mix accuracy with exaggeration

Once you’ve grasped the basics of anatomy, you can bring the fun into your character art by emphasising certain body elements to suit the story you’re telling, says Loopydave

1 S imple shapes

This character piece features simple shapes that are still grounded in actual anatomy with room for exaggeration and yes, some deliberate inaccuracies for the sake of style – in this case, in the front shoulder.

2 H ead-to-height ratio

I’m aware of the more traditional seven- to eight-head height character ideal, but I like the effect I achieve with a six-head height. Maybe I figured that if his arms are the size of his head, he was plenty heroic already!

3 Asymmetry adds visual interest

I really enjoy playing around with facial ratios and I like to avoid too much symmetry in my characters’ features or expressions. I was once asked if my preference for uneven eye sizes was a drug thing and I had to assure them it was not… although I do know that I was dropped on my head as a kid, which probably explains a lot!