Okay, so today I messed around with creating a mascot – specifically, the Chomps mascot. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey, so grab a snack and let’s dive in.
Getting Started (and Getting Stuck)
First, I needed a starting point. What exactly is a “Chomps” mascot supposed to look like? My mind went straight to something, you know, chomp-y. Maybe a big-mouthed creature? A friendly monster? A stylized… something?
I spent a good chunk of time just sketching out random ideas on paper. Lots of squiggly lines, weird shapes, and things that looked vaguely like rejected cartoon characters. It wasn’t pretty.
Refining the… Uh… Thing
After staring at my messy sketches, I picked out a few elements that I kinda liked. A big, goofy grin seemed essential. And maybe some oversized teeth? It is called “Chomps,” after all.
I started trying to combine these elements into something a little more coherent. This involved a lot of erasing, redrawing, and muttering to myself. Think Frankenstein’s monster, but with more teeth and less… electricity.
The “Aha!” Moment (Sort Of)
Eventually, I had something that resembled a creature. It wasn’t exactly good, but it was… something. It had a big, toothy grin, round eyes, and a generally goofy vibe. It was starting to look less like a random blob and more like an actual mascot.
Details, Details, Details
With the basic shape down, I started adding in some details. I played around with different eye shapes, added some texture (fur? scales? I’m still not sure), and tried to give it some personality. This is where things got really fiddly. Small changes made a huge difference. Moving the eyes just a millimeter could make it look surprised, angry, or just plain derpy.
Coloring Catastrophe (and Recovery)
Then came the coloring. Oh, boy. I’m not exactly a color theory expert, so this was a bit of a trial-and-error process. I slapped on some colors that I thought looked okay, and… well, it looked like a clown threw up on my drawing. Bright, clashing colors everywhere. Not good.
I took a deep breath, stepped back, and tried to simplify things. I picked a more limited color palette – a few main colors and some accent colors. It helped. A lot. It still wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely an improvement.
The Final(ish) Product
After much tweaking, I had a Chomps mascot. Is it going to win any design awards? Probably not. But it’s my Chomps mascot, and I’m kind of fond of it. It’s got that goofy, friendly, slightly-off vibe that I was going for.
Lessons Learned
- Start with a clear idea (or at least a vague one). My initial “brainstorming” was a bit too chaotic.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Even the mistakes can lead to something good.
- Simplify, simplify, simplify. Especially when it comes to colors.
- It’s okay if it’s not perfect. The process is more important than the outcome, especially when you’re just messing around.
So, that’s my Chomps mascot adventure. It was messy, frustrating, and ultimately, pretty fun.
