For this tutorial, I’m going to create a Berserker character from scratch and present him as a character turnaround. I’ll call him Bjorn.

Character turnarounds are a common task for any concept artist working on games and films. They form the basis for 3D models or sculptures. They must have accurate proportions and give a clear description of a character’s features, clothing, props and anatomy.

Before getting started on an original concept it’s good to get immersed in the subject matter. I like to spend a couple of hours browsing the internet for images of barbarians, armour, skulls and weapons. I look through my book collection and flick through fantasy art and historical reference books. After a couple of hours my head will be buzzing with ideas, so I’ll start drawing.