Feature
Why small details make a huge impact when designing superheroes’ costumes
Gnomon Workshop instructor Andy Park discusses his image The Goddess of War, and begins by noting: “When designing comic book characters for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’m thinking about bringing reality to their look that, traditionally in comics, is taken for granted. It’s accepted that a superhero wearing tights running around is normal and is nothing out of the ordinary; or that their outfit would be impractical for what they need to do as heroes.
“But the challenge in live-action is that the acceptance barometer is much steeper than that. We try to answer the ‘why?’ when it comes to why they would wear what they wear. It’s our attempt to bring believability to these unbelievable heroes.”
Andy then shifts his attention to the process of detailing. He explains: “With the need to create a reality to the looks of these heroes and villains comes the importance of describing the details of their costumes, which include their clothing, accessories, helmets, and any other elements that complete the look of the character, including the look of their powers and effects. Rendering materials properly is of utmost importance. This is where reference is paramount.
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