Valen is a nickname for my best friend who I asked to be in my game. They are my closest friend and essentially my soul mate. They have pulled me out of the dark so many times in the last year that I wanted to honor all they do for me by adding them into my game. When I told them, they were super excited and I was also equally overjoyed to start designing their character. They sent me some images they had done from apps like ‘Monster Girl Maker’.

I loved this and got right to work. Initially, this was the design. And while it does stay, in terms of cosmetics, I realise through talking to Valen, that there was an issue.

Valen let me know, that the body type that I was using was not like their own. They showed me some photos and I was then able to fix the mistake. I wanted to make sure I could really represent Valen and so I redrew the brought concept again before I went on to do any asset creation, so I could get them to give it the ‘a okay’.

When I sent this rendition to Valen, they were over the moon. They were so happy with it, that it eased all of my anxieties about not being able to deliver. I captured the THEM that we both wanted in the game. They were excited to see the assets, and even though I was only able to complete two in the space I had, they loved them both and I think their style compliments Doe’s (I mean we have similar taste so it worked well). I also think I am getting better with my colouring and shading and just adore how these turned out!