DRAW AN EXCITING MEGA MAN COVER

Follow along as Kenny Ruiz and Noiry guide us through the process of crafting a cover for Mega Man Timelines

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What better choice for teaching you how to create a stunning character cover than the iconic Mega Man. Udon Entertainment commissioned cover art for Mega Man Timelines, which was inspired by Mega Man 11. The idea was to use the game's iconic enemy selection grid and make Mega Man stand out. The main challenge for us was to capture the character's strength and agility.

For a cover, it's crucial to work directly in the final reproduction format or a proportional one. From the start, you must consider the space needed for the logo, publisher, and other essential information, which impacts the composition.

First, Kenny will create a rough sketch and test some options. Often, the first is the best, but it's important to push beyond our comfort zone and try alternatives. He'll then work on the main character separately, before Noiry takes over to talk about her process for using colour and light to make the character pop.

1 Explore visual connection

I began with two options for creating a connection with the viewer. The first was a direct frontal gaze that challenges the audience. I also tried a secondary gaze where Mega Man is pictured in dynamic action but, for a split second, locks eyes with the viewer.

2 Make motion lines

I love dynamic poses, so I also explored different options for them. For me, the recipe for success divides a character's movement into three axes:

• Main movement: the body's general direction.

• Shoulder axis: connects the hands.

• Hip axis: defines leg positioning.

Sometimes all three of these reinforce the same action. If the second and third axes go in opposite directions, then the action feels more dynamic. I also try simpler compositions, which can often get better results.