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Published: 2011-03-07 23:15:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 1430; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 17
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This is huge and if you want to read it or view the original, unfaded colours, I'm guessing that you'll probably have to download it. xD; Sorry.I... don't really believe in references.
...Allow me to explain. I don't believe that any original character worth his or her salt can be summed up in a few pictures and a standard form. I am frequently annoyed when people insist that typing "arrogant-calm-handsome" on a pet lookup counts as giving your pet a personality. You just... no. xD Characters don't work that way. In order to put life into your characters, you need to put your characters in life. You need to draw them. Write them. Comic them. Know them. You can't build a character inside a chart. I've seen way too many people try.
So why, you ask, are you sitting there raising your eyebrow at a deviation that looks suspiciously like a reference?
Your guess is as good as mine. xD; I'd like to say it was just because I was bored. Or because I wanted to provide an easy resource for information about one of my most beloved Neopets characters in the hopes that it will encourage fanart to appease my greedy little soul. And those things are probably true, but really, I think the real reason is that I was curious to see if I could do it. I've never really tried. And let me tell you, taking a character that you've been writing about for six years without ever having written anything as clear-cut and succinct as a reference before, then attempting to find the words to fill in a list of "strengths" and "weaknesses" for him... it's hard.
Interestingly — even despite how familiar I already am with Kiyoshi — I think trying to wrap my head around this thing gave me some new perspective on his character. It was actually useful, and surprisingly fun. I'm somewhat happy with the results. <3 And hey. Learning experience!
...Took forever though. I'm going to skip right by the question of whether or not it was worth it.
And yes, it's a safe bet that there'll be similar things coming for my other Neopets characters. xD
Kiyoshi Paco is my character.
Shoyrus, Karrens, Haunted Woods, etc. are © Neopets.com
Related content
Comments: 56
tamia-shade In reply to ??? [2011-03-17 06:53:11 +0000 UTC]
*nods* Exactly. xD; And I tend to not be good at keeping my characters consistent either; I have a feeling that if I tried to, I could do it fairly easily, but I'm always finding better ways of drawing them so they're always changing. Hopefully a ref will give me something to stick to for a while.
And yeah, I keep looking back at this and thinking of really important things I could have made mention of. None of them are any more important than what's already here, though. xD It shall have to remain a summary.
Thank you! xD The scribbled notes were an afterthought, because it looked too organized and formal and I can't stand anything that has too much of either of those adjectives in it.
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hubadawaha [2011-03-14 00:08:28 +0000 UTC]
I agree. Food does taste better than pants. XD
I love the layout of this ref-sheet. Very informative.
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tamia-shade In reply to hubadawaha [2011-03-17 06:46:46 +0000 UTC]
I've always found this to be true! = D
Thank you very much, Huba! ^_^ Informative is great.
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tartancrusader [2011-03-10 00:20:18 +0000 UTC]
...I love Kiyoshi.
This is surprisingly effective for a reference sheet; it describes his major traits without writing an essay. If I didn't know Kiyoshi, I could get the gist of who he is as a character from this. Awesome job!
(I used to be guilty of the three-word personality write-ups. XD ...It was bad.)
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tamia-shade In reply to tartancrusader [2011-03-11 07:58:56 +0000 UTC]
^___^!
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you think it's useful. = D I didn't want to write an essay, but when I looked back on that old reference I did for my human Keeyon I thought it was a little sparse, information-wise. xD; That being said, the bio here is a bit of a textwall anyway. Oops.
xD I can hardly criticize. My pet lookups used to be two sentences from the point of view of the pet in question, and they usually badly contradicted other things I had said about the characters elsewhere. *cringes*
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tartancrusader In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-12 01:58:34 +0000 UTC]
But it's a very nice textwall. With shiny pictures!
Oh dear. Well, it could have been worse. XD
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tamia-shade In reply to Torkie-and-Ky [2011-03-09 23:47:02 +0000 UTC]
^_____^;
Aw, thank you so much, Torkie. I wish it all was, but there are some truly grotesque things in my sketchbooks that will never see the light of day, or dA, for that matter. xD But one way or another, I really really appreciate it. *glomphugs* <3
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IlyaRacer [2011-03-08 09:41:19 +0000 UTC]
A very, very nice ref sheet Tamia. I like Kiyoshi alot
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tamia-shade In reply to IlyaRacer [2011-03-09 23:45:07 +0000 UTC]
Thanks very much, Ilya! Kiyoshi thanks you too. xD
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IlyaRacer In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-10 09:37:43 +0000 UTC]
Nu probo!
For Kiyoshi:..............yo
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tamia-shade In reply to IlyaRacer [2011-03-17 06:45:31 +0000 UTC]
Kiyoshi would reply, but he has a slingshot in his mouth. xD
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tamia-shade In reply to Minnie-Mocha [2011-03-09 23:44:35 +0000 UTC]
Kiyoshi: *blushes slightly, looking awkward*
Thanks very much! = D
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DancesWithMeepits [2011-03-08 07:34:04 +0000 UTC]
Really awesome chara, I love what ye did here! :3
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tamia-shade In reply to DancesWithMeepits [2011-03-09 23:43:54 +0000 UTC]
Aw, thank you so much! ^___^ I'm very happy to hear that!
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DancesWithMeepits In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-13 12:16:13 +0000 UTC]
Yer very welcome! :3
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MarissaSunshine [2011-03-08 05:07:47 +0000 UTC]
You are so right in developing a character correctly! A well-developed character cannot be summoned up in three words, there has to be a lot to him, he must have weaknesses as well as strengths, and it is important to make them lifelike and believable, and avoid cliches, because our characters don't want to be Mary-Sues (and we don't want them to be either).
I've had one character around for seven years (surprisingly enough, she's also a Neopets character), and she's changed and evolved lots over the years, new ideas keep coming, and I even "interact" with her in my mind, it's like talking to somebody you want to make friends with, you talk to them to get to know them. This is how I've found a lot about my character. She has strengths, weaknesses, even an allergy! Cherries and chocolate are her favorite food, but tofu and mushrooms are her least favorite, and she's allergic to Puntec Fruit (it makes her lips and tongue swell). She may be a Shenkuu ninja, but at heart she's a plushie maker, and is most happy sewing and crafting plushies.
These are things I've "learned" about her over the years, maybe to some people, the characters come to them, while for others, they must come to the character. But having info on them coming to you does seem easier, doesn't it? It's kind of a...is it the word spiritual...way of finding a character.
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tamia-shade In reply to MarissaSunshine [2011-03-09 23:43:30 +0000 UTC]
Agreed! And that's fascinating; I've heard a lot of writers say that they have mental conversations with their characters inside their heads. I can't say I've ever really done that — my characters often speak inside my head when I'm writing them, but never to me directly — but I can see how that sort of connection would be unbelievably useful for learning more about their ins and outs. I think it's great that your character even has an allergy; that's a detail most writers would either ignore or completely forget about. = D
"Spiritual" is an interesting word for it. I think I can agree with that. I'd equate my personal method of creating characters with a courtship dance, I think. xD It's kind of delicate. If I move too fast or push too hard for information, everything falls apart. It takes care and patience — I have to come to the character and the character has to come to me at the same time. The more the character and I each respect each other's personal space, the more comfortable we become and the more I'm able to learn.
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MarissaSunshine In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-10 05:19:56 +0000 UTC]
It's almost like getting to know someone - except that they're fictional. The longer they've been around, the longer you may have known them, depending on how much you focus on them. This is why my character has so much to her; she's been around for a long long time. Because of that, she's one of my most real characters, I think. It's almost as if Shuhune is a person I know, rather than a character. She just lives inside my mind.
Interesting way to put it. It's like a more refined way to meet and get to know someone, the character is your dance partner. And from this, you discover things. Just as good a way as mental conversations.
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Morning-Stargirl [2011-03-08 05:05:05 +0000 UTC]
I agree with you about how characters can't be summed up with a single reference sheet. The references I do for my characters are purely about physical appearance, so that if someone does want to draw them, then that's there for their help. (Also so I don't forget how things look for them, ha ha XD) I don't even write out mini bios for them though, because I guess that not many people would be that interested in reading them.
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Morning-Stargirl In reply to Morning-Stargirl [2011-03-08 05:05:40 +0000 UTC]
I really like this though. I think I've told you before, but Kiyoshi is cute, hee hee X3
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tamia-shade In reply to Morning-Stargirl [2011-03-09 23:29:24 +0000 UTC]
That's a sensible way of going about it. = D And I never thought of using them for my own drawing reference, but now that you mention it, yeah, they could be incredibly useful. xD
I'd be interested in reading them! D:
And thank you! ^___^ *hugs* A little piece of me glows with warm and happy thoughts every time someone compliments Kiyoshi. ...Probably because I am perpetually guilty about what I put the poor kid through on a regular basis.
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Morning-Stargirl In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-13 21:15:03 +0000 UTC]
Haha, well then, I guess I could write some sometime.
Don't worry, I do the same thing to my characters XD
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Birdykinz [2011-03-08 02:38:16 +0000 UTC]
*insert shriekings of "OHMYWORD YAY KIYOSHI SQUEE! 8D" here*
...
Right, now to try and be coherent and make an actual comment. xD;
This is very informative. = D Very. Quite a lot of useful information, such as likes and dislikes~ ^_^ (...You know, so now I know what not to take when I stalk--VISIT him. = D;;; *nervous laugh*)
And? I had no idea he was 15. ^_^; Thought he was a bit older. =3; (Like, late teens or so.)
And I disagree with the fashion sense comment. D: Had I a fleece-lined jacket myself, that would almost be my wardrobe (or at least something like what I'd wear). =3
And speaking of wardrobe...
"New pants cost more than food. Food tastes better."
That is an awesome line, and you simply must use it in a story. = D *nodnodnod*
And one last comment, I always pronounced his last name like "pako". Because I am weird that way. x3;
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tamia-shade In reply to Birdykinz [2011-03-09 23:26:03 +0000 UTC]
*tries to keep her expression of gleefulness as dignified as possible, with marginal success*
^_______^
Indeed! = D Don't take him the Swamp Ghoul, but by all means take him some science! ...Or you could just be boring and bring him a Tchea Fruit. That would probably work too. *nods*
I've actually always wondered what age everyone thought my characters were. xD That's interesting. But! If it helps, the 15 I've listed him at here is only accurate up to his last appearance in the NT, which at this point would be Ghostfighters. His "current" age — the age I'm writing him at now for my third series and also the age I tend to write about in any of my more recent oneshots and such — is 16. Nearly 17, actually.
Me too! ^_____^ They're dashing and remind me of old airplanes. Everyone should have one!
*grins* ...I'll try. xD
Ah. Well. That is an issue that is entirely my fault. xD I originally found "Paco" in an online name directory, and although I had no idea how to pronounce it at the time and just arbitrarily chose to say it "PAY-ko", the name is supposed to be pronounced more like "PAH-ko." I thought about changing my own pronunciation of his name after that, but I found that I couldn't. It doesn't have the same ring to me, and it wasn't him. So now I tend to just think of "Paco" as my own fantasy-esque name with a completely made-up pronunciation. xD
*glomphugs* Thank you so much, Birdy! ^__________^
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Birdykinz In reply to tamia-shade [2011-07-22 02:59:05 +0000 UTC]
Hooray for marginal success at dignified glee! ^_____^
*wonders how one would take him some Science* owo And I'm sure I could find a way to make taking him a Tchea Fruit not-boring... :3 *hums and hunts for that blueprinting-paper*
Yup, mid to late teens, if not sliiiiiiightly older for some. ^-^; (...Well. Except for the ones who are obvious adults. XD; )
...And nearly 17? =3 Does that mean we need to throw him a surprise party? *reaches for the blueprinting-paper again*
And yes! ^_^ They should! *really wants one* XD; *will have to keep her eyes out for one* owo
Yaaaaaay~! = DDDD *bounces* ... ^_^
Oooh, I see, I see. owo And nono, it's okay! ^_^ Andyes, changing the way you've pronounced something for years is hard. >_> (I still refuse to pronounce Magax's name the proper way, as I'm so used to saying "may-gax" instead of "mag-ax". ^_^;; )
Butyes, that works. = D
*glomps back* You're very welcome! ^_^
((And sorry for taking forever in replying. xD; ))
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Seabreeze-Swiftrun [2011-03-08 01:49:45 +0000 UTC]
Yay Kyoshi! :3
And I'm planning on re-doing some petpages over spring break, so you have to look at them after I do so, kay? x3
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tamia-shade In reply to Seabreeze-Swiftrun [2011-03-08 01:51:46 +0000 UTC]
^_^! *glomps*
For sure! = D Just tell me when! And don't let me get away with forgetting about it. x3
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Seabreeze-Swiftrun In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-08 02:01:27 +0000 UTC]
*Glomps back* Gotta love Kiyoshi and all your characters x3
And I will ^.^ Not letting you get off the hook that easily xD
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Hg-rising [2011-03-08 01:18:38 +0000 UTC]
Tamiadrawings. owo And it has information. I've always been curious about those pets of yours. And it looks nice to boot!
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tamia-shade In reply to Hg-rising [2011-03-08 01:37:04 +0000 UTC]
Informational Tamiadrawings. owo Indeed. And if you really wanted to know stuff about them, there's probably a truckload of relevant information scattered around my account here and on Neopets. And only about three-quarters of it would be hilariously out of date! = D
...Thank you. ^__^
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Hg-rising In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-08 02:30:49 +0000 UTC]
I'll have to look, then! : D For the hilarity! You're welcome. ^_^
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quartervirus-archive [2011-03-08 01:05:53 +0000 UTC]
But references are sometimes fun to read! And yeah .... the fanart thing. Besides it's a good excuse to draw your favorites, right? Right???
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tamia-shade In reply to quartervirus-archive [2011-03-08 01:34:20 +0000 UTC]
Oh heck yes, I wouldn't read nearly as many of them as I did if it wasn't fun. <3 Especially when they're well-drawn and have a pretty layout. And yes again. xD; Not that I seem to need an excuse.
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TheLupineOne [2011-03-08 01:04:27 +0000 UTC]
Aw man, I fought he was riding that log as a mudboard.
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tamia-shade In reply to TheLupineOne [2011-03-08 01:32:41 +0000 UTC]
That... actually might have been rather epic. xD
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TheLupineOne In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-08 01:35:03 +0000 UTC]
The spark of inspiration!
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tamia-shade In reply to Lord-Hayati [2011-03-08 01:28:19 +0000 UTC]
This is not entirely accidental.
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michelle192837 In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-17 05:56:09 +0000 UTC]
But it could be remedied.
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tamia-shade In reply to michelle192837 [2011-03-17 06:44:05 +0000 UTC]
It has been remedied six times. xD
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hpluvr97 [2011-03-07 23:41:34 +0000 UTC]
You can't create a character by putting three words on a lookup, or simply making a reference: Then they'll be insanely flat.
But you can't always make a character just by roleplaying them, writing about them, or drawing them either: Then they'll become 'confused'. You need to do both, then it all rounds out. At least in my experience.
In fact... I need to start making Ref. sheets, I've got a couple mary-sues and uber flat pets on my hands. >_<
...That's what happens when you give OCs magic of any friggin kind. Mary-sues and powerplaying. xP I need to work on that... I'm bad at making characters... Unless it's a deity or something with no rules. I have a couple friends who call on me for help with those. lol >XD
...Not to mention, I've never given any pets bios. Or anythingg. o_o Now I wonder if my RP pal even really knows enough about them.... *fail*
"New pants cost more than food. Food tastes better."
I'm hopeless. That cracked me up.
What happened to his wing?
...And I really like how you drew them for some reason. D:
One littttttle thing: In his 'appearance' descrip. you said his jacket is much to big for him, but in his pic it looks like it fits him perfectly.
By the way. YOU'RE ALIVE! XD *glomp*
...Long comment!
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tamia-shade In reply to hpluvr97 [2011-03-08 01:27:51 +0000 UTC]
That's an interesting perspective. = D I guess I've always clung to the idea that stories = real characters and reference sheets = flat characters. But I like the thought that working in both formats can result in a stronger character than either one could produce on its own. *nods* That's an excellent point.
*grins* If it makes you feel better, I've actually read a lot of really excellent stories with protagonists that it would be hard to describe as anything other than powerplayers/Mary-Sues. It all has to do with how they're handled, I think. xD; But refs for your OCs would be awesome, one way or another. <3
His wing... it's a sadly anticlimactic tale, I'm afraid. xD When he was younger and learning how to fly for the first time, he got overconfident and took a bad fall, getting banged up a bit and puncturing his wing. It could have been a lot worse — he healed up quickly enough and the scar is barely noticeable, but the experience shattered his confidence. S'why he never learned how to fly properly.
Yeah, I didn't think I made his jacket look big enough. xD; But you can see it mostly in the length. If it fit like it was meant to, it would probably only reach about his waist.
And yes, somewhat! xD *glomps* Just infuriatingly sporadic!
And thank you for the long comment, of course. <3 I really appreciate it!
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hpluvr97 In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-08 02:39:45 +0000 UTC]
I hadn't eve thought of it that way until reading your comments really. xD Guess it does make sense. With the refs I guess you lay down the foundation and with stories/rps/etc you build from there..
I have too, but I think I get annoying the way I RP some of them. o_o;; I have an Acara that can waterbend, another Acara that's part light faeire, a Poogle that just knows things... xD;; Blerghh.
Awwww. D: xD He and Topaz could be friends, she was born with a lame wing. XD I'm so mean to my pets.
I have an even more anticlimactic tale. >XD Runner, one of my Xwees lost an eye because he got into a fight with Garnet. xP He's a PIRATE and he lost an eye because he got into a fight. FAIL.
*looks again* Aaah, okay. I guess I didn't notice before... Habit, my clothes are usually too long and I tend to draw them that way too. xD
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tamia-shade In reply to hpluvr97 [2011-03-09 23:08:22 +0000 UTC]
xD Aw, your pets' abilities don't sound that Sue-ish. And if you really think they are, you can always slowly alter them over time and excuse it as growing up, or maturing, or adapting...? My pets have changed a lot since I started writing about them — Kiyoshi used to be way more stiff and uptight, among other things. And he used to carry around lots of battledome equipment everywhere he went. xD I kind of shrugged it off as a phase.
They totally could. xD Actually, I know yet another Shoyru who had to make himself clockwork wings because his real ones are crippled — we could start a club.
Awww. xD; I kind of like anticlimactic elements in backstories, though; they prove that not everything that happens to a character is grand and epic and something to be proud of. *hugs Runner*
*grins* I know the feeling. I have a weakness for baggy clothes too. xD ...I guess in this case, though, leather flight jackets are something that most people would want cut as dashingly as possible.
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hpluvr97 In reply to tamia-shade [2011-03-10 13:53:32 +0000 UTC]
xD Heheh. Problem is that I don't know HOW I want to change some of them... Blah, I'll work on it. Before my RP buddy goes insane. xD;;
Hey, Topaz has mechanical wings. XD Only her brother made them. Pfft still. We could could start a super exclusive club.
I agree. XD Proves that they are still human. ...Or Neopets. Same difference.
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Nimras [2011-03-07 23:36:29 +0000 UTC]
I am adoring the picture of him in the tree.
And yes, I've never really thought that a simple short bio could cover a character. Mareian and Jeran have pages saved on my hard drive, and even those I feel aren't very in depth!
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