Character Designs

[Dave]

My last post got me thinking a bit about the overall character designs; things I like, things I don't like, etc. So I'll take the time to comment on a few of the design points of each character, and I encourage anyone to comment as well.

I'll start with myself.

Dave: I'm never 100% happy with how I draw myself. I never think I get it right. This design was the combined effort of myself and Dan. I had a photo and a mirror to work off of, and then Dan would suggest minor changes here and there. The hair was all his idea and it actually is a good, although stylized, representation of my usual cut.

I recently started drawing myself with my favorite sweater as opposed to my old unbuttoned shirt look. I had to tweak the color a bit because, as Dan pointed out, it did have a passing resemblance to Tycho's (from penny-arcade.com trademarked look, but otherwise that's pretty representative. I may switch in and out here and there, but I think the sweater is here to stay.

I still don't know why we (dan and myself) decided not to whiten the whites of my eyes, it just works. Also, I did have to fight Dan a bit for my skin tone. As it turns out, when he was coloring the strips his monitor was a bit off, so he had no idea that the underlying color he was using for me was yellow and not red which leads better to brown skin tones (useless fact: orange leads better to fair skin tones). So yeah, I'm now a bit more brown.

Anyway, that just about covers it. Perhaps Dan might want to make a writer's version of character design, going into his thinking of how he's trying to represent the cast (hint, hint).

[Dave]

Mike is one of my favorite character designs as far as "essence of character" goes, but one of my least as far as visual style is concerned..

Out of all the characters, I think Mike's design captured his essence more than any of the others. I nailed Mike's trademark cocky grin which he flashes when he's making one of his comments, but his face is simplified enough where it can soften if and when he shows any signs of concern.

I'm not too sure if it was a smart choice was to go with one of Mike's older, duller dress stylse. Dan and I decided to go with his "UPS" era dress, where we would usually see him in plain brown pants, shirt, and hat to avoid damaging his good clothes when he went to work loading UPS trucks. Mike'd be the first one to be called if and when we ever decided to update his look.

Dan made a good job choosing Mike's skin tone. Mike's a rather fair skinned guy, and we had to keep him as such without actually going pure white. I still use Dan's original choice.

[James]

But you look yellow in real life
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Monkey of the technical type.

[Dave]

[Dan]

Design

Strip: I've been liking dave's lineless backgrounds, but not liking the switch from Allcaps to Standard in the wordbubbles.

Dave: Dave's design I'm not a fan of the sweater, I'll be honest, and it's just not the Tycho thing. And, no, Dave has never been able to draw himself, however I had become accustomed to the original version.

Arturo: I like Arturo's design, the only thing that i would change about it would be to make him a little more scruffy. It doesn't really feel like Arturo without the trademark 3-day beard, even if he may not have it any more.

Dan: I am no longer enamored with my design. I liked it when I used the real hawaiian shirt patterns, but without that it isn't really me. I generally don't wear collar shirts, and when I do they're always black. Actually, I wear a lot of black, however it was decided early in the design stages that that would be arturo's thing. A asked dave to redesign me wearing ringer tee's, but he doesn't know what they are. I'll have to send him a picture at some point.

Mike: Mike is good. If you know him, there's no question that it's mike. If you don't then it might be Randall from Clerks, which isn't exactly far off. I think mike would be the least likely to have his character redesigned.

James: James is solid, especially after we switched from the difficult to manage slick hair to the spikes.

Steve: I liked the original coloring I had done for Steve, with a Kenny-esqe orange hoodie, but he rebelled. I like it though, he looks kind of like Lupin III, and for that matter so does real Steve.

Helen: Always been a big fan of this Helen design, and I very much hope it never changes. She is however completely different from the sketch that spawned the idea of her.

Bianca: Bianca looks exactly like I had pictured her in my head.

Sarami: Sarami looks good to me, but I don't really know her very well. Perhaps she can weigh in on this matter.

Timmy and Kimmy: More professional looking than i had originally imagined but in no need of change

Leetbeard: I went with navy blue instead of black when i had originally colored that strip. I think it looked better that way.

[James]

I like the spiky hair on myself too
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Monkey of the technical type.

[jynexia]

I think James just likes himself in general. Which isn't nessecarily a bad thing. It's good to like yourself...in moderation. I think my design is wonderful. Thank you Dave. (note to those who may be to blonde to understand [not meant to be offensive]: I am not actually drawn anywhere...if fact Dave doesn't even know who I am.)
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~jynx~
I need to go to my Happy place, but I accidentally blew it up, so now I have to find a new one...

[James]

I just could not think of anything smart ass to say at the moment
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Monkey of the technical type.

[Zeke]

Damn man you could've picked a better color than that.
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Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't have enough money.

[Dave]

I'm working on it, Jeez :p

[Steve]

at least he got your beady lil eyes right

[James]

nothing wrong with zombie Joel
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Monkey of the technical type.

[Zeke]

I only have that color after drinking two beers dammit!
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Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't have enough money.

[Dave]

Actually, I'd have used a bright red for a Two-Beer-Joel.

[James]

but I think it only takes 1 beer to get him red
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Monkey of the technical type.