyalim]

Thank you so much for these tips!! You have inspired me a lot! I too have recently created my own universe with so far 12 characters but I only drawn 7 of them. Gotta get to work now!!

[@Touphnya]

I feel like 5 could be relabled "Emotion" You still have to become your character when you are capturing emotion.

[@blackhood7200]

You're a great inspiration Ross. Your art is amazing. Keep up the good work. :)

[@potat0chips630]

your videos make me happy. Thank you, Ross.

[@ericagtuca1579]

Ross: “she’s elegant, beautiful but deadly” Me: “she’s thicc”

[@shazoodlesyt6934]

AMEN BROTHER

[@kanashiusagi21]

All this time I've been using some of your tips when creating my character without me knowing it XD. Thanks Ross for the tips and the explanation. I'll be sure to use all of it to make my future character

[@arthurkauan1463]

Queria tanto que o canal tivesse legendas em português/Br, sou Brasileiro e amo muito seus vídeos.

[@anthonyworstell3768]

Thank you for sharing these useful tips! Imma try them out on my characters!

[@victoremisho9432]

Story is everything!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@williamalyabacar7489]

Ross u are the best guy cause U have the perfect videos to watch while eating and drawing! - Awesome Work. EDIT: Become ur Character( Me afraid cause I made her suffer so much).

[@angelosumugat6653]

This is great! Lyris could empose as like a threat to Nima. This helped me alot and i improved step by step. I enjoyed your masterclass considering it's Free and it Works!!

[@4hix_]

Sou brasileira e admiro muito seus desenhos em geral És uma grande inspiração para muitas pessoas Mesmo que seja quase impossível ver este comentário Apenas deixo aqui minha admiração ^u^)

[@Glanzfellchen]

Thank you, Ross ! I am super excited for your creation and I already love it. Actually, the energy and love for your art and creation you show in this video, make me wanna do more and with more heart myself and inspire me a lot - thaaank you. !

[@megaomario]

Become your character, that's definitely a tip I find myself doing sorta unconsciously, like when I'm watching a series or an anime I sometimes start thinking in my mind. "How/what would said character do in this scenario or encounter? How would they handle it? I guess in a way I'm mentally role playing...I also have a habit of making my characters in RPGs so that helps as well!

[@ninatoawesome8740]

I watch and rewatch your videos so much it's insane

[@carodame9419]

yeah but are we going to talk about how these girls look all like the same person in a new dress and wig

[@AA-pv6mi]

No because it’s not true?

[@aeme3675]

Not really

[@NewPGMpro]

Yes omg, finally someone notices it

[@wolfsydproductions9082]

Dude, your energy is making me so happy! :D

[@SakiyaAlexYT]

Your art is so beautiful! I enjoy looking at your characters and everything. honestly, I could listen to you talk about your stories all day long! Also your presence and presentation is so entertaining and well done. I subbed! :D

[@le3044]

MAN your drawings are so good! I love your pretty characters

[@Karomix3]

Me who's never gonna be an artist because I don't have the passion nor the talent for it: I'm just here to drool over the artstyle of the characters, nothing more.i just saw this in my recommendations, liked the art style, decided to watch it, and now I'm subscribing to this channel purely to watch the characters style.

[@patanpotan]

please makes a video about how to choose the right color for clothing and folds 😭😭

[@juanbautyoficial]

3:00 > my drawings 😂

[@bee2729]

he's so friendly omg

[@burg_ah]

This is super useful! i feel inspired to draw now

[@november717]

Nicole lol ikr!!

[@asssaa9010]

Can't wait for lore videos that people will make of your universe.

[@alexandrazapatamultimedia]

Thank you Ross for your great advice! I love that break down these concepts in a way that's simple to understand ❤😄

[@gardenrose5661]

She's a stunning queen omg :D

[@zachlouismahinay7354]

This video reminds me how untalented I am

[@pokemongirl5674]

I should actually get onto the traits part, as I knew I was missing something and have been creating characters for a little over a decade now...

[@Arkhivez]

Your video inspired me to work on my character designs.

[@soepsoep6445]

i rlly like this video!! you're super likeable n this whole video is rlly informative and also entertaining

[@RiceballRamen]

絵だけじゃなく、解説からも元気になるwパワー溢れていてとても素敵！(● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾観ていると、どんどん絵を描くことが好きになるエネルギーが溢れてきます。

[@nanassusu2664]

I love you now! Thank you for bringing this content to us!

[@nikkiej.5875]

Congrats for hitting a million subscribers. 🥰

[@zhv3062]

Yours Breakdowns look like my final product. man. I need to practice more. I draw Patrick exactly like that and end.

[@tapendrashahi2097]

Lyris: She is long, powerful and sharp and intimidating. Faye:*Zooms in on the thighs* She is thicc ("That's what I was hoping for him to say.")

[@badaboop2035]

i got really frustrated with my work and so this is helpful thank you

[@kitcatnat8752]

DUUUUUDE IM FREAKING OUT. I MADE A DRAGON CHARACTER A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND I NAMED HER QUEEN ASRIS! AND SHES A DRAGGGOOOON!

[@ishigami5071]

Being a new guy is sooooo confusing😵😵😵

[@michaelwest4594]

I couldnt resist, I had to buy that Lyris print XD

[@itsatentaquil3152]

Had to keep jumping back and forth from both yours and BaM animation's videos but I think I understand it now.

[@tawrie]

as soon as he said " i feel like a lot of us artists dont have a good posture" i immediately sat up straight asdkhaw