Designed a character in 2014. I went from a rough sketch to figuring out if I wanted a more realistic, cartoon-like, and it’s body type.
Nel is a crocodile (formally alligator) who pretends to be a huge bully, but is a softy deep down. I try to show this bully through his exterior. Second page bottom is his current design I made a year later in 2015.
Very first concept I did of Nel. Took this silhouette and ran with it!
Added some color to the design. At first he was an Alligator so I started with green. Also I felt the salmon colored shirt kind of hints to the fact he's not as tough as he seems (or you know only tough guys wear pink, right?)
More conception. Trying to figure out the face shape, body proportions, and playing with possible colors. The final design is on the right side!
Model Sheet
I redesigned this character about over half a year later. Kept his trade mark pink shirt, but this is when I made him a crocodile instead (crocodile works better with the name Nel in my head). His more rounded beak shows the more crocodile resemblance.