thank you for your interest in my work omg :,))) it means a lot!! this is kind of a general question, but ill do my best! i use lots of references of subjects to use as inspiration for characters. in the case of cat designs, it can be already existing cats i find while searching for images, or plants/animals/objects/aesthetics that i wanna use as motifs in their designs. for shapes and colors, i just keep their personality and motifs and things i want to get across in their design in mind. soft shapes for kind characters, sharp shapes for mean/evil characters. hope that helped?? ,:D