BRING A FANTASY CHARACTER TO LIFE

Illustrator MAX DUNBAR reveals how he draws an original fantasy figure using pencil, pens and grey tone markers

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Creating your own characters is one of the most gratifying things you can do as an artist.

It's a great way to solidify the various thoughts and concepts that can be churning around in your mind when dreaming up some exciting new creation.

Drawing a character pinup brings together different disciplines and challenges that can be frustrating to encounter, but rewarding to overcome. Here, I'll explain how I tackle this process, in a way that blends a healthy amount of pre-planning to achieve a solid structure, but allows for enough spontaneity and freedom to keep the drawing energetic, exciting and fun. If I could emphasise two particular points above everything else, it’s to be patient with yourself, and draw lightly. It’s easy to get frustrated when things aren't going the way you want, but if you draw lightly, you can erase and try again. There is no shame in trying something out and redoing it if it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.

When you're drawing your character, there are many exciting things to consider that will breathe life into your creation. What kind of pose should the character be in? Do I want to show off their clothes and armour with something more reserved? Or showcase their abilities with something more dynamic and action oriented? What will their expression convey? After the base structure, pose and anatomy are completed, what will they be wearing? What condition will the clothes or armour be in? What kind of equipment do they need, and what do they carry in their hands, on their belt or on their back? Do they have cultural embellishments, ancient relics or treasure from past adventures?