Illustrating Character Interaction

Illustration by Rita Tan.

Let's talk about: Character Interaction!

Welcome to my Let’s Talk About It Series! These are super speedy tips written to give you a burst of info that will benefit you: the freelance illustrator. Our goal: To give you the tools to empower your visual storytelling.

Incorporating character interaction into your illustrations adds a sense connection & meaning for the viewer/reader.

~ Character interaction is often left ignored by talented illustrators. It is likely your 'amazing portfolio' is not getting signed or commissioned because you lack this element.

~ The ability to draw characters on their own on a spread, or with others but off doing their 'own thing' is fine. But interaction is vital to adding conflict & nuance to your story. Think about life - where would your story be if you never interacted? Without character interaction we are only seeing half the story. Being isolated & independent all the time is rare. Especially in a narrative (even during Covid we had zoom!).

~ Examples of when interactions is often needed:

• Characters meet for the first time. (Shake hands, embrace, high five, fist bump, smile & make eye contact, bow, make eye contact over Skype, etc…).

• Characters get in a fight. (Argue, shove, kick, punch, slap, grab).

• Characters help each other over obstacles either physical or emotional. (One character lifts, drags, or catches the other, they cry, hug, or hold each other).

• Characters live with others who exist around them as they go about their day to day routine. (Cooking, playing, braiding each others hair, listening to each other)

~ Even stories focusing on a solo journey involve encounters with other characters & objects - yes, objects. Interacting with anthropomorphic objects or objects that help propel the character's story is a form of interaction as well.

So, how can you improve your own character studies?

Here are just a few tips:

1. Eye Contact:

This can be in any sort of emotion (resentment, curiosity) but the eye-lines need to match up. They need to be looking at each other, not slightly to the right or lower or higher than the eye-line. This is an easy trap to fall into so please take care.

2. Pushing & Pulling:

Try drawing someone catching another character as they dangle off a cliff edge, playing tug of war against each other or picking someone up off the ground if they fell. Make sure to take note of body weight & gravity. It is heavy and an exertion of strength to pick someone up or pull someone. Make sure to keep in mind the character's sizes in relationship to each other and the struggles that may entail for your character.

3. Everyday action:

Add a character tapping someone on the shoulder, cuddling up under the blanket on a couch to watch a movie, or huddling under an umbrella amidst pouring rain.

4. Subtle, emotional moments:

Illustrate a parent holding a crying child, a nurse putting a band aid on a patient, or a dog jumping into it's owners arms.

~ This is one of the many topics we go in depth into in the Online Course (check it out here) and my 1-1 consultations (email to join the waitlist for private coaching).

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