Character Development

Queen Kaya

Allow me to introduce you to Queen Kaya, a talented drag queen hailing from South Africa. With an unwavering dedication to the LGBTQ+ community, Queen Kaya has established herself as a beloved local performer. When she takes the stage, a remarkable transformation occurs. Gone is her everyday self, replaced by a fierce and confident persona that exudes sass and fearlessness. Queen Kaya's performances are a testament to her unwavering self-acceptance and refusal to conform to societal norms. Her outfits and makeup are carefully curated, drawing inspiration from the breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife of South Africa. Through her flamboyant ensembles and captivating makeup, she pays homage to the vibrancy of her homeland. Queen Kaya's journey is one of resilience, as she fearlessly embraces her true self and becomes a shining example of courage and unapologetic self-expression. Her story serves as an inspiration to all who witness her extraordinary performances, reminding us of the importance of embracing our authentic selves and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

My Vision 

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to create a drag queen for this character development project. I loved watching RuPaul's Drag Race with my sister, and I knew it was time to create my own local queen. I wanted her wardrobe to be inspired by South African nature, and her personality to be fierce and unapologetic.

3D development 

The process of bringing the character to life in a 3D space was both enjoyable and educational. It was a journey filled with excitement as I witnessed the character evolve and grow with each passing day. Through this experience, I gained invaluable knowledge and skills that enriched my understanding of character creation.

Once the character's surface was fully developed, I embarked on the next phase of the process: rigging. Rigging involved building a framework that allowed the character to be posed and animated. It was a crucial step that enabled me to bring the character to life, exploring different poses and eventually animating her movements. This phase of the process not only showcased the character's potential for expression and motion but also allowed me to delve deeper into the intricacies of rigging, further expanding my skill set. Overall, this entire journey of character creation in a 3D space was not only fun but also served as a valuable educational experience, shaping me as an artist and enhancing my passion for bringing characters to life.

3D visualisation

Putting the queen on stage was probably the most surreal part of this project. It was when she first came to life. I thoroughly enjoyed lighting and compositing this shot.

Animated sequence

Learning to animate was a challenge, but once I understood all the graphs it all came together. I enjoyed working with the rig and trying different poses for the sequence.

Full Process summary video

This project was so much fun that I had to make a little summary of all the work that went into it.