How can you design characters that visually match a specific art style?

2 Study your references

Once you have defined your art style, you need to study your references, or the sources of inspiration and guidance that help you shape your characters. References can be anything from other artworks, photographs, movies, books, or real people. You should look for references that match or complement your art style, and analyze how they use shapes, colors, proportions, details, and expressions to create their characters. You can also use references to avoid common mistakes or clichés in character design.

4 Refine your characters

After sketching your characters, you need to refine your characters, or the process of improving and finalizing your characters. Refining involves adding more details, colors, textures, and effects to your characters, and making sure they are consistent and coherent with your art style. You can use various tools and techniques to refine your characters, such as brushes, layers, filters, or adjustments. You should also check for any errors or inconsistencies in your characters, and fix them accordingly.

5 Test your characters

The final step is to test your characters, or the process of evaluating and validating your characters. Testing allows you to see how your characters perform and interact in different situations and environments, and how they fit the overall vision and purpose of your project. You can use various tools and techniques to test your characters, such as mockups, animations, scenarios, or feedback. You should also review your characters and make any changes or improvements if needed.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?