Character Design
Gerardo Escamilla
Class Preview
0:58
- In-depth Instruction; over 69 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Session 1: Introduction
1:06
Get a brief overview of everything that will be covered in this class.
Session 2: Materials and tools
1:09
Learn about all the materials, supplies, and tools needed for this class.
Session 3: Character’s context
3:53
Here we ask ourselves the questions surrounding the environment in which our character exists.
Session 4: Character’s Personality
3:52
What are the essential characteristics of our character's personality and how we can modify them?
Session 5: What makes my character unique?
1:49
In this lesson we make associations about the personality that we have discussed in the previous video, with elements that we observe in daily life such as mannerisms, gestures, and distinctive features, in order to end up with a completely original conceptual character.
Session 6: What is the line of action?
6:55
In this lesson we learn the importance of the line of action and its usefulness as the simplest element to represent the posture or expression of a character.
Session 7: Squash & Stretch
7:37
We use the line of action to represent extreme or simple but emotionally expressive postures through the principle of squash & stretch.
Session 8: Shape Design
15:42
Here we look at the principles of character design through shape driven design, playing with proportions, to create a visually appealing silhouette.
Session 9: Dimensionality
9:04
Here we take the basic shapes represented in the previous video and represent them three-dimensionally, to visualize the volumes of our character.
Session 10: Props
4:52
Here we add accessories to our character that visually help us understand its conceptual basis, without losing sight of the design principles of silhouette, shape, and dimensionality.
Session 11: Details
12:49
Here we add elements that will give our character a clearer sense of reality, volumes, textures and even lighting.
In this class Gerardo Escamilla takes you through the basics of character design from start to finish. You first learn to understand some of the basic principles behind your character, like the character’s personality, what kind of context surrounds your character, and what sets your character apart from others. From there, you will learn how to give your character movement by understanding and learning how to apply the line of action. Finally, you will learn how to add additional finishing details and props to your character.
Gerardo Escamilla
Gerardo Escamilla, also known as Dinos, is an illustrator, graphic designer, and art instructor from Yucatán, Mexico. With over 15 years of experience, he enjoys sharing his artistic expertise on expressions, turnarounds, gestures, and more to help fellow artists and illustrators advance their skills.
Bonus materials available after purchase