Generic WIP blah
Had quite a few people asking me whether I draw clean from the off and whether I actually design the outfits I draw or just reference it all.
First off, I don’t think the finished line is even that clean! But no; I am a horribly messy, scribbly artist and everything looks like a pile of spaghetti while I’m working. Secondly, I loooove designing outfits, so of course I do the whole thing. I do use reference, always- it’s important in any piece of art and you learn how things work- but usually it’s only for structure ideas and getting information on how the materials react, the poses and patterns I do from scratch. The exceptions are specific outfits (like the Royal Guard uniform) but even then I usually cheat them to fit my style.
As an example here’s some scribbled notes for the DJ outfit for Mod’s dubstep post that prove how needlessly finicky I get with these things; you don’t even see Mod’s legs, but I planned out the shoes and trousers all the same, even how the belt and waistline sit. In animation you have to think about everything, even the stuff you don’t see, because you never know what the character is going to be doing and it all affects what’s on top of it anyway.
If you end up with a character turning in a way that shows their waistline, and you don’t know what it looks like, you have to go running about to ask someone to design it for you so it’s continuous for the next person who animates the same character. Same with socks, sleeves and cuffs, earrings… it’s endless. How a person dresses also says a lot about the character too, so it’s all there for a purpose.
Plus, it’s hella fun to do. :D