Artist insight PAINT DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER ART

Yona shares his advice for creating powerful, personality-filled characters using simple and dynamic composition techniques

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My focus has always been to stay true to my artistic vision. For years I tried to follow the “rules” of art, hoping to fit into what was supposed to be my style to get work. However, I realised that this didn't make me happy or help me stand out. It was only when I decided to simplify my art and focus on the essentials that my work truly began to resonate with myself and others.

In this workshop, you'll learn to create characters that don't need busy backgrounds or excessive details to stand out. I'll show you how to strategically use poses, anatomy and composition to create striking and expressive characters.

The key is focusing on the details that really matter and letting go of any unnecessary elements.

What I want you to take away is the confidence that sometimes less can be more. You'll learn to simplify your work without losing power or emotion, and discover how that simplicity might be what truly makes your art stand out.

1 STRIKE THE PERFECT POSE

A character's pose is essential to express their personality and emotion without words. Through posture, we can show action, power or vulnerability. I think about how my characters interact with their environment: are they standing tall, in motion, or relaxed? Sometimes a slight tilt of the head, eyes, or a hand at a specific angle can say more than a background full of details. Each pose should tell a story, but what's key is making sure the character's body speaks for itself, revealing their emotional state and role in the story.

2 USE ANATOMY AS A FOUNDATION