--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Usually I start with a concept, which I…" description: "\"Usually I start with a concept, which I then sketch out so that I can get a feel for the character. The character doesn't really become real to me unti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/noelle-stevenson-11488_artist_usually-i-start-with-a-concept-which-i-t_715116.jpg" --- # Usually I start with a concept, which I then sketch out so… ![“Usually I start with a concept, which I then sketch out so that I can get a feel for the character. The character doesn't really become real to me until I draw them.” quote by Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/noelle-stevenson-11488_artist_usually-i-start-with-a-concept-which-i-t_715116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/noelle-stevenson-11488_artist_usually-i-start-with-a-concept-which-i-t_715116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/noelle-stevenson-11488_artist_usually-i-start-with-a-concept-which-i-t_715116.jpg) > “Usually I start with a concept, which I then sketch out so that I can get a feel for the character. The character doesn't really become real to me until I draw them.” [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A concept is sketched first to give a sense of the character, which becomes vivid only after drawing. **In simple terms:** Sketch first, then the character feels real. Key Takeaway Sketch before fully developing a character. Themes creative process character development visualization Mood creative reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - novel writing - comic creation - animation - game design Key Concepts Narrative design artistic workflow Questions to Reflect On - How does sketching shape your character? - When do you move from sketch to full development? A Different Perspective Sketches may lock you into early ideas, limiting evolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ## Related quotes > [What I would do is when I was younger I would draw in a sketch book something that happened in my life and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-i-would-do-is-when-i-was-younger-i-would-draw-in-a-sketch-book/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I really tried to work out hard to emulate the look and feel of the character, and did my best to represent the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cudmore/i-really-tried-to-work-out-hard-to-emulate-the-look-and-feel-of-the/) [Daniel Cudmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cudmore/) > [When you're no longer seeing yourself, in some ways. You're as close to being as you can be.I suppose that's consistent with the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/when-you-re-no-longer-seeing-yourself-in-some-ways-you-re-as-close-to/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [People say, 'Well, whose career do you follow? Where do you see your career going? What movie do you want to do next?' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/people-say-well-whose-career-do-you-follow-where-do-you-see-your/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [I don't talk about how old I am because sometimes it can affect parts that you get in Hollywood. I don't believe that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-clayton/i-don-t-talk-about-how-old-i-am-because-sometimes-it-can-affect-parts/) [Garrett Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-clayton/) > [Interestingly enough, for me, a character like Captain Jack, you feel like you could just continue. The possibilities are endless and limitless. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/interestingly-enough-for-me-a-character-like-captain-jack-you-feel/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I gauge if I can create a different a woman. But sometimes, you feel the character isn't given enough space to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/i-gauge-if-i-can-create-a-different-a-woman-but-sometimes-you-feel/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [I never like to judge the character. I just have to leave my feelings of pity, or fear, about a character - whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coyle/i-never-like-to-judge-the-character-i-just-have-to-leave-my-feelings/) [Richard Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coyle/) > [I feel I do my best work when it's all there on the page, and I feel that the character is very vivid as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-feel-i-do-my-best-work-when-it-s-all-there-on-the-page-and-i-feel/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [The clothes, the shoes, the gold belts and the necklaces always click me into the character, for sure. You could not feel the character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/the-clothes-the-shoes-the-gold-belts-and-the-necklaces-always-click/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [You can over complicate everything with techniques; when you're in the moment, you have to feel that you are that character, that you're feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/you-can-over-complicate-everything-with-techniques-when-you-re-in-the/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [The first thing I do with any script is read it and try to visualize if I can play the character - if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percelle-ascott/the-first-thing-i-do-with-any-script-is-read-it-and-try-to-visualize/) [Percelle Ascott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percelle-ascott/) > [Sometimes I'm on a TV set, and I can't feel what I'm supposed to feel as that character because I've not worked my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/sometimes-i-m-on-a-tv-set-and-i-can-t-feel-what-i-m-supposed-to-feel/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [It's hard to be scared if you don't feel for a character, because you don't care if they die or live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisha-cuthbert/it-s-hard-to-be-scared-if-you-don-t-feel-for-a-character-because-you/) [Elisha Cuthbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisha-cuthbert/) > [“If the reader doesn't connect with your character, they are not going to connect with the story. I try to make my characters very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-thowe/if-the-reader-doesn-t-connect-with-your-character-they-are-not-going/) Stacy Thowe ## More by Noelle Stevenson > [I kind of understood inherently - and I wasn't really conflicted about this - that comics were not for me or by people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-kind-of-understood-inherently-and-i-wasn-t-really-conflicted-about/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > ['Nimona' was originally a vague idea I had when I was in high school, when I was just getting into shapeshifting characters. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/nimona-was-originally-a-vague-idea-i-had-when-i-was-in-high-school/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I think comics has this rap of being misogynistic, and that's certainly not untrue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-think-comics-has-this-rap-of-being-misogynistic-and-that-s/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [It seems like everyone in my peer group has more 'Pokemon' knowledge than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/it-seems-like-everyone-in-my-peer-group-has-more-pokemon-knowledge/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [There are some things that are more appropriate for different audiences. But the goal with all ages is to create comics that anyone can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/there-are-some-things-that-are-more-appropriate-for-different/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [Even in stories that I like, with a female character that I love deeply, it always feels like there's something that she has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/even-in-stories-that-i-like-with-a-female-character-that-i-love/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I've always kind of gravitated toward characters who are a bit distant from the narrator or the point-of-view characters, so that's kind of important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-ve-always-kind-of-gravitated-toward-characters-who-are-a-bit/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [The good thing about doing a comic that's entirely my own voice as a debut is that people approached me with similar jobs, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/the-good-thing-about-doing-a-comic-that-s-entirely-my-own-voice-as-a/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [It was not until Web comics that I saw stories about women and stories by women and things that were aimed specifically at female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/it-was-not-until-web-comics-that-i-saw-stories-about-women-and/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I do more research about 'Lumberjanes' than I did for a story of medieval knights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-do-more-research-about-lumberjanes-than-i-did-for-a-story-of/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I don't think naturally I tend toward anything that's really distinctly branded as adult. I feel like I sort of write for myself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-don-t-think-naturally-i-tend-toward-anything-that-s-really/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I really want to see normalization of queer sexuality - as well as the lack of sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-really-want-to-see-normalization-of-queer-sexuality-as-well-as-the/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I didn't get into comics until college, and it was sort of an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-didn-t-get-into-comics-until-college-and-it-was-sort-of-an-accident/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [Question everything. Don't try to emulate someone else's path. Look at what you have, the tools you have, the place you're in; know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/question-everything-don-t-try-to-emulate-someone-else-s-path-look-at/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [The first movie I saw was 'Prince of Egypt' - that was the first movie I saw in theaters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/the-first-movie-i-saw-was-prince-of-egypt-that-was-the-first-movie-i/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) [Explore all 59 Noelle Stevenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Usually I start with a concept, which I then sketch out so that I can get a feel for the character. 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