… but also look elsewhere
It’s also a good idea to look beyond character designs when hunting for inspiration. “I like birds’ mating rituals a lot,” laughs Rowan. The odd movements can spark unique character behavior.
“When I begin a project, I often start with the feeling I want to evoke,” he adds. The process begins with the designer taking videos of himself as a reference, trying to capture something of the character idea’s movement or posture.
Other inspirations include ceramics – an organic texture and muted color palette stop his work feeling too clinical – and folk costumes. See also: Drawing Inspiration by Tim McCourt
