Sketchbook: Dzeriel Wing Comparison
Pencil on paper
Even small design choices affect a reader's interpretation of a comic. A character's pose, gestures, clothing, and physical features say so much more about them than text ever can. Paying attention to those little details pays off, and it's part of what I appreciate about visual storytelling.
I love flying creatures, and Dzeriel here started out with massive, wind-sweeping wings. As his personality emerged, however, the wings shrank. Dzeriel is a conflicted adolescent, a half-fallen angel who can't seem to find his place in the world. Large, majestic wings didn't convey his lack of confidence. Smaller wings made him seem friendlier and more human - not to mention easier to manage in the confines of a comic strip panel. This drawing allowed me to compare wing sizes side-by-side.
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