DEMONSTRATION
THE CON MAN

The Con Man started life as a street kid and he learned to lie for his supper early on. As he grew older, the lies only grew more elaborate. Now he flits between the city center and the outlying slums with a charming smile and whatever pretty deception he needs to put money in his pocket. If asked about the rumors that his ill-gotten gains are bankrolling the rebellion, he’d swear they were nothing more than that—rumors. What do you take him for, anyway? Some kind of sap?

1 STRIKE A POSE

Draw up a few sketches, then pick the one you like best. For the Con Man, who’s charismatic and personable, choose a relaxed pose. His posture is a little flirty, with his hip jutted out as he chats away.

2 FILL IT IN

Take a good look at your original sketch and identify the areas you can improve, then fix the proportions. Here, in comparison to the original, the head is smaller, the shoulders are slightly raised and some of the limbs are a bit longer.

3 DRESS YOUR CHARACTER

Decide what your character will be wearing. The Con Man spends a lot of time in the city center talking targets out of money, so dress him in the same style as the rich folks he wants to impress. His shirt and pants are pretty simple, but they’re very colorful. Use the jacket and hair to add a bit more flair.

4 ADD DETAIL

Start working in the personal touches that will bring your character to life. For a social character like the Con Man, pay extra attention to his face and mannerisms because they’re vital to his personality.

5 ADD COLOR AND ACCESSORIES

Select a palette to match the city center’s aesthetic, since that’s where the Con Man does most of his work. Opt for bright, highly saturated colors that catch the eye.

Break up the large blocks of color on his clothing by working in some patterns. You can also give him a touch more flair (and practice an earlier lesson) by adding a self-lighting walking stick.

EVERYDAY WEAR

The Con Man runs his schemes in the city center, but he lives in the slums where he grew up. He’s adept at blending in no matter where he is, so try designing a casual outfit for him, too—something he can wear when he’s not showing off for targets.