Character Concept Design | The Gnomon Workshop

In this lecture and demonstration, Johnny Fraser-Allen shares his techniques for designing a character based on a client or director's brief. To make the brief interesting and relevant, Johnny works with special effects industry leader and multi Oscar winner Sir Richard Taylor of the Weta Workshop to develop a character that can be developed into a real costume for a burlesque styled charity fundraiser that Weta hosts for the Neonatal Trust. The tutorial goes through the process of building up groups and layers of costume as well as character and creature elements with the express purpose of quickly delivering variety to the client in the early formative stages. Upon receiving feedback from Richard Taylor, Johnny then integrates the design changes to deliver a final approved character design. Watch Johnny create unique pirate designs in Adobe Photoshop using a combination of techniques including photo elements and digital painting. Beginning with a photograph of himself, Johnny quickly explores possible design directions while emphasizing the core character and demands of the costume. Viewers will learn effective techniques for quick development that allow for multiple iterations and the easy integration of client feedback.

6 Lessons

01IntroductionFree

Johnny Fraser-Allen’s workshop brings artist's perspective to the realities of professional conceptual design in the film industry. Rather than focusing on creating gallery-worthy artwork, Johnny emphasizes the practical skills needed to work efficiently with clients such as generating multiple ideas quickly and maintaining the flexibility to adapt designs based on feedback.

Duration: 3m 5s

Introduction

02Character OneFree

Johnny demonstrates that successful concept work isn't only about creating portfolio-worthy masterpieces, but rather efficiently communicating design ideas that may be immediately rejected, never explained, or never publicly seen. By staying organized workflows, leveraging photo textures, and understanding that storytelling through visual details matters more than perfection, concept artists can deliver multiple quality designs within tight deadlines.

Duration: 1h 13m 28s

Character One

03Character Two

This lesson highlights that efficient concept designs balance speed with quality by working smart rather than working hard. Artists learn that using simple photo references, maintaining flexible layer structures, and focusing on distinct silhouettes and character personalities rather than perfect rendering, enables rapid iteration for client feedback.

Duration: 36m 3s

Character Two

04Character Three

This lesson breaks down a professional concept art workflow that prioritizes speed, flexibility, and client communication over early-stage perfection. Johnny's emphasis on iconic shape language reveals how successful character design relies on instantly recognizable silhouettes and strategic use of color, pattern, and contrast.

Duration: 29m 39s

Character Three

05Notes from a Client

In this lesson, artists will learn a behind the scenes look of the collaborative creative process when creating a character that will serve multiple purposes such as an entertainment host, workshop guide and potential convention personality. Successful character design requires more than interesting costume elements, it demands an immediately recognizable silhouette and built-in comedy dynamic.

Duration: 29m 42s

Notes from a Client

06Final Character

In this final lesson, Johnny emphasizes working smart by repurposing existing elements, using photo bashing strategically, and understanding when to invest time in details versus when to use shortcuts. Original and compelling character designs come not from reinventing everything, but from combining complementary elements guided by clear descriptive phrases and strong shape language.

Duration: 27m 57s

Final Character

Primary tools

For this workshop you’ll need:

* Note that these programs and materials will not be supplied with the course.

Skills Covered

character design concept art digital painting

Who’s this Workshop for?

This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced concept artists, character designers, and digital painters working in entertainment, gaming, or film industries. Artists comfortable with Adobe Photoshop basics who want to enhance their client-focused design process will find Johnny Fraser-Allen's training particularly valuable.

Freelancers, studio artists, and aspiring entertainment designers will also benefit significantly from learning professional workflow techniques in this workshop. Client communication, rapid iteration, and integrating feedback makes this essential for anyone seeking to work effectively in collaborative creative environments.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this workshop, artists will have mastered professional character design workflows that prioritize client collaboration and rapid iteration in commercial projects.

Key skills include:

How to interpret and translate client briefs into compelling visual character concepts effectively.
How to build layered costume designs that allow for quick variations and modifications.
How to combine photo elements with digital painting for realistic character development.
How to create multiple design iterations efficiently during early conceptual development phases.
How to incorporate client feedback seamlessly while maintaining design integrity and vision.
How to present character concepts professionally to directors and industry decision makers.

Instructor Johnny Fraser-AllenSenior Concept Designer & Sculptor at Weta Workshop

Johnny Fraser-Allen is a senior conceptual designer and sculptor with over two decades of experience at the award-winning Weta Workshop. He has designed characters and creatures for films including The Hobbit Trilogy, The BFG, King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Adventures of Tintin.

With the support of Weta’s facilities and creators Richard Taylor and Tania Rogers, Johnny spent over eight years building the immersive world of The Gloaming Trilogy, illustrated through more than 40 sculptures, 50 illustrations, and 100 watercolor paintings, now touring globally in The Gloaming exhibition. He is also working on the sculpture-based book project The Wandering Woods and has illustrated the children’s books The Preschool Pirates and The Squickerwonkers, written by Evangeline Lilly and published through Titan Books.

I had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting the unique individual that is JFA eleven years ago. When Johnny walked into our lives, in walked the most incredible mind of enthusiasm for all things fancy and fun! Johnny has spent time working with us on multiple blockbuster feature films, interspersed with periods of endeavour in his own worlds. Johnny is both a wonderful artist and an incredible conceptual mind bringing a great deal of joy through the worlds that he invents.
- Richard Taylor
Founder / Creative Director of Wētā Workshop

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