When the Patron commissioned me, they requested that I build a character based on them. Being that they are a writer who holds a considerable amount of medical knowledge, I thought designing a medic would be fitting.
This character's name is Chris Globin. He is a doctor who, without warning and with limitless benevolence, would mend a stranger bleeding out in an alley and then buy them pizza, afterwards. And no, he would not settle for a mere dollar pizza, at that. This all falls under his oath. As the doctor of a social worker syndicate, he endeavors to heal all physical, emotional, and more often, supernatural wounds. Every laboratory module strapped to his person is fine-tuned to handle multiple emergencies. Aside from that, he works as a freelance writer.
Building a Visual Library
I immediately began to build a visual library for medical motifs. As a social worker, it would also make sense for his design to also contain some inviting elements. Lastly, based on my lore’s reading order, this character lives in a futuristic setting. I decided to build on the idea of a "friendly neighborhood plague doctor" with my sketches.
Plague doctors are creepy and a common source for character designs. The challenge then was to produce something original, inviting and futuristic. I figured an "anti-plague doctor" communicates friendliness with brighter colors and smoother shapes. The Patron is also a fan of techwear fashion which helped add to that sleek futuristic look.
Exploring with Sketches
Furthermore, a more futuristic medic could build on those sleek shapes with details and decal. Their equipment must also infer a function. Globin has an array of modules built into their suit which can be swapped for various situations. With each iteration, I added a more distinct mask to the character. An anti-plague doctor needs something more functional than a k95 or a simple beak. The visual at the start of this article showcases the latest mask— one that is functional and not harrowing.
This character's place in my universe is heavily inspired by Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. The final illustration had to incorporate some chaotic pop art textures. This was expressed through Globin’s hat which doubles as a holographic shroud and a medical tent.
Deciding on the Composition
1. Share a Pint - The character shares a drink with a recent patient; 2. Comic Cover - Simple comic pose to show off the character silhouette in a brick alley; 3. Creepy Turn - The character turns to greet you while cleaning up after an operation; 4. Combat Ready - The character lunges into action to heal a comrade.
For the commissioned illustration, my patron decided on the "Creepy Turn" composition. It is set up like a sequential splash page to a comic book. You can view a bit of the process, the color/texture test and the final illustration below.
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From left to right: Texture sketch in Heavypaint, Grayscale painting in Clip Studio Paint, Texture experiment generated with JSPlacement, 1st color pass, Final illustration.
