Welcome
Welcome to a brief journey through the vibrant Steampunk universe, where ostentatious mechanics and 19th century charm combine magnificently. This article offers tips for creating Steampunk-style characters, starting with understanding their characteristic elements and silhouettes.
Brief definition
The steampunk aesthetic is defined by the fusion of the imposing steam engine with the punk style, characterized by its extravagance and rebellion, especially in clothing. This combination seeks to challenge social norms and create a distinctive and provocative look.
Steampunk context
The steampunk aesthetic encompasses the era of the 19th century Industrial Revolution, Victorian fashion, steam-powered technological advances, and the society and culture of that era, all reinterpreted in a fantasy context. Victorian fashion emerges as a symbol of elegance, standing out for its distinctive hourglass-shaped silhouette, which reflects the opulence and rigidity of the society of that time.
Elements
Knowing the name of elements and understanding the context in which they operate will give you an incredible advantage, thus facilitating the design and creation process.
[Steam machine]
Briefly, when talking about the steam engine, we mention the following components:
Pipes ————————————- Gears
Pressure gauges —————————— Nuts
Iron —————————————- Bronze
Wooden Wheels——————————- Charcoal
Water ——————————————- Steam
Piston———————————————— Condenser
Boiler————————————————- Chimney
[Women's Clothing]
Characteristic elements of clothing for women:
Victorian Fan ———— Corset ———————— Skirt
Skirt——————————- Baroque heels——- Narrow sleeves
Puffed Sleeves——— Tight Gloves—— Ruffled Dresses
Jabot Collar———————- Cravats———————- Scarves
bandanas————————— Top Hat—— Bowler hat, bowler hat
Lace—————————-— Layers
[Men's Clothing]
Characteristic elements of clothing for Men:
Striped Pants (Ironing Form)
Plaid Trousers (Similar to Scottish Tartans)
Tie———————Vest———————— Pocket Watch
Jabot————————-——— Cravats————————- Scarves
Top Hat—- Bowler hat, bowler hat——- High-top hat
Layers
Ornaments
Feathers, Ruffles, Bows, Roses, Floral motifs, Geometric and striped, Jewelry such as brooches, necklaces and earrings.
With the elements mentioned above, you have part of what you need to bring fascinating and creative ideas to life within the steampunk world.
Connect your narrative with these scenarios [contexts]
The majesty of machinery will guide you in creating an epic narrative for your character.
On the vast ocean, steamboats, imposing vessels and majestic yachts sail gracefully, propelled by the force of steam that propels them towards unknown horizons.
On dry land, the railway tracks resonate with the roar of the steam locomotive, moving purposefully through picturesque landscapes and bustling cities.
In agricultural fields, the traction engine and steam tractor work tirelessly, fueling production and growth with their mechanical power.
On the roads, steam vans, buses and tricycles, as well as the imposing steam cars, roar loudly as they plow through the asphalt, carrying with them the aura of innovation and speed.
On construction sites, the steamroller and steam excavator stand like giants among men, shaping the landscape with their unstoppable force.
On the battlefield, tanks and steam catapults display their destructive power with an impressive spectacle, challenging the enemy with their unstoppable force.
And at the edge of the cosmos, the steam rocket soars toward the stars, defying the limits of gravity with its audacity and unwavering determination.
Example 1 [Made of Carbon]
The combination of the steam train and the character made of coal is an extravagant idea that, however, serves as an example that your creations do not have to limit you.
Process to design
If this is your first time, I will be happy to help you with my recent experience in this style, which I have acquired as a personal challenge and during the preparation of this article this month.
The steps to follow are those:
1. Select the elements you want to highlight.
2. Defines the initial personality or profession of the character, taking into account the aforementioned contexts.
3. Extract color schemes from the featured elements and keep in mind that you can distribute the color following these proportions: 7:3 - 5:5 - 3:7.
4. Make a short sketch. It is recommended to start with a simple standing pose and then use a hard brush. Remember that this is just a sketch, so don't take too much time.
5. Use the first test as a guide to try a second sketch. Remember that the transgressive and ostentatious style of steampunk can give you creative freedom.
As you create ideas, new contexts and even ideas for other characters will emerge. Repeat the process with the new ideas and make another sketch. Set them aside to get inspired by the elements that worked or you liked.
Character [Mimi] Step 1&2
Name: Mimi
Outfit: Steampunk with low-cut vest. Equipment and accessories (EC): Compressed Steam Hammer.
Personality and Skills: Addicted to forging and using the hammer. Take advantage of its wind magic with its steam machinery. Tomboy genius.
History: Since she was little she marveled at her grandfather's forging and his style of clothing.
Your goal and contribution: Create the perfect hammer, with adequate weight, the ability to use wind and steam magic, as well as being of mythical quality.
Ostentatious ⛮ . ⛮ !
Step 3 Color Scheme
In this case I chose the most used steam punk ones, which are brown, copper and bronze. You can also use black, gold accents
The elements used in the third sketch are
1,9,11: Wing Nut
2: Saturated blue eyes to accentuate attention on the face
3: Jabot collar
4: Hakama
5: High Boots
6: Gear Hose
7: Roaopp Lenses
8: Asymmetrical Blouse
9: Cup neckline
10: extra long “fingerless” gloves
Step 4 Simplified sketches
As I wrote above, I started with a simple sketch and eventually refined it until I reached the third sketch.
The context changed and some elements of the initial idea changed, ostentatiously, because I liked them better.
Portrait [Full shot]
With the sketch chosen, I decided to go for a full-shot portrait to add more details.
Remember to use references [very important], for your chosen elements and also the body gesture. In my case I changed the gesture looking for something similar to the personality.
Lineart & Color Simple
The hammer is based on a cauldron, chimney and a wing nut head. It took me longer because I didn't correct the perspective in the first sketch.
Final Tips
To finish before you start your first Steampunk style character designs
⛮ Remember to use Clip Studio's [assets]
you can save yourself a lot of time with the transform and transform tools in Maya.
⛮ Guide yourself with a mannequin so that the proportions are correct
⛮ Leave the designs marinating, I mean leave it aside for a day so you can correct them efficiently.
⛮ Don't let the background take up much of your time, my friends have spent hours completely losing sight of the drawing
Farewell
I hope this information helps you create amazing characters
Many for their ostentatious attention
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