Lucius and Calisto 😋

Hey everyone! So many of you have been curious about my latest original characters, Lucious and Calisto, and I'm thrilled to share a bit more behind their creation process. When I first started sketching these two brothers, I really wanted to capture a unique dynamic, and their ages – Lucious at 25 and Calisto at 20 – play a huge role in that. Calisto, being the younger one, often has this blend of youthful energy and a bit of a mysterious aura. His striking two-toned hair, as you can see in the pencil sketch, was a deliberate design choice, almost symbolizing a duality within him, perhaps even linking to the subtle moon and sun themes I often weave into my character lore. For Lucious, I envisioned someone a bit more grounded, a protective older brother figure, and his age of 25 really helps convey that sense of maturity and experience that contrasts beautifully with Calisto's vibe. One of the most fun parts of creating OCs is deciding on their names and backstories. I love delving into the meanings behind names, and for Calisto, I was inspired by celestial themes, which also tie into those mysterious symbols I've drawn around his head, representing the moon and sun. It's a delicate balance to find names that feel right for the character but also stand out. Sometimes, when you pick a name like 'Lucious,' people might wonder if it's inspired by popular characters. However, for me, it’s all about creating entirely new worlds and personalities from scratch, ensuring they have their own unique identities outside of existing fandoms. This process of intentional character building, including their pronouns like Calisto's 'he/it,' helps deepen their individuality and story. It’s a challenge I absolutely love! My art process usually starts with a mood board, often on Pinterest – which, by the way, if you want to see my inspo boards for these guys and others, let me know! From there, I move to sketching. These particular pieces were done using a mix of blue-toned pencil for Lucious, giving him a cool, contemplative feel, and a more traditional pencil drawing on brown paper for Calisto, playing with different textures and moods. I find these mediums really help bring out the depth in their personalities. The "silly princes" comment in my notes truly reflects the affection I have for them as their creator. I'm constantly thinking about how to evolve my characters, which is why I mentioned I have so many other 'princes' I need to redesign. It's an ongoing journey of refinement, adding layers to their personalities, and exploring new visual elements. A redesign isn't just about changing outfits; it's about making sure their appearance genuinely reflects their growth and the narratives I'm building for them. Getting your feedback on my art and character concepts is incredibly valuable, so please feel free to share your thoughts on Lucious and Calisto. What kind of adventures do you think these brothers go on? What other design elements would you love to see explored? I'm always open to ideas as I continue to build out their world and bring these original characters to life!