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Welcome to Sunshine Lane

Bringing Sunshine Lane to Life: Introducing My First Character

09 Aug, 2024
Bringing Sunshine Lane to Life: Introducing My First Character

Hi everyone!

Today, I'm diving into something a little different: character design! I've been wanting to introduce characters to Sunshine Lane for a while now, and after much deliberation, I'm excited to share the very first steps in this journey.

 

The Spark of Inspiration

If you follow my YouTube channel, you might remember my trip to South Korea earlier this year. That adventure was a turning point for Sunshine Lane. It was there that my ideas for the future of Sunshine Lane really took shape. I started imagining if Sunshine Lane was a real place... who would live there, what their stories would be, and how they would interact with each other. It was exciting to think about building such a lovely place!

 

Foxes and Cozy Vibes

I've spent the last week planning a new collection! It will be released ready for autumn so I wanted it to have a cozy feel. And what comes to mind for me at that time of year is kind of hunkering down, getting all cozy with a lovely book and a cup of tea and having time for you. So my next collection is going to be book-themed and I'm so excited about it!

Then, I needed to decide what my first character would be. I've always been drawn to foxes – they have a certain charm, don't they? There's something inherently cozy about them, and I could easily picture one curled up with a good book. Plus, my last name is Fox, so it felt like a natural fit!

I envision my fox character as a bit of an introvert, someone who finds solace in the world of books. I imagine their home as a cozy haven filled with towering bookshelves and comfy nooks. Despite their quiet nature, I want them to be curious and open-minded, always eager to learn and share their discoveries.

 

From Blank Page to Character

To bring my fox character to life, I knew I had to start with some basic sketches. I turned to Skillshare for inspiration (get 1 month free on Skillshare here), and Melissa Lee's Character Design Crash Course was an invaluable resource. She emphasised the importance of starting with reference images and building from there.

I gathered pictures of foxes in various poses, paying attention to different facial structures, fur patterns, and body shapes.

I then began to experiment with those shapes, exaggerating features and trying different expressions. It was a messy process, but it was so much fun to see the character evolve with each sketch.

I'm particularly happy with the sketch where the fox has its head tilted, looking curious. It perfectly captures the inquisitive nature I envisioned for the character.

This is just the beginning of my character design journey, and I'm excited to share more of the process with you as I develop this character and introduce new ones to Sunshine Lane.

What do you think of my fox character so far? Any suggestions for a name?

You can watch the full journey of bringing these sketches to life in my latest behind the scenes video:

Until next time,

Emma x

 

PS - want to learn something new on Skillshare? Get 1 month free!