bought at gumroad.

com/mitchleeuwe
ebook packed with
How to create a

tips and tricks to create

te

your own character

portfolio

portfolio

by mitch l

by mitch leeuwe

bought at gumroad.com/mitchleeuwe

Copyright © 2021 by Mitch Leeuwe

how to create a

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be
reselled, reproduced or used in any manner portfolio

whatsoever without the express written permission of

the publisher. For personal use only

mitchleeuwe.nl

by mitch leeuwe

Printed in the Netherlands

First Printing, 2021

Graphic design: Harmke Leeuwe

harmke.com

3
Hi there!

Let me introduce myself. I’m Mitch Leeuwe and am an illustrator from

the Netherlands. I always drew a lot as a kid. I even had the
childhood dream to become an animator at Disney. During my
teenage years, I lost that dream. Luckily, I slowly started drawing
more and more. When I was 19, I began to do some freelance work
as a graphic designer, which made me consider picking up drawing
again. I attended several drawing programs at schools but I learned
most from online resources. Now, I’m a freelance artist working on
visual development. This means I design characters, props and
backgrounds for games, animation and toys. However, you probably
know me from my Instagram where I release tutorials and more. My
goal is to create a place where people can learn the things I wanted
to learn when I started out.

about this ebook

As an artist, your portfolio tells more than a thousand I started

drawing a lot, but when I had to choose my

What you see on online platforms is just the tip of the makes the
difference is: development of talent, also

words. It shows your art style and skills. It reflects who career path, I
decided to study Graphic Design instead of iceberg. Every artist
started somewhere and has been

known as ‘hard work’. You can be born with a certain

you are as an artist. Because it’s so personal, there Illustration or

Animation. I simply found it hard to believe insecure (or still is) if they
could make it. Behind the art gut feeling for aesthetics, but if you
never develop this is no step-by-step guide for this, nor is this ebook.
In that I would ever work in the animation industry. As a you see are
many hours of dedication to master the

further, you are behind on someone who does. Never

this ebook, I’ll share everything I know about building a graphic

designer, I created my first portfolio, and I shared skills they have
nowadays and will achieve in the future.

stop learning.

portfolio, tell you about all the lessons I’ve learned over my work
online to receive feedback to develop my skills.
Don’t let this stop you from sharing your work because the years, and
give you tips on starting your career.

I got my first job at an advertisement agency by showing putting

yourself out there will let you grow as an artist.

I hope you will enjoy this ebook and that it helps you my work and
putting myself out there, even when I wasn’t create a portfolio that
reflects who you are as an artist.

When I saw The Lion King as a kid, I started to dream sure I would
meet the required skill level. My online Another misconception about
artists is that you need

about working at Disney. At the time, I didn’t know what appearance

showed others my skills, that I was eager to to be talented. In my
opinion, talent is an abstract term that meant and what I needed to do
to get there, but it got learn and that I was open for feedback. This is
what got and unmeasurable; The opinion about how talented

me inspired!

me the job, not only my skills.

you are can depend on who you talk to. For me, what

practical tips

9
Get yourself some awesome

business cards and make

bonus tip! sure you have them with you

how to network

wherever you go!

how to

You can have a fantastic portfolio(website), but it

I met more people in this industry by working at

Netherlands, it's only possible to get an internship

doesn't matter how good it is when nobody sees

this agency. They even recommended me for

when you're in school, but that could differ for

it, right? The people who matter for getting a job

freelance projects later. Meeting people, being

your country. On an internship, there is a big

need to see and know your work. This is where

a friendly colleague, putting myself (and art)

chance you have to do something to assist the

netwo

networking comes in.

out there, and working on my skills, created a

artists working there. My first internship was first

foundation for my personal art network.

to organize all the files. But by being an assistant, Back in 2008, I

frequently posted personal artwork
people get to know you. So even when your task

on a Dutch forum. By receiving feedback on my

Another place to network is (art) school. I didn't

is just to get coffee for the art director, you can

artwork and replying to others' artwork, people

go to an art school, but there were many graphic

learn and watch from seeing what the art director

rk

started to know me and notice my work. I even

designers, video editors, game designers, and

does day by day and get to know people in the

became digital friends with some of them. One

other creative people at my university. Keep in

industry.

of the guys I often talked with worked at an

mind that all these fellow students will work at

advertisement agency. He told me they needed an some agency or

studio someday and possibly I also reached out to some companies
to show

animator who was also able to illustrate. He asked recommend you

for a project or job.
them my portfolio and ask if they'd like to drink a

me if I was interested in this job. I was over the

cup of coffee together to get to know each other.

moon! He recommended me and long story short: Internships are

maybe one of the best ways to Because The Netherlands is a tiny but
crowded

I got the job.

network when you're starting out. Here in the

country, the companies are pretty accessible, and

10

11
some were open for this. This could be different for recruiter again,
she recognized me, and we had a your country, but you could give it
a shot, right? It good conversation.

helped me a lot to grow my network and to become

how to

less shy. The first time I sent this kind of email,

In recent years things have started to get more

I found it very exciting, and also when I had my

digital. Some art conferences that were usually

first coffee meeting. But when I kept practicing

in real life are now beginning to do more digital

this, it became more regular. Keep in mind that it's events. You can
get a video call with a recruiter; nothing personal when the company
doesn't like to this is perfect for when you live in a country without
netwo

meet you or even doesn't reply to your email. Just art conferences or
a big industry.

keep working on your skills; maybe they'd like to

meet you when you've grown.

I wanted to end this chapter to say that it's always

important to stay humble. Like I said before, it's

We haven't talked about art events or conferences okay to ask, but

don't always expect a reply.

rk

yet! This helped me so much in meeting my

People can be just too busy or have another

heroes. When I got to my first international art

reason to not reply. Don't take it personally and

conference in Amsterdam, I saw people from

move on. Also, when you're at an art event, it's

Disney and Pixar walking around. The recruiter

good to reach out to people who you want to talk

told in a talk that it was okay to reach out to her

to. But don't be pushy and try to find the right

for questions. So, that was the first time I talked to moment.

a recruiter from that level. Years later, I met that

12

13
ways of wo

ways of working

Most artists find it hard to choose their specialization and/or to These

designs can be used for feature animation or tv shows, commercials,
decide whether they should specialize at all. If you don't want to
games, toys, and so much more. It can be wise to look for jobs in
these specialize and like to do a bit over everything, becoming an all-
different industries, especially when you are starting out. In my case, I
started round artist might be the path for you. As a generalist, you are
my first job in advertising. Although it was my dream to work on a
feature very valuable for smaller companies or companies with
smaller animation, a position in advertising is/was an excellent
stepping stone to gain budgets because they can't afford to hire
multiple specialists.

experience and knowledge.

rking

I was an all-round artist for almost 10 years at multiple You can work
as a freelancer or in-house artist. My first jobs were freelance,
companies. I've explored different disciplines during this period and
later I got hired to work at different companies as an in-house artist.
There to determine what suited me best. Maybe you always dreamt
of is a lot of difference between being a freelance or an in-house
artist. It's not becoming a character artist. Still, by exploring other
disciplines, always something you can choose, but I think it's good to
consider what suits you find out that storyboarding (or something
else) is your you best. The best way to find this out is by trying. I'll
share my experiences dream job. You can only discover that by trying
it out.

with both with you.

This ebook is about character design portfolios, so let's focus on that!

As a character artist, you will be designing characters.

14

15
Inhouse

Working inside a studio can be a great

experience. When you love working in a team or

ways of wo

like to experience this, this is an excellent place

for you. You'll get to know people from different

departments, gain experience with hierarchy,

and in some cases, you can learn a lot from

other/senior artists. Working inside a studio will

also help you work together with studios when

you decide to freelance later in your career. For

For me, the biggest disadvantage was that you

Freelance

working with clients, etc. This can be a bit overwhelming example,

you know how the process and workflow don't always get the
assignments/tasks you like the The freedom you get as a freelancer
is fantastic. You can in the beginning. Having a lot of freedom as a
freelancer rking

inside the studio work, so you understand these

most or want to grow in as an artist. This was also

choose what to work on, how to spend your time, when

is fantastic, but that can also be tricky and daunting, kinds of things
better. So, I recommend all artists to the main reason I went
freelance; I had set my goal you're working, and when you have
weekend. When I was because of the responsibilities.

work in-house at least once in their career.

to become a visual development artist. In my full-

working in-house, I occasionally had some small freelance time job
as a game artist, I couldn't focus on this

projects. I can really recommend this because you start You don't
have control over everything, but I would

One of the most significant advantages of being an enough. As soon

as I noticed I could get enough learning how the freelance business
works: How to talk to recommend making a plan when you want to go
freelance.

in-house artist over a freelance artist is having a

freelance work and had saved some money, I

clients, create an invoice, manage your time, etc.

Talk with some freelancers about that plan for a reality fixed income
and some social security and benefits decided to take the jump and
quit my job. I found check. It's impossible to define when it is your
time to go depending on where you live.

it hard to give up the security of a steady job and

When you are a freelancer, you also need to manage

full-time freelance; I think this depends on your personality income,

but it was the right time for me to go for it.

things like invoices, administration, taxes, finding and and situation.

16

17
getting paid

getting pa

I wish money wasn't important and that we could focus all our time on
art. But we need to make a living, and how great is it that we can
make that as an artist?! Unfortunately, I often see an artist being
taken How much should you ask?

From this rate, you need to buy your

a hard-earned vacation. I hear and

advantage of. There are many examples of this, to name a few: when
a client says they can give you This is very different for every

own hardware, software, pay your

see that many artists do not take this

exposure instead of paying you, or when the client says you should
do something for way too little country. The best way of finding

accountant, maybe insurances,

into account and perhaps even think

money. Artists are working from their passion, and for some reason,
some people think this means they out is by asking freelance artists
taxes, but also your food and

they don't need it. However, I really

are allowed to take advantage of this.

from your own country or looking up

standard personal life stuff. To get

believe that to become a good artist,

the rate of freelancers where you

an overview of this, try to write down

you also need time to relax.

When you are starting out as an artist, it can be tough finding a job or
projects that pay you enough to live. Try using the internet search

your monthly/yearly costs. Be sure to

id

provide for your living costs. Another scenario can be that you work at
a company that doesn't bring you engine and look for "freelance rate

reserve some budget for unexpected

I took the Netherlands as an example

closer to your goals. For example, you work at a company where you
only design interfaces, but you'd (your country)". For example, in

expenses, or to save money to

because that's where I live. The

like to grow as a character artist. In both cases, a side job can help
you out. There are many variations the Netherlands, it starts with 35

replace your pc for example, too.

rate for your country depends on

for this solution, one of them is to look for a job that takes less time
but the same amount of income, euros excluding VAT an hour, and

the general rate in your country and

so you can do freelance projects on the side. Or you ask your boss if
it's possible to work fewer hours more experienced artists earn more.

Besides that, you also need to

what the costs of a general living

so you can spend some extra free time in developing the skills you
prefer. Key is: Know your goal and Maybe this sounds like a lot to
you,

enjoy a normal, fun life. So don't

are there.I believe artists should

find a balance for yourself between having enough time and energy
to work on the skills you'd like to but I believe this is a good minimum

forget the money you need for your

earn what they deserve. Do some

develop and the money you earn.

for freelancers here.

free time and maybe for going on

research to know what you're worth.

18

19

My process of creating

a portfolio project

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21

How I create

a portfolio project

Just start drawing

I started drawing these kids. I think I'd like to

When I started this project, I had no particular

make something around two kids from about 12

idea in mind. I started with an open mind and

years old. I don't have any idea yet who they

just followed where the process brought me. To

are, where they live, or where they'll go. I leave

get this going, I prefer to make many sketches,

it as open as possible.

start brainstorming, and develop ideas while

drawing. I don't like to start with a blank sheet of

paper, so I just draw something to not have to

stare at an empty sheet of paper.

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23
After making the sketches on the previous page, I realized I had
already gone into too many details. So, I took a step back and made
some rougher sketches to get the ideas flowing. Don’t lose yourself in
details too soon.

It’s never too late to take a step back. However, don’t keep walking in
circles; your project needs to move forward to get bonus tip! finished
some day!

24

25
Another traditional weapon would be the shield

and sword. This makes the character totally

different. The archer feels more like a character

that sneaks; that's why I also drew the cape

over its head. The sword and shield are for

more close combat. Try thinking about what you

want to tell with your character and what kind of

weapon would help to tell that story.

Explore some themes

Let's explore a fantasy setting, like an archer

with a cape. This is still very generic, and my

first go. When I would like to add some more

research, I could push this idea more. The bow

and arrow are important for this setting, but they

could also be another object.

26

27
Characters that interact

I could also go for a character with a robot.

It could also be a robot dog. Maybe

Maybe the boy made it himself. Or it found it, or

the robot dog has some powers;

perhaps it's a toy. I find the idea of a robot pet

maybe it came out of space. A lot

funny.

of things that can be explored if I

decide to continue with it.

I liked the idea of a spider bot; I think it would

be cool to see those little legs to be animated.

Maybe it can run up the ceiling!

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29
Maybe instead of a tiny sidekick, I can add a hefty

sidekick. This one could be an alien, or maybe it's

a creature living in the sea that needs the help of

this boy.

Contrast between characters

It could also be a smaller sea creature that

looks goofy. For this one, I thought it would be

funny to make the lead character longer. When I

would decide to continue with this idea, I would

tweak the main character more to create some

contrast or connection with the sidekick.

30

31
The concept of a forest friend could also be fun

There are many possibilities and ways to apply these

to work on. Maybe there is a hidden forest the

characters. Try to define how you could link your character main
character accidentally discovers!

concepts to different target audiences and media. Pick the one you
would love to work for and continue with that goal in mind.

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33
Instead of a dinosaur as a friend, it could also be a dragon. There are
many ways to elaborate on this concept.

Think about how it could be applied

What if a kid finds a triceratops in the garden?! I think this her power.
The possibilities are endless and something idea could work very well
for a children's book or short that is fun to explore more. My first
thought is that this story.

would be fun to make for a children's book but would also be suited
for other applications like toys or a tv show.

See how rough my drawings are. You don't have to show anyone
these sketches. These are for yourself to help you I could also do a
story about a little witch and her forest explore your ideas and decide
what you want to make later on.

friends. Maybe she created these characters themself with 34

35
After drawing the previous drawings, I got the idea about a boy that
What’s the relationship between the characters?

meets a dragon that travels with him to a medieval time, where the
Here is another version of the idea of a dragon and a young boy. The
dragon teaches could teach the boy magic? Or characters from the
line-up live.
maybe the boy accidentally conjures himself to medieval times, and
the dragon will help him get back to his own time.

I'm looking for an interesting connection between the two characters.

Rough sketch

Here you can see how my sketch for this looks.

It was accidentally quite clean already.

Clean up

I decided to clean it up a bit more. While

Here you can see my sketch for this. How

cleaning it up, I consider whether this is what I'm

a sketch looks depends on your own style

looking for or not and what I'd like to change.

and preferences. It can look rougher or

cleaner; there are no rules for this.

36

37
Character line-ups

Here I drew some cliché fantasy characters. I find it hard not to spend
too much time improving the drawing in this exploration phase. So, I
draw them until I think they are clean enough. You should decide this
for yourself. In this example, I wanted to explore some more versions
first, so if I want to improve and clean them up, I can always pick
them up later.
For things like the harness, I usually need more time to research. But
at this phase, I'm okay with that it's not perfect. If I decide to continue
with this line-up, I'll do some more research, and will find out how I
can make it less generic, later.

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39

After finishing the fantasy line-up, I liked to explore start with

something cliché. After that, you can always In sci-fi, the possibilities
are endless. Helmets, boots, this line-up, but it's good to move on and
look at some the sci-fi theme. The hardest part is always putting
look at it and see if you can develop something more

creatures, special effects, weird plants, you can go as other themes

for now.

something on paper. So, I would recommend being not

creative and original.

crazy as you like. I can keep adding more characters to too critical to
yourself and just getting started. Maybe 40

41
A theme is not required!

You don't necessarily need to draw something with a specific theme.

You can also draw something like an 'ordinary family like I did here for
your portfolio. You could give it a twist to make it less ordinary if you'd
like to.

I started by drawing the

parents, and I drew them a

bit more "realistic" than the

others. When I drew the kid

in the middle of the line-up, I

noticed that the kid looked a bit

more stylistic than the parents.

At that moment, I decided to

go for a more stylistic route.

So, don't be afraid to change

some stuff while working on

it. Creativity is an ongoing

process, and when you'll

finalize the line-up, you'll make

it more consistent.

Here I went for a more stylistic approach. This family is from a more
mythical world. I could add more characters to this line-up, like the
grandmother and -father, the aunt and uncle. Or maybe a pet. Can
you come up with more?

42

43
Here you can see his family. His

sister, mom, and dad. Some robots

hide in his room. The alien the sister

is holding pretends to be a toy but

secretly is a real alien. I focused on

the lines and colors. I could also add

some shadow and light to make it

more appealing, but this would be

Choosing a direction

enough for this phase.

At one point, you want and

need to move forward. This

is hard with personal projects

because nobody tells you

when to stop. So, I flipped

through my sketches and

picked the ones I like the most

I liked the idea of a boy traveling through space and meeting friends
in different and combined them to make

galaxies. He has built his own astronaut suit, so I gave him a suit that
looks like a the line-up you see here on

mix between self-made and fantasy. Next to him, you see different
kinds of aliens this and the next page.

he met along his journey.

44

45
Choose a style

Try to think about the style you want to apply to finish the I made the
lines as clean as possible. Here I didn't use The first one is cell-
shaded. This is commonly seen in 2D shading. This is what I often
use for concept art for games.

line-up. Here I picked this alien character to showcase line variety;

almost all lines are the same width. When I cartoons. It's suited for
animation because it's a very basic Or when I propose a character to
a client. In the third some different styles. I took the rough sketch and
cleaned do apply variety, I usually draw the important shapes with
style, but with a lot of charm. I added a 1 tone shadow, but image,
you see a painted character. This would be great it up (second
image). It's still a sketch, but it's a cleaned-thicker lines and the small
shapes lighter.

you could decide to for no shadows at all to make it even as a

reference for how a character might look in 3D. For a up version of
the rougher one. The third image is cleaner; more straightforward.
The second one still has line-art, game, 3D animation, or maybe a
toy! This style takes the but the lines are colored. The shapes also
have some

most time to draw, so it's less suited for 2D animation.

46

47
I went for a 3D style for this one, as if it's made

What would you love to work on?

for an animated movie. If you want to work

Here I went for a children's book style. When

for the feature animation movies, consider

you're making a portfolio, think about what

learning how to paint in 3D and "render" your your goal is. Is it getting
a job at a game

drawings. This gives the illustration a look like

studio, an animation studio, or would you like

it's from the movie. Try to find someone who

to make children's book illustrations? Try to

has the job you want; they often have public

add projects and designs to your portfolio you

portfolios. Look at their portfolio to see what

would like to work on.

they put in their portfolio.

48

49
Although I think it's good to show some story and characters. I don't
think it's wrong to stay a little bit with the clichés. Of course, it would
be better to have an original idea, but you're going to be hired to
translate someone else ideas. So, the most important thing is that
you show you can translate those ideas on paper.

Here I inked and colored the sketches I made earlier. It's not
necessary to really render everything perfectly. If you show a couple
of drawings fully rendered, you can choose to leave some pages with
flat colors. You've already proven you can paint!

50

51
Combine characters to tell a story

Also, show you can draw different kinds of characters. Characters

that would team up perfectly with the animal Don’t only think about
working for the biggest studios! You could also find a job working on a
children's show. Or characters. I haven't thought of a story for this
one, but we can add this later. I just like to have fun and go with the
flow maybe this is for a toy line-up. Think about what you really like to
draw. Even when it's a dream for me to work on a big, when I'm
drawing. After setting up these characters, I l could choose to add a
scene or theme. Maybe these animals and animated feature, working
on smaller productions can be just as fun and rewarding.

kids live on a farm or a zoo. If it's a zoo, you can give these kids
some clothing and props that fit that theme.

52

53

I liked the previous line-up, but I thought I could do more Once I have
made that rough sketch, and I'm happy with with it. That's why I made
this line-up. I tried adding more it, I start cleaning it up. I didn't make
many corrections; I personality to all the characters and giving it a
more just took the rough sketch and brought all the characters
defined theme. I started with the idea of a pre-school kids more
towards their final versions. Basically, I'm making show about a farm
that is taken care of by children. With decisions here for the final
result.

that simple idea, I started to sketch very rough this idea, using the
characters I previously drew.

54

55

Here is the final drawing. It's cleaned up and colored. It's not an
illustration that will be used for anything; it's more probably spend
more time on this drawing to sell it. I personally would put something
like this in my portfolio because I supposed to get an idea for the style
of a show. This could be for a pitch for a show. Maybe I would render
them (paint really enjoy making drawings like this; Just putting down
an idea and not spending hours and hours finishing it. Fill your them
3D) or clean them up more, depending on where it's for. If it's for in-
house with maybe a director that can see portfolio with work you'd
love to do because they will probably ask you to do that kind of work.

through a rough sketch, this would be enough. If it's for someone who
really doesn't know much about drawing, I would 56
57

Ask for feedback!

In these sketches, you can see a little bit of my

his power was, so I added the boulder to show he

process. I started with my first ideas; these tend to is powerful. I also

added the longer arm for the girl, be weak. I showed these to a friend,
who gave me

so you could see her superpower clearly as well.

some new ideas. So, I decided to add some things to Because in the
final illustration, I want to make it as make the characters stronger.
See the second row.
clear as possible what these characters are all about.

For example, for the boy, it was hard to see what

58

59

Here is the final line-up. Didn't really change that

much anymore from the previous sketch. I chose

colors that would add more to the character. And

also that they all have their own color, so they feel distinctive.

60

61
I picked the funkiest robots to create a fun line-up with. Also changed
them a bit to make the designs work better together and added
colors. I gave every robot its own color. I believe that adds to the
personality, and it also makes it even easier to distinguish them from
each other.

Explore variations
Doodles I made when I wanted to do something with robots! I didn't
have a big idea; I just wanted to make a line-up for robots that would
be appealing for young kids. So, I tried to come up with a bunch of
ideas for robots. I like to add these kinds of sketches to my portfolio
because they show you can develop different designs. It also shows
you can make quick doodles for ideas.

62

63

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Some more examples of coming up with ideas for a line-up. Here I

wanted to do something influenced by nature, spirits, and fantasy. I'm
thinking of my favorite movies in that genre and looking a bit on the
internet for inspiration. Eventually making my own versions of it. I
make these kinds of sketches to see if I'm interested in spending
more time on the project. Looking if it gets me excited. Try to find
something you find interesting by experimenting and doing stuff.
64

65

Go as far as you’d like

When I made this drawing, it was almost Halloween, so I decided to

make a Halloween line-up. It can be this simple to start with an idea;
just start generic.

Maybe after this generic line-up, you could think of ideas to make it
more fun and unique. Perhaps you want to take one of these
characters and make a whole family out of it. With children, grandma,
and grandpa, and more. Or maybe push these characters more! For
example, make the witch crazier or the zombie falling apart, etc.

66

67

Projects from my

portFolio
68

69
In the first image, you can see a turnaround and some poses. This
shows you know how to participate in the

production, like making a technical turnaround of a

character and drawing the character consistently in different poses. I

also drew his boat to show I can draw props and environments and
show some story for the puffin.
The puffin

I've created this project when I

worked at a game company but

wanted to get into the animation

industry. To do that I bought a

ticket to a conference where you

could meet professional artists and

recruiters from animation studios.

So, I designed this personal project

to get a job as a character artist

for animation production. The lead

character is a Puffin.

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Here is the character line-up. It shows all his friends, fellow villagers,
and other characters that Act as if you already work for the studio and
create not one character but the whole line-up as play a role in his
life. This image helps bringing the idea to life. I would recommend
everyone they would do for a movie. You could look at movie art
books for more inspiration. Pick your to focus their portfolio on 1 or 2
projects like this because it shows you can do everything favorite
animated movie and see if you can find the art of book. Get inspired
by the drawings needed in production. It's also easier to talk about
projects like this and be excited by them.

they make for productions; learn from them to create your own
portfolio piece.

This is something that is often appreciated by recruiters.

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good, because this magazine is being published

worldwide.

To get started, I picked a theme and made some

doodles. When I was hesitant, I shoved it off and

just continued making sketches and looking for

things I would like to draw. During this project, I

had a lot of negative thoughts; I didn't ignore them

but gave them a place, so they didn't bother me

too much. The deadline really helped me with that.

Without the deadline, I would probably have started

over five times. It can even help when you just give
Imagine FX

yourself an imaginary deadline. Write it down and

Sometimes I find it challenging to pick a theme or to start on stick to

it!

projects for my portfolio. I was asked by Imagine FX to create a

tutorial for them. So, that was an excellent opportunity to See the final
design on the next page and check

create a new character line-up and talk about that in the out the
magazine of Imagine FX issue July 2019 for

magazine. It helped me a lot that they gave me a deadline, so the full

article with more drawings and explanations

I could not spend too much time on it, and it also needed to be about
this project.

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3D Total

Later 3D Total asked me to make a portfolio project for I started with

the lead character. I thought of an old their magazine Character
Design Quarterly. The cool

woman who lost her husband and ship on the sea.

thing was that, besides a deadline, they also gave me From that
moment, she lives in the ocean. I started by three synopsizes to pick
from. I chose the Deepsea villain searching for a head and face that
fits her personality. I with a sidekick. Every idea could turn into
something cool, did this in my sketchbook by doodling a lot and, after
that, so don't worry too much about the actual idea. It's all made
these designs to explore.

about what you're going to do with it.

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Once I made some heads, I didn't stick to only one design. I began
drawing the whole figure, starting with some simple doodles first and
drawing some more detailed versions after it. In the end, I mixed the
designs and found something that I liked. I picked a design and
decided to continue with it. Don't be satisfied with your first drawings;
keep exploring. Since these are sketches, it's still easy to make a lot
of different versions. And explore without losing too much time.

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I thought about making some

backstory adds a lot. Finally, I chose

illustrations of the sea witch and

to add a robot. And that brought

her minion together. So, I started

me on the idea that she sank her

doodling some story ideas. 3D

boat years ago and transformed the

total didn't ask for this, but it helps

wreckage into a robot, which makes

me flashing out the character

her able to live under the sea.

more. What is her relationship

with the minion? It doesn't have

to be super complex, but a bit of a

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These are the final illustrations. I always

find it hard to choose the final design;

sometimes, you just must make a

choice. And you can always show the

other versions. So, in my mind, it doesn't

matter too much which you choose as a

final result. I chose the painted one as

the final design, but I also liked the one

walking on the octopus’ arms. This page

could be a page out of my portfolio.

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conclusion

& thank you

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pick up your sketchbook

different for everyone, but I like to begin very relaxed.

at various interviews of other artists to learn how they work That way,
it’s easier for me to be creative and not listen and see if that could
work for you. In these images, you too much to those negative voices
in my head telling me can see a bunch of my doodles. I always draw
neatly, but Before spending a lot of time on a design, I make doodles.

my art sucks, etcetera. Find something that works for it’s maybe even
better to be very rough in this stage. This And I like to do that in my
sketchbook. I can take my you. I can only tell what works for me; for
some people, stage is all about the ideas and less about the result.
That sketchbook wherever I want. I can sit on the couch
it works better to put some pressure on them and say to comes later.

watching tv and start doodling something in it. I like to take

themselves, like: “in the next 2 hours, I’m going to make it easy in the
beginning. Not too much pressure. This is 50 doodles of character x”.
Again, try different ways. Look 88

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Build your portfolio!

step is to come up with a concept for a movie and write I thought it's
helpful to end this book with an example or shortly down what's it
about. See the projects I made list what you could do to start your
own project.
in this book as an example; it doesn't have to be super First of all:
Think about what your goal is. Don't be afraid original or complex.

that it is too ambitious. I believe we should aim high, mainly to bring

out the best in us. At the same time, watch The next step is to create
the content. When your dream out for working too hard; I don't want
you to get burned job is to work as a character designer on movies
for

out. But when you speak something out loud, for me, that studios, go
create the characters as if you are already was "I want to work for
Disney", things start to get moving. working there. Start making a
character line-up, draw the You can find out what you need to do to
achieve that. You characters in different poses, draw the whole family,
draw can speak to people and have a clear goal. So, just write the
lead character in different ages, draw the character down that goal! It
can never be too crazy or ambitious.

maybe in other essential memories of its life, and come up with as

much stuff as you can. Look at the art books of Now when you have
written down that goal, you can start your favorite movies, or look at
the examples in this ebook thinking about what you would do at that
dream job. That for inspiration and ideas about what you can do.

could be creating all the characters for a movie. The next Now it's
time to create a portfolio with all the content you 90

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made. I think 10 pages is perfect for a portfolio. Around design
process goes and that you can come up

and enjoy drawing backgrounds), you could also do

5 images on each page, but be careful to make it too

with ideas
this by creating a story beat (a storyboard drawing of crowded. I
believe a portfolio contains your best work;

• Turnaround of the lead character; Show that you an important

moment in the movie), or the character

showing different skills is stronger than a portfolio with 100

can create a turnaround, and this also showcases

interacting with an important prop, and so on. A great weak pieces.

Also, only add stuff in the portfolio you would your technical abilities
to make a turnaround

way to show you can also do different things than

like to work on.

• Optional: All above with a secondary character; character design

without putting the attention away

The villain, the love interest, the minion, etcetera.

from character design

Here is an example list of what I think would be a good Whatever you

think could be cool to show more of.

• Figure drawing skills; showing your best figure portfolio. I would

maybe focus my portfolio on 1 or 2 own

• Pick a character and make a line-up of it with

drawings on 1 or 2 pages. Just to show your drawing

story ideas.

different ages; It could be the main character, but skills.

• Character line-up; I like to start with this to talk about maybe it's
better for the variation to do it with a very the project.

different character

• Model sheet of the lead character; On one page in

• Show more rough sketches with ideas from

not more than five poses. If you want, you could do two different
characters; To show you can quickly

pages with a total of 10 poses. I think this is worth it doodle

characters and ideas

because the lead character is very important.

• Optional: draw the character in a background;

• Doodles of the lead character; Show the versions you This is a

subtle way of showing you can draw

made before you got the final design. To show how your
backgrounds. (Only do this when you are confident

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that's it!

Thanks for reading this ebook. I hope it helped you to closer to my

goal. Even if you eventually change your this around into believing in
myself

get started with your own character portfolio, no matter mind or don’t
achieve this goal completely, you’ll always and daring to share my
ambition with
at what point you are in your career. Having a portfolio have grown as
an artist in many ways. Make sure this

others opened more doors for awesome

representing you and your work is a powerful tool to get goal is

something that excites you. It should motivate and projects and jobs.

hired as an artist.

inspire you along your way.

So, don’t be afraid to show yourself.

Besides your work, your mindset is very important too.

Believe in yourself and in your art style. You can settle Your work may
be seen! Go for it.

Don’t be afraid to aim for what you dream of. When I

for something popular, but in the end, working on what started out, I
felt insecure about my skills, but by setting you like the most will be
most satisfying. I used to be Best,

a goal for myself, I knew what I needed to develop to get driven by

fear and doubting my skills all the time. Turning Mitch Leeuwe

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