i learned that being able to draw different types of fabrics- the thickness, drape, texture, shape, colour, etc - will really help diversify the clothes and character designs you can come up with! it's something i really enjoy ❤
Bad title sorry xD
I've been trying to improve my character design skills to make adopts, and along the way I realised that most of the time, the art makes the design look good. So if you draw a really simple character in a not too detailed outfit, but it has super good art, it'll sell for quite a high price over a detailed outfit that's not drawn very well.
(I'm not saying simple designs are bad, I'm just saying that the art does most of the work attracting potential buyers.) It's like how in music, singing well can often make a song sound much better than it actually is if you just played the melody on the piano.
I also realised that when studying outfits and weapons, you should break down the parts. For example with a dress, the sleeves might have multiple parts depending on how complex you decide to make it. So it's good to try and perfect each little part to make it how you like it.
I would love to hear what other people have realised/learnt when trying to learn how to draw better, character development or about designs etc.
definitely mixing/matching outfit pieces like you said, or even just aspects of characters I like! Whenever i make a design i try to think of what I enjoy the most in a design, what characteristics are most fun to draw or that I enjoy looking at. Sure, making a lot of different kinds of designs will draw in a larger audience, but I can guarantee if you like something, a whole bunch of other people also like that thing. Trying to guess what someone else will like is much harder than just making a design that you love!
Something I find people tend to keep away from that I actually adore is impracticallities, or things that don't "physically" make sense but look nice (metal embeded in clothes, completely covered eyes, lack of facial features, gradients on skin, animal ears and tail that have no specific animal)
I think a good way to push the boundary of making a brand for yourself when it comes to art is to just keep doing what you like. Getting caught up in how good your art is or what other people like will only bog you down. If you just keep making things enthusiastically, you'll get to where you want to be much easier!
lizardotaku ahh yes!! That's definitely something that helps me too, knowing what I like most in designs. it's good to look at things closely!
So much better to just make designs you like and end up being satisfied with. And hey if no one wants them there's no downside since you get to keep something you already like. Actually wait there is one downside, its making too many that you are really tempted to keep xD
I never even noticed that, but you are right, I would like to see more impracticalities! something I really enjoy similar to that is seeing really strange but pleasing colour palettes that aren't very common :D
You have some great advice, it's clear to see you put a lot of effort in your art to get where you are now ^-^