Procreate - STORYTELLING IN CHARACTER DESIGN
ImagineFX|January 2023
In this workshop, Rafael Sarmento shows you how to inject your characters with personality and underlying narrative
Rafael Sarmento
Procreate - STORYTELLING IN CHARACTER DESIGN

One of the things that inspires me the most about being an illustrator is the possibility of embedding every fibre, every pixel of your artwork with a sense of narrative that’s happening right below the surface of the canvas – conveying an underlying story, just as if you’re capturing a moment in a storyline that’s already in motion. Sure, we can do this with sequential art, like comics, but I do love the story-oriented approach of creating an illustration that’s a vertical slice of an ongoing narrative – without the ‘before’ and the ‘after’, just a glimpse that will entice our imagination.

What we’re doing in this workshop is exactly that: creating a scene with compelling characters that will make us ask questions, and lead us to inspiring places. I feel that asking questions is more interesting than answering them, at least in the context we’re dealing with here, so our goal will be to develop a piece that will inspire others to pursue those answers their own way, through their own sensibility lenses.

I’m doing this workshop illustration using Procreate for the iPad Pro, but I’m making sure you can apply any of these fundamental ideas using whatever support you’re familiar with. This guide is more about the subjective creative process, not so much the drawing and painting foundations.

So grab your pencils or brushes, our story starts now. 

1 Develop the concept

This story is from the January 2023 edition of ImagineFX.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2023 edition of ImagineFX.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM IMAGINEFXView All
First Impressions - Glenn Arthur
ImagineFX

First Impressions - Glenn Arthur

Influences from Disneyland shape the artist’s work

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2023
THE ART OF BRIAN SUM
ImagineFX

THE ART OF BRIAN SUM

Dominic Carter talks to the mech master about honing his cyberpunk visions, character designs, and his new artbook

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2023
Karla Diaz
ImagineFX

Karla Diaz

Clean and cosy Discover a studio of two halves as the Chilean comic artist gives us the grand tour

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2023
A day in the life of...Daniel Hyun Lim
ImagineFX

A day in the life of...Daniel Hyun Lim

Learn smart The illustrator and storyboard artist opens up on his non-stop schedule, and explains why new graduates need to spend their time wisely

time-read
1 min  |
September 2023
MATTAHAN
ImagineFX

MATTAHAN

Dominic Carter talks to the EarthNight artist about making art for video games and how he keeps his creativity sharp

time-read
7 mins  |
August 2023
Technique focus: FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS
ImagineFX

Technique focus: FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS

LEONARDO GONZALEZ explains why specific pens and pencils are so important to his creative process, including his Pokémon fan art

time-read
1 min  |
August 2023
FXPosé
ImagineFX

FXPosé

SHOWCASING THE FINEST TRADITIONAL ARTISTS

time-read
1 min  |
August 2023
Technique focus: EMBRACE REFERENCES
ImagineFX

Technique focus: EMBRACE REFERENCES

Alone Lee explores being inspired by emotions, observations, and imagination

time-read
1 min  |
August 2023
Procreate: CREATE A BOLD FAN ART PORTRAIT
ImagineFX

Procreate: CREATE A BOLD FAN ART PORTRAIT

Bo Feng Lin shares the process behind his quirky Wednesday Addams painting, which features suitably abstract elements

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Emily Chapman
ImagineFX

Emily Chapman

My aesthetic A personal haven where bloomcore meets splashes of boho, pastel and RGB

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2023