@Phil [Minor Project] 45: Water Character; Shoelace Tests & Favourite Design

In response to Phil's feedback on my previous post I have tested out shoelaces to more clearly connect Water's feet to trainers. At first I was torn between 94 and 98, however I realised that whilst 94 was more simple, this simplicity may lead to the X shape being confused as just being a pattern rather than representing the laces, which 98's laces present as much more clearly. As a result, 98 is my favourite thumbnail.

Favourite

Water character thumbnails 83-98

Shoelaces Influence Map

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[Minor Project] 44: Water Character; More Foot Thumbnails & Water 79-82

Feedback by Jackie on my previous Water foot designs indicated that the sole was a little too hoof-like, and that what the sole was supposed to be wasn't clear. Jackie showed me a sketch of Water's foot where the sole wasn't so obviously a separate part of the foot but rather part of the main shape; as if painted on to the foot rather than stuck on. Having a sole that is painted on would make the manufacturing of Water's feet easier when produced in the form of a merchandised toy.

Favourite

In response to Jackie's feedback I created more foot thumbnails. After selecting my favourite foot thumbnails (41, 52, 60 & 63) I tested them out with Water's body and hands, my favourite of which is 81. This will also act as Water's final non-orthographic front view.

Water foot thumbnails 41-65

Water character thumbnails 79-82

Why use a sole in the first place?
The point of the sole is to further connect Water to athleticism and energy by taking design inspiration from trainer shoes; this connection will be much clearer in Water's side view. Because of the wide usage of trainers by both sexes in reality, this may also help to suggest that Water is not a 'girly-girl'; at least via contrast to more clearly feminine footwear such as heels.

With all these extra design elements, how have you kept to your 4-colour rule?
I have kept to my rule of a maximum of 4 colours per character by using the same bluish-white for both the headband and sole. While in the design itself more than four colours/shades of blue have been used, in the case of the mouth and nose this is only for clarity. As a 3D model the only colours that will be used are: white for the eye-whites (sclera), black for the pupils & lashes, bluish-white for the headband & sole, and blue for the body's colour.

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@Phil [Minor Project] 43: Water Character; Foot Thumbnails & Water 75-78

Favourite

Water thumbnails 75-78

Water foot thumbnails 01-20

Water foot thumbnails 21-40

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@Phil [Minor Project] 42: Water Character; Hand Thumbnails & Water 70-74

I have decided to keep my favourite colour scheme presented in my previous Water post. Next up I will be designing Water's feet, meanwhile my favourite hand thumbnail is H14 and my favourite hands & body thumbnail is 74.

Favourite

Water character hand thumbnails H01-H18

Water character hand & body thumbnails (70-74)

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@Phil [Minor Project] 40: Water Character; Colour Tests 01-05

Because I was already dealing with blue during Oxygen's colour testing, I have decided to begin my Water colour testing by picking from some of his colour tests. As usual I will also do some colour picking using my Water character's Influence Map, but for now CL02 is my favourite.

Favourite Water colour test & Oxygen comparison (not to scale)

Oxygen's colour tests

Water's Influence Map

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@Phil [Minor Project] 37: Water Character; Thumbnails 15-54

The grayscale colour scheme is not representative of Water's final colour scheme, also her feet and hands have yet to be designed. If you would like to find out more about my Water character and view her Influence Map please click over to my previous post. My favourite thumbnails are 43, 49 and 47.

Favourites

Water character thumbnails 15-34

Water character thumbnails 35-54

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@Phil [Minor Project] 32: Oxygen Character; More Hand Testing

In response to Phil's feedback on my previous post I have experimented with Oxygen hands H19 and H20 in combination with his body. My primary favourite is 12 and secondary favourite is 15.

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[Minor Project] 31: Oxygen Character; Hand Designing & Testing

I began with the top view of Hydrogen's hand and developed Oxygen's from there, since both their bodies are built upon a sphere. I had previously encountered the problem of the claw-like appearance 3 fingers can have whilst designing Iron's hands, so I decided to give Oxygen four fingers because it may further help the audience empathise with him if his hands are more humanoid. 

After producing 20 variations I chose my top 6 - H04, H06, H08, H12, H13 and H17 - and tested these out in combination with Oxygen's body. For 07-09 I tested out my top 3 of these with smaller hands. I was torn between 05 and 08, thinking 05's hands might be too big; I decided upon 05 as my favourite, which uses H13 as the hands.

Favourite Oxygen design

Oxygen hand thumbnails H01-H20

Oxygen (with hands) thumbnails 01-09

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[Minor Project] 29: Oxygen Character; Chosen Colour

After receiving feedback from Jackie, Adam & Kayliegh I have switched to using CL08 for Oxygen's colour scheme. Turns out this isn't too similar to Iron's colour, as I had previously worried.

Back Row: Graphite (Carbon), Iron & Helium. Front Row: Oxygen & Hydrogen.

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[Minor Project] 28: Oxygen Character; Colour Tests 01-10

Taking Oxygen thumbnail 75 ahead, I have performed multiple colour tests. Feedback from Kayliegh indicated that her favourites are CL08 and CL02, meanwhile my favourites are CL09, CL03 and CL02. 
Next up is designing Oxygen's hands...

Favourites

Oxygen Colour Tests 01-10

Colour Influences with Swatches

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[Minor Project] 22: Iron Character; Front View w/ Correct Hands & Other Dev.

Figuring out the side view of Iron's hands was a pretty straightforward process. I then moved on to establishing where the hands finger joints / 'folds' would be via the Top View; the correct movement of Iron's thumbs will become more clear when viewed during skin-testing of the 3D model.

Iron Front View with Correct Hands

Hand Side View Development

Iron's hands may bend at the joints as if they were composed of flexible heat-softened annealed metal...

[source]

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[Minor Project] 21: Iron Character; Front View Colour Tests 01-04

At the moment I have taken my four favourite colours from my previous tests and applied them to Iron's front view. Iron's hands still require being redrawn palms down, but for now that is not the focus of the attention. So far my favourite is CL03, I like how the darker desaturated blue works with the grumpiness of Iron, whilst not being so dark as to fall into the colour realm of my Graphite character.

Iron Colour Tests 01-04

Graphite Front & Side Orthographics 

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[Minor Project] 20: Iron Character; Colour Picking & Top 4

All Colour Swatches

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