Got told my character designs all had 'same face syndrome' and now I can't unsee it

Someone on a critique thread pointed out that every character I drew had identical eye shapes and jawlines, so I spent last weekend studying actual face proportions from 20 different reference photos. Has anyone else had a critic point out a flaw that suddenly made all your old work feel obvious?

2 comments

2 Comments

paul_webb4515d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly I think 20 reference photos is overkill unless you're literally a beginner. Different face shapes exist but a lot of artists have a style and that's fine. Not every critique needs to be taken as gospel.

bettyhunt15d ago

Yeah but @paul_webb45, 20 photos isn't just for beginners. Even experienced artists use that many to nail a specific expression or lighting. It's less about skill level and more about getting a clear picture in your head before you start.