Being off model in comics

[malverav]

I don't think it's a big deal being off model - what do you guys think?

It's not like I'm animating and the model is important to be consistent through multiple artists. For a comic I think it's more my natural improvement and having my characters settle into themselves. Like, this is the same character a couple of months ago and one I just finished inking then. She looks different but better, so I'd say that I'm not sticking closely to the model sheet I made months ago...

Or have you ever been so off model it's confusing? I'm a little worried about that, honestly...

[VibrantFox]

a change in artsyle over time with a single artist is pretty natural so in most cases so long as you and your readers can recognize the characters it's usually fine.

Personally both my artstyle has changed as well as the designs of a few of my characters but they're still for the most part recognizable (or at least i hope they are )

Another instance that comes to mind is Josh Tierney's comics Warm Blood and Spera where he does the writing and chapters of the story are drawn by several different artists each with their own unique styles but you can still identify and recognize the characters.

I think it's something lots of artists have probably gone through at one point or another where the style changed or the design wound up a little altered but so long as people can tell who it is or what's happening being 100% on model shouldn't be too much of a concern. Heck even major franchises mix up the styles and designs used for their characters so I don't think it's so so bad

[sadghost]

I do off model, change of style and bad art.

[Iris-Grimoire]

It's definately a worry, but in practice I wouldn't stress over it too much. Sure, it could be a good idea to come back and change the pages that visibly feel off, but only if you have the time and drive to finish them again. Even with all these changes, I can tell both are the same person, which means your design for them shows through the style you're doing them with.

That's important! Some comics worry too much about mood but everyone looks the same, but if you invest in character design, you could change to chiaroscuro or pixel art and everyone would still know it's your cast.

[sarrowsmith10]

Some comics worry too much about mood but everyone looks the same, but if you invest in character design, you could change to chiaroscuro or pixel art and everyone would still know it's your cast.

Agreed! The only time where being off model is really an issue is when all your characters have same face syndrome already, then suddenly one of the characters changes looks, it might be confusing who they are supposed to be. But as long as the silhouette or really defining features are the same, I don't think people give it much thought.

[wrentemple]

Go to Webtoon and look up 'Tower Of God', one of the largest titles over there.

Read the first update, and then skim the latest one.

You'll be fine.
Your art is looking great and there's nothing more satisfying than watching an artist improve/grow.

[imiogri]

It's hard to avoid going off model due to art improvement. You can't blame anyone for that and that's just the natural progression of making art. I think trying to repress that would rather be counterproductive.

I go off model on purpose. I like to think that's just part of my style and I enjoy messing with my characters to make it more charming. My main characters facial expressions are always really exaggerated and he changes his face in ways that shouldn't be possible. But you can still really clearly see it's the same person. I could stay consistent if I wanted to, but where's the fun in that.

[Kelheor]

It's definitely okay =) you are progressing and characters have a right to change their clothes/hair too. As long as people can recognize them because of distinct features, nothing bad in being off model.

In the end you cannot do everything in the same way for a long time

...God they grew up fast

[DavidPerry]

Quality is going to draw more people in. I wouldn't concern yourself too much with being "on-model" so much as being sure that the quality over all is the best you can afford to make it. Concern yourself more with the writing, certainly. Story is king, and that's the part that's going to determine the legacy of the series. Mallory's character model has rarely been that consistent, but it's only changed as a matter of illustration quality, and to keep up with the tone of the story.

As an example, here's her character design shortly before the comic was created and the progression up to a couple of weeks ago.

[Adeca]

Another well known example:

This is not drawing a character off model though. Off model means that you can find inconsistencies on the design on a page-to-page or even panel-to-panel basis, and that's fairly bad news, but it's an issue that can be easily solved though, through experience.

[JeanGuillet]

I work so hard to stay on model. ha! Doesn't happen. I have huge huge personal struggles over this, and half the time, it's time for me to put the pencil down for a few hours and reset. I've got good recognizable silhouettes though. Body language is really differentiating too.