Ball-point pen sketches

[Deleted]

I've been doing some sketches (yeah, really) and I don't know. I've been trying to finally give the character a final look and powers, because with every new design new concepts come to mind. It began as a misterious swordsman, but I finally decided against it for the lack of freedom the concept would give me. I gave the character a much wider array of emotions and I'm thinking about getting rid of the sword, so I may get a Devil Fruit later on. Maybe a cloud-like Logia. That'd be cool.

imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/wkjn.jpg/
imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/y7e8.jpg/

[PlatonSkull]

first of all: imgur is a much better uploading tool.

Second of all: logia are only available at C-Rank, so you'll have to wait a long while, and there already exists smoke (Smoker) and fog (an OC or "original character" on this site), so a cloud logia isn't an option.

I like your designs, though the legs seem quite out of proportion. Maybe that's just your style, I don't know.

Nevertheless, this is a writing forum, not an art forum, so I would suggest writing your characters before you do anything else. I can draw too, but that's not where I start my writing process. I start the writing process with a good idea that follows the rules of the site (which you should read thoroughly before starting)

Hope that somehow helps you, and welcome to the forum

[Deleted]

Yeah, that's my problem, I did started writing the character and I'm aware only C-class can get a Logia. I already read all the rules and I saw the Devil Fruit Database, I gave the impresion I didn't, I've should've said that. I know both fruits are in use, so I'll have to make up something.

Anyways, the first draft I did ended almost completely in the trash, so right now I'm re-writing the character for later use. That's why I've done several sketches of similar characters, to draw inspiration from that (no pun intended).

BTW I did draw the legs longer than usual to give the character a Doflamingo-like height. The character on the right is just something I thought on the spot, but I'm not planning on using that design.

Oh, and thanks.

[PlatonSkull]

I understand, drawing inspiration from character design is also a viable option.
But the reason (in my opinion) Donquitoxe Doflamingo's design works is because he has his feather-coat that fills a lot of his upper body. This adds a depth and shape to his silhouette that your designs are lacking - the legs become much more apparent. You could make your character from a long-leg tribe, but I'm not sure that's what you're going for...

[Badman Zeek]

As a guy who has been drawing characters both before and after I have made descriptions and did profiles, I think it's an either or process. It really depends on how much you want the picture to express, and what you will actually being saying in the descriptions.

As for your images, I noticed the leg thing, which you stated was intentional. Like Platon mentioned, something is lacking from the character design that enhances the idea you are trying to work with. Especially in regards to depth, since your drawings are rather flat, you need something to counterbalance that aspect to reinforce the image.

Have you heard of the term crosshatching?

Also I think it'd be best if you work towards character sheets like those used in animation, especially with your style. The front, profile, and back view composition would help views get a better since of depth for your character regardless of if you draw them flat or not, simply because they would be able to view what the character looks like from different angles and properly arrange it in their mind.

If you want I could provide you with some drawings I have done in pen so you can have a better understanding of things.