Need some character design advice

[nelaukface]

hey all!

so I'm designing a character for a comic I might do, and I need your guys' help. first, some facts about her...

-she's very sweet, with a vague air of sadness about her
-she lives during the 1900s
-she works in an orphanage and tries to bring some light into the lives of the children there. very motherly

here's the designs:

which of the designs is better? and what can I do to improve it? thanks so much!

[jarzebiny]

This looks great!

I'm personally a fan of the design on the right - the cross on her dress makes it immediately apparent she has the role of some kind of care-taker. I also think having her ears out allows you to focus more on her face, drawing you to her expressive eyes.

Also her feet/hooves on the right appear to be more split (a cloven hoof). Just a personal preference but I prefer that design better! Just looks cute.

Great work!

[nelaukface]

thanks for posting

yeah, I do feel like the cross on her dress shows her character more. and good point about the ears hahahaha

I am a wee bit attached to the first design, personally. maybe I could add aspects of it to the second design? or maybe have it as another outfit she wears...

thank you so much for the advice!

[SleepingPoppy]

I prefer the first design personally. Design wise one isn't really better than the other, but the shrug is super cute. The red cross makes me think of a nurse, and I imagine it would have that association for most, which is something to be aware of. Both versions are cute, though!

[mariusthered]

personally i like both they look like different ranks of nurse.
remember to a a small watch a tool that all nurses would be lost without.

(and do the kids make jokes about counting the nurse if they can't sleep?)

[nelaukface]

thanks everybody!!!

I definitely think the second design is more successful in conveying who she is. but the shrug seems to be well received so maybe I'll keep that

here's what I came up with based on your guys' critiques...kept the shrug and the cross and have her ears be out of the way

[nelaukface]

hahaha, possibly! it's definitely a cute thought

[jarzebiny]

I like the combo of dress + shrug a lot! This looks really good

[Stardust-clearwater]

I'm liking the newest design but now the cross looks awkwardly placed. Maybe you could have that be the pin holding the shrug together?

[nelaukface]

thanks for the suggestion- I'll see how that looks!

[inkythoughts]

I like the second design a bit better, it gives her more of a clear shape.
However, you definitely should look up skirt lengths, they only went up during/after WW1 and didn't just have an apron without anything underneath. Take actual clothes from that period as reference! In case you need some, here's a link: https://www.pinterest.de/bookofwit/1900s-1910s/

[Carossmo]

Aww ye she is much cuter I couldn't decide on either outfits so blending them was a nice touch

[nelaukface]

thanks for the advice! yeah, I think I should do more in depth research hahahaah

the story she's in takes place during ww1, so I'll definitely do more research on that period