In this workshop, Léo creates a mock studio scenario with a practice brief to design a mecha character. He emphasizes that mastering character design takes consistent practice and learning from a variety of sources. The process he demonstrates is versatile and can be applied to animation, video games, and comic books, making it a valuable skill set for character designers.

Duration: 7m 34s

In this lesson, Léo shares a mock character description, and explains the importance of script analysis and gathering references. The initial mood board provides both inspiration and guidance, blending literal references with conceptual images that convey the character’s desired emotional qualities. By setting limits and thinking conceptually first, artists can create focused, original characters instead of generic copies.

Duration: 17m

In this lesson, Léo begins sketching his character in Photoshop, focusing on shape, feeling and visual interest rather than technical accuracy. He stresses carrying key elements between forms while leaving transformation details and refinement for later, keeping the early design phase creative and concept-driven.

Duration: 35m 4s

In this lesson, Léo adds a bit of color to his design. While not strictly necessary, it dramatically improves communication with clients and directors by making designs more readable, and ensuring your ideas aren't overlooked. When working in this way, artists should establish proper color hierarchy, maintain value clarity, and add just enough rendering to convey the concept without spending excessive time on details.

Duration: 21m 40s

In this lesson, Léo starts designing the second part of his mecha transformer; the vehicle form. He approaches it like character design, focusing on artistic principles rather than technical drawing. By prioritizing strong shapes, keeping key elements and colors consistent, and using perspective as a guide instead of a limitation, Léo creates vehicles that look interesting and clearly connect to their mecha counterparts.

Duration: 19m 14s

In this lesson, Léo creates the final line drawing for his mecha character. He encourages artists to develop a line-work style that suits their own goals, emphasizing that strong line work comes from confidence and clear visual thinking, not from any specific tool or technique.

Duration: 33m 18s

In this lesson, Léo shows how he renders his mecha character, combining the new line work with the color scheme from his initial sketches. He refines the image with careful color choices and establishes clear light and shadow seperation. By using multiple layers for effects and rim lights, artists can improve their understanding of color, form, and how light interacts with shapes.

Duration: 24m 28s

Continuing the final render in this lesson, Léo works on a new layer in order to build color within the light and dark areas of the character. By mastering the relationship between local color, mid-tones, and light interaction, artists can create compelling character designs using straightforward methods and minimal layer modes.

Duration: 15m 12s

In this final lesson, Léo presents the complete project, showing how the same principles shaped both the mecha character and its vehicle form. He reminds artists that great design comes from enjoying the process, practicing consistently, and drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences. By balancing traditional and digital techniques and exploring beyond their immediate field, artists can build strong fundamentals while developing a distinctive voice.

Duration: 10m 35s