King Oakenair of Pagefort

KingOakenair_Motions_smallKingOakenair

King Oakenair of Pagefort is the maker of worlds in humans’ imagination, when they read books. He paints the mountains and clouds, the trees and lakes from descriptions. The cloud on top of his cape shows his mood and can thunder and cast lighting when he is angry. His cape can show the stars in a moonlit sky.

Oakenair is most joyous when children read as that is when he creates his best work. He is sad when his imagery bubbles disappear, as children draw away from books. These bubbles hold the descriptions painted and the emotions felt while reading the story.

Inspiration

WhatInspires
A few things I love

What inspires you when you design your own characters and stories? Sometimes I like to think of a few things I love and start from there. A bumblebee queen in a grand crinoline is floating on the sea, in her oak leaf boat. She is on a quest to find the Book of Wisdom, to learn how to become human. Little does she know that Grey Rabbit has stolen the book and hidden it in ol’ man Barrel’s cherry orchard. It’s a start…

Madam Bouldeve

Sketches_Bouldev_01
Madam Bouldeve initial sketches
Colours_Bouldev_01
Madam Bouldeve initial colour palette

These are some initial sketches and concept art for Madam Bouldeve’s look. A short animation, Madam Bouldeve’s Patiserie, is currently in production, so there’s more to come!

Story

It is another day at Madam Bouldeve’s patiserie. The sun shines through the tall glass windows as the flour bags play chess. A couple of eggs have cracked playing hopscotch. The milk is recovering from a round of spin the bottle. He can’t handle any more kisses from salt bag.

Bouldeve bursts the doors open and gives the place a steely look. ‘Those ingredients are slacking again’, she says. ‘I need to put my foot down!’

As she quickly shuffles, head first, down a long and straight corridor, the oven sounds the alarm. All the ingredients need to jump inside before the lady of the house finds them. One small sacrifice for milk, a big reward for mankind – cake!

Cazani the Cacti Juggler

cazany

Cazani is an aspiring cactus juggler, although it hurts! He also IS one, a cactus that is! His baggy eyes tell of his nightly practice rounds. He’s worried that his parents won’t approve of his career choice of running away with the circus.

His only hope is that one day he can prove to them he is good enough, because the world loves his act. Cazani loves the magenta flowers that pop on his forehead from time to time, but worries that they make him look less manly. Will he ever learn to let go of other people’s judgements and just be himself?

For more 2D characters click here.