Meet the characters!

CONCEPTUALIZATION PROCESS

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The artworks in the gallery to the left display the evolution of David’s character design over that past three years! To the right I’ve also complied sketches that show my experimentation process. All of the old stuff is mildly embarrassing to share, but I think it’s important to realize that all artists start somewhere, progress isn’t always linear, and that great art doesn’t happen overnight. Over time you’ll notice the variation of style as I became more confident with his design and digital art. My favorite part of seeing all these images together is comparing the bits and pieces that change over time yet in some ways stay the same. I’ve always had this love of vibrant lighting, brilliant colors, big expressive eyes, lineless drawings, and dynamic visual storytelling. It was only a matter of time and practice before I would have the skills to reach that goal! The character spread above this section depicts his final form.

NOTE!! While some parts of my David character was initially very vaguely inspired by my real life brother David, he is NOT real life David nor represents him. My character design is my own unique character carefully and passionately crafted by me all in personality, design/looks, and life circumstances 😀

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CONCEPTUALIZATION PROCESS

I’m beyond excited to reveal Granny’s official concept sheet above. I’m so so pleased with the final result after all these years! Just like David’s development, I think it’s so cool how you can visually see improvement of my technical abilities not only only in style but also my confidence in drawing her from complex angles with distinct expressions. My favorite part of her design besides those blissful eyes is her long frail neck. It tells us that she is an old lady, but it doesn’t take away from her cuteness! You’ll notice that the final version is somewhat a combination of the first two designs. It’s hard to explain but the one made in 2019 moreso gave off the humble delicate vibes due to the soft smile, all rounded features, and short stubby legs, but it lacked a dynamic, functional, memorable design. The one in 2022 has improved style and practicality compared to her real world counterpart (both the stuffed animal and the Diamondback Terrapin turtle her design is inspired by), however it felt stiff and lifeless (this is partly due to it being a straight up shot, but also because I copy/pasted and mirrored most of it). So taking the best of both worlds, plus my enhanced abilities, it makes for the freakishly loveable, memorable, huggable little gal.

CONCEPTUALIZATION PROCESS

Grand-Pawpaw and Ma-Paypaya are inspired by my actual grandparents who have been happily married for about 55 years! The love they display for each other in their old age greatly inspires me. Although we don’t call them those names, I’m hooked on the idea that the fruit papaya is also referred to as pawpaw. This represents that these two are inseparable, one in the same. Their long-lasting unconditional passion for one another is the fruit of planting your life on Godly principles, for God was the one who first loved us and gave the example. In all the concept art above, I chose to depict scenes that I could see and have seen my own grandparents do. I’ll never forget the time where my whole family and grandparents were over at my aunts house for some sort of holiday, we all sat together for dinner as usual. I was sharing the short end of the table with my aunt and my grandparents were on the long side of the table adjacent to me. At a random point, while everyone else was busy eating or talking, I for some reason looked back their direction. What I saw was them gazing tenderly at each other for a brief moment, and without a word, then gently hold hands. They held it side by side unashamed even though the table would block everyone’s view, I may have been the only one with the right angle to barely see. They held it for about two minutes while they resume eating and engaging in the conversations. I think it’s a beautiful thing to catch the subtle wholesome gestures of love that couples show for each other when they think no one is watching. It says they don’t put up fake version of themselves when in front of others, that their love is true and unwavering at all times. My grandpa was always a man of style, we would always go “crusin and brusin” in his old convertible car… I can imagine in this world they don’t need big vehicles to get around Bestu Bay, so I gave him and Ma-Papaya a little scooter. Besides a sweet ride his wardrobe consists of the most fascinating and unique black graphic t-shirts. My plans are for each book (if he’s present in it) to change the graphic on his black shirt! He is also a pastor, a true man of God that I look up to. He will often sing while my grandma would play the piano. And being a pastor for about as long as he’s been married, he’s been to many places, and over the years his homemade spaghetti would feed thousands! Known as the legitimate ‘Hicks gene’, food is bound to fall on your shirt every other meal. I thank God I didn’t inherit it unlike my mom, aunt, and brother haha!

BELLA CONCEPTUALIZATION PROCESS

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Please note!! We are still beginning stage. Anything and everything here will most likely change, so don’t get too attached to any of these. Consider David’s development from where it started to where it is now, and note that I only started Bella’s design early 2023. All these sketches represent the first stage of her development process, but the most recent one with the purple tutu is my favorite. Instead of diving straight into her design over the past few months, I’ve instead invested my time conceptualizing her personality, environment and relationships. It’s important to do that first because our appearance is either something we choose unwillingly or not. It tells a story of how we view ourselves and the world, or reveals our circumstances in which we don’t get much choice. When you bring the reader along to experience that reason/meaning with the character in the story, it makes for a very memorable character design. With that said, you’ll notice three things that stand out in her design. 1- her side bunned hair, 2- a bright colored skirt/wrapped, and 3- rain boots. This odd combination is very intentional because those are the only three things about her appearance that she’s able to choose. In other words, wearing those things in that way is how she expresses herself.

Let me explain. Being that her father is the mayor of the town, her parents expect her to wear nice things so it reflects better on themselves. So her wardrobe is full of expensive threads that are fashionable yet blank clothes without any personality. She’s not ungrateful for what she is given, however her parents never stopped to consider what she wants, what best reflects herself rather than their own public image. She’s not the dainty fragile little girl who sits and has tea parties all day that her parents expect her to be; she the type who loves to explore and meet new people, often has blisters from climbing trees, roller-skates through mud puddles, goes to the dog park to run around with them. It’s only reasonable that such strong and active young lady would prefer to have her hair up out of the way and breathable clothing that doesn’t restrict her for such activities. She also doesn’t want her clothing to make her seem like she’s better than everyone else. So she takes any opportunity to express this. For example, the moment she leaves the house and her parents aren’t with her, these are the things that she can quickly change/put on and off on top of what she has on. All that matters is that her parents don’t catch her with it on. But it’s not like she is void of inner turmoil, or ignores her feminine side. She often struggles with self love, being that the image of herself was always determined by others. But she loves to pick flowers, play with her fairy dolls, and more! Purple was the choice of color because it 1- is a color completely unique to that character (like green is to David and pink to Granny), 2- the color represents her main character quality: faith.

MARKUS CONCEPTUALIZATION PROCESS

I’ll be honest, I’m keeping an open mind, but knew from the start exactly how I wanted to make Markus, as he is inspired by a real person what was my actual brothers was childhood friend, and he was a unique and memorable character without me needing to add anything haha! He’s a silly, unpredictable, spitfire, often blissfully unaware ball of energy. He’s a free spirit with his own sense of style. My favorite details about this character design is the three little hair bits flying up, his magenta sunglasses, fanny pack, and his watch. The watch, by the way, doesn’t actually work… but he still wears it unapologetically. Represents how as kids, time exists, but we don’t need to be concerned with it.