The Magic of Shapes in Character Creation

What the talk is about

Roman Guro creates stylized characters live and explains how the "magic of shapes" works. He starts from a random generator of descriptive words that prompts first associations, and from them picks colors and shapes before drawing begins. The central idea is contrast: big versus small, straight versus curved, sharp versus round, plus the direction set by the character's main line of movement. Exaggerating everything at once, or repeating similar shapes in the same rhythm, makes a character dull. A character should be designed together with a companion who sets it off, and the silhouette and head position strongly shape personality. In the Q&A he covers whether a 2D concept is needed before 3D, how shapes can suggest friendship or rivalry, and how to finish work. Useful for concept artists and beginners.