Today's shifting politics and personal view point's regarding the LGBT community and how it's members are viewed penetrates into all parts of modern society.
This is especially true in the areas of fine art and Illustration.
Which has long been an open minded and encouraging source of entertainment and expression, bridging the gap between Gay and Straight culture and communities.
Because of this it is important that illustrations and graphic novels accurately portray members of the LGBT culture/lifestyle rather than hold onto a lackluster and often offensive caricature.
Veteran and hobbyist visual artists alike can benefit from a few tips to help them better render and create constructive LGBT character figures.
1.
Avoid stereotypes.
Bringing out a characters personality is vital for artists and illustrators.
With LGBT character development, as with all It is important to consider their appearance.
Simply slapping a gay pride shirt or rainbow accessories on a your illustration will come off as a cheap and lazy design.
Diversity is a key aspect of the culture and no one template will effectively represent each individual character.
2.
Common LGBT visual standards and cultural vogue.
Try to pay attention to fashion and style choices that are current trends within the culture.
For this look to magazines like Curve, Out, and Venus magazines.
Take note and keep the styles polished and defined tailored to the individual personality of the character e.
g.
outgoing/active or creative/quiet etc.
Clothing, hairstyle (long, short, highly groomed, or avant-garde), car/transportation choice, home/living environment all help form a visual profile for the character.
3.
Body language signals and cultural cues.
Secondary physical sex characteristics are also an important factor to tap into.
Keep in mind that you must carter to your individual character/creation their LGBT status is a part of them not the core of them.
Things like attitude and physical stance are great personality indicators.
However more fixed attributes like neck width and length, hand, hip, and head shape also help you give your individual creation/character an appropriate yet stylized and visually appealing look.
4.
The final and possibly most vital and easily utilized method is gesture.
As most artists know gesture illustrations and studies are used in most visual art projects/fields which involve the human figure such as fashion illustration.
Your gesture sketch should be pliable, by that I mean fluid looser lines incorporating and highlighting posture and proportions.
Note also that generally speaking the male form is thicker than the female.
Then go back and pick out dynamic vs.
graceful elements in the stance in order to add balance according to how you wish to portray the character.
These tips have helped me raise the bar in my own work.
An open mind enables me to insert Individuality and style experimentation to keep my work culturally relevant, welcoming, and interesting while still injecting my own creative approach.
Many of my own characters/illustrations are generated from exposure to and study of a diverse variety of cultural genres.
To see for yourself how these pointers work utilize the advice above or visit http://www.
amberwinkelmann.
com.