:iconoc-training:

OC-training

for character development

Announcement

This group will be migrated to the new design soon. Please contact the group admins to start the migration and save content the group may lose access to.

Hello, what is OC-Training?

OC-Training is a four month course dedicated to developing your character, creating a collection of artworks, and engaging in a community with other creators. It's structured similarly to a class - you are given assignments and required to engage with your peers by sharing feedback. Prepare to create at least ten art works and share comments within a team.

:bulletyellow: Round 18 is currently in progress.

The group is open for any reliable artist: beginner, intermediate, advanced, hobbyist or professional.

We don't accept random OC art,
only tasks and works related to the program.

Our gallery has many subfolders.
Explore to see what we're doing here!

Members are auto-approved.
If you have questions, note us or write a comment!

Our goals, rules, and guidelines

Goals:

:bulletpurple: Developing your OC's design and backstory
:bulletpurple: Creating a collection of visual artworks
:bulletpurple: Acquiring an audience for your character

Rules:
  1. One OC per round.
  2. All artwork must be drawn by you and at least shaded or colored. No WIPs. (Comic pages are allowed to be a neat sketch/lineart)
  3. Comment on all of your teammates tasks with at least a sentence.
  4. Provide links to comments in "Correspondence Message" when submitting art. www.deviantart.com/corresponde…

Guidelines:
  • OCs of any age, gender, species, genre and fandom are welcome. You may feature additional characters in any task.
  • You are welcome to comment on all submissions, not only your team.
  • Belated tasks, except the first and last, can be submitted at anytime. Be sure to finish trades and critiques before the final task, though.
  • Mature content is allowed as long as you put a mature tag on it. Be mindful that some of your teammates may find your submission disturbing.
  • If you want to skip any of the trade tasks or critique, note admins in advance before the arrangements are made.
  • Note admins as soon as you start to expect that you may experience any trouble or need to withdraw.

Gallery Folders

Featured
Artorius's Fury by MartmeisterPaladin
Enjoyment: Deimos Ft. Makayla by ArthurQF
Sayest in Privet by StoryMaker91
[In private] Dar's secret little habit by Dar-Haiyo
Hall of Fame
GALE Photo by KurisuXDZ
Pumpkin Guts by Zakuro-Kona
The cutest pumpkin in the patch by SilkyLoaf
Corva Photoshoot by MeganMosier
Round Eighteen
OC-Training Round 18 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Seventeen
17th round OC-Training Photoshoot collab by Akaszik
OC-Training Round 17 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Sixteen
OC-Training Round 16 Photoshoot by MeganMosier
OC-Training Round 16 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Fifteen
OC-Training Round 15 Photoshoot by Zakuro-Kona
OC-Training Round15 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Fourteen
OC-Training Round 14 Photoshoot by Zakuro-Kona
OC-Training Round 14 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Thirteen
OC-Training Round 13 Photoshoot by Zakuro-Kona
OC-Training Round 13 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Twelve
OC-Training Round 12 Photoshoot by Zakuro-Kona
Oct Round 12th Round Agenda by MegaMaeve
Round Eleven
OC-Training Round 11 Photoshoot by Zakuro-Kona
OC-Training Round 11 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Round Ten
OC-Training Round 10 Photoshoot Collab by Zakuro-Kona
Round ninth
9th round collab by Akaszik
Round Eight
8th round collab by Akaszik
Round Seventh
7th round final collab by Akaszik
Round sixth
OC-Training 6th collab by Akaszik
Round fifth
OC-Training 5th collab by Akaszik
Round fourth
OC-Training 4thR collab by Akaszik
Round third
OC-Training 3rdR collab by Akaszik
Round second
OC-training 2nd winter round final collab by Akaszik
Round first
OC-Training 1stR FINAL COLLAB 8K by Akaszik
Extras
Visual guide to linking comments by Zakuro-Kona

Countdown to Profile Task

Saturday, April 6th @ 6:00am

Task details in journal!
It's time for Task 3 of OC-Training! I'm loving seeing all these fascinating OCs and learning about their stories and worlds. Now, it's time to see how they dress!
Before we get to the task, a few housekeeping items:
  • Fourth Task-Art Trade
The next task is an art trade, but if you prefer to do the task solo, let us know before the task is announced. The pairings will be made when the next task journal is posted and include only those who have submitted both profile and wardrobe tasks. Latecomers will be paired as they come. If you don't have a partner, or haven't heard from us for a pairing, please reach out!
  • Commenting links
In case you have had issues with linking your team comments in the correspondence area, try going to the correspondence tab --> https://www.deviantart.com/correspondence/
After submitting your task, and click under "No Comments". This will take you to the place where you should link your comments.
  • Changes to dA Groups
As most of you probably already know, deviantArt is changing up the layout for groups. This SHOULD NOT change the way you submit pieces or submit commenting links. One thing to note, however, is that we will no longer have access to the countdown widget after March 25th, so be sure to take careful note of important deadlines such as Photoshoot.

Task 3: Wardrobe

  • Make a colored reference of your OC's clothing and accessories.
Does your OC have one signature outfit, or many changes of clothing? What situations would they wear certain clothing items in? Do they wear their hair in different ways? Do they have different forms, or change appearances throughout the story? Are they shapeshifters? What might they wear to a formal dance, like prom?
The clothing an OC wears can say a lot about their character, as well and the world that they come from. With Wardrobe, you can explore their culture, display their status or situation, or show off their taste when it comes to the way they like to express themselves... 'The clothes maketh the person', wasn't it? Who is your character, and where do they come from? Let their clothes tell their story.
Check out last round for some examples: 17.3 Wardrobe

--> Submit to the 18.3 Wardrobe folder <--

Purpose of task: Create a reliable, detailed reference of what your OC wears.
What to comment on: Teammate's profile task and any late submissions.

Looking Ahead

,
OC-Training Round 18 Agenda
Task 4: Wish - Art trade (April 7th-20th)
What is your character's greatest wish or goal in life? Describe your OC's wish to a partner, and illustrate their OC's wish in return. This task is an art trade, with randomly selected partners. If you would prefer to draw your own OC's wish instead of participating in a trade, let us know now, before the 4th task journal is posted. We highly encourage taking part in the trade, though! Latecomers will be paired as they come.

Profile Art Features

Teams:
Mashed Potatoes
,
James Divera Profile
,,
Diaoyuan's Profile
,,
Psya | Profile
,,
Rori - Profile
,,
Gail Robinson - Profile
,,
Profile: Seth Link
Tater Tots
,
[OC Training] Jahaani - Profile
,,
Mirrage refrence
,,
Mimi Profile
,,
Liorou: profile
,,
OCT: Profile: Gerald
Curly Fries
,
Natalia Vomere Profile
,,
Bear bodytype
,,
When your best just isn't good enough
,,
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
,,
It's a peaceful life
,,
Noelani Profile
,,
Cavin Profile
,,
OCT 18 Profile:  Dizzy
,,
Ego profile (oc-training)
Baked Potatoes
,
Casey - Body Type - Part 1
,,
Casey - Body Type - Part 2
,,
OC-Training #2 - Profile (TW: Censored Nudity)
,,
OCT-Profile [2024]
,,
OC Training: Profile
,,
I don't think you quite understand yet
,,
Meet Silas Montressor~
Sweet Potatoes
,
. : OC TRAINING : . Profile I
,,
Magenta - OCT Profile
,,
Jean OC Training 18.2 - Profile
As always, don't hesitate to reach out to @MeganMosier or @AlleycatCY if you have any questions.
More Journal Entries

Collections

Featured
Visual guide to linking comments by Zakuro-Kona
Character creation, worldbuilding
How to Write a Unique Magic System!,Hi Readers!Are you writing a brilliant fantasy but want to leave that extra punch when it comes to developing your magic system? After all, nobody wants to reread the same type of magic in every novel! As a fantasy writer who struggled with developing my magic system, making it understandable, engaging, and important to the plot, I can help you there!Why?Do you need a magic system? Every story is different. If your characters are living in a magical society or have special powers, you will most likely need one to explain to your readers how this magic works, thus adding realism to your world.If your characters jump into a magical world, are not magical, or going on a sudden quest where they experience magic, you might want to focus on the wonder and thrill they feel rather than explain the workings behind it. If your character is clueless to how the magic works, then it will be an unnecessary info-dump. In Aladdin, we never know how the Genie came into existence, because that was unimportant to the story. We simply experienced the wonder of such a mythological creature alongside the main character, Aladdin.What are the different types of Magic Systems?A. ScientificNo, I do not mean science fiction. I mean science fantasy, a cross between sci-fi and fantasy! This type of fantasy violates the laws of reality. Like Frankenstein's monster was made from the bodies of the dead and brought to life with SCIENCE! The world of science fantasy is logical and provides detailed explanations on how to break the rules of nature. For example, a set of characters might find that they can defy gravity some place on earth yet have oxygen, and include a detailed explanation on how that is possible!B. SteampunkSteampunk is a genre of science fiction that displays steam powered technology rather than advanced technology. However, I believe you can add a bit of magic and enchantment to steampunk, bringing it into the world of fantasy. Pan, Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and Mortal Engines are all outstanding examples of a cross between fantasy and steampunk. Fantasy knows no bounds!C. CommonWitches, Wizards, teenagers with sudden cool powers, mermaids, warlocks, goblins, elves, ogres, fairies, and dragons! Yes, dear readers, we must address this! Though it is my belief that it is time for writers to showcase their abilities by jumping outside the norm of conventional fantasy literature, there are plenty of authors making a killing selling what's been sold before. With that being said, if you're choosing the conventional route found in fantasy literature, you can still stand out by making unique rules for your fantasy story. More on rule making for your fantasy down below!D. Magic based on what's practiced in our reality:Oh yes, people here on little ole' earth have been practicing magic for centuries! Whether or not it works beats me, but as a writer it's always great to get inspired by the real world. Some people believe such magic can be practiced and learned by anyone, and that it is not a bad force, while others believe otherwise. According to my research, magic from our world has many different classifications (Green, red, pink, yellow, orange, purple, blue and white magic). There are also many different types of witches based on what magic they practice (Cosmic, Divination, Kitchen, Green, Sea, Crystal, Shamanic, and so forth).Then there's what people call Black Magic which includes jinxes, hexes, and curses. Its purpose is not to be nice to others and to get whatever you want. It intervenes with free will and decisions using paranormal forces. I'm assuming the magic of evil witches shown in literature and television is based off Black Magic.It might be worth your while to go further into such topics, depending on what you'd like to write.Keep in mind your fantasy does not have to be a part of these categories. Though it would be challenging, you have the ability to create your own unique fantasy including fantasy creatures, culture, races, magic systems and so forth! Do not be intimidated! Fantasy knows no bounds!Who are the Magic Wielders/ Mages in your story?Where do your group of chosen ones get their powers?Are they born with it?Is it genetic?Did this new found power reveal itself randomly? After a certain age?Or is it a learned skill? Can anybody learn it? If so, how long does it take to master?Do your magic wielders have a distinct culture? If so, check out my blog post: HOW TO BUILD A RICH FANTASY CULTURE!Know the details for consistency throughout your novel and series! Readers never love plot holes as they strip the wonder from the story.How does your Fantasy Society react to your Mages?If you have yet to develop your fantasy culture and society, check out my blog post: HOW TO BUILD A RICH FANTASY CULTURE!Does society look down upon those who wield magic? Are they afraid of them? (X-Men)Or are those with magic in hiding, afraid of persecution?Which of the two are considered a threat to the other? If society is not against those with magic, perhaps a flock of intriguing creatures seek the annihilation of those with magic. In Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the peculiars were hunted by Hollowgasts, or empty spirits that enjoyed feasting on them.Perhaps they coexist peacefully? Or maybe one has more authority over the other? Which of the two have more power? In Gods of Egypt, the Egyptian gods ruled over the humans.In MANY fantasy stories, those who have magic, or any other extraordinary ability, were meant to hold such immense power for to act as a savior to those without. As uncle Henry from Spiderman infamously said, "With great power comes great responsibility." May you rest in peace, Stan Lee!What are the rules for your magic?This is by far the most important detail that when thought out will make your story stand out from all the rest! While hundreds of books might share similar magic systems, those that are successful are the ones that make unique and consistent rules for their magic!Consistency is key, otherwise your magic system will leave your plot with many holes and frustrate your readers. Not very wise, considering most fantasy novels are part of a series, and you want your readers to stick with you.What is the source of your magic? Where does this magic come from?Can it bend the laws of nature?What are the side effects or repercussions?If you have spell work or charms in your novel, go J.K. Rowling's route and consistently use them. By now the whole world knows how to make a wand fly from someone's hand: "EXPELLIARMUS!" Or how to call and object to you: "ACCIO!" Or have a wicked wand night-light: "LUMOS!" Us regular humans are very capable of participating in a wizarding duel because of Rowling's inventiveness and consistency. The rules for her magic never changed throughout the series, adding depth to her world.I hope this helped! Tell me about your magic system in the comments below!FULL POST: https://www.hale-fantasynovel.com/post/how-to-create-a-unique-magic-system
Apperance, anatomy, facial features
Eye Coloring Tutorial [SAI] by Lanahpyon
Notes for foreshortening with ERIC by FUNKYMONKEY1945
A small study in body language by DamaiMikaz
Fear Notes by Expression
Technique - a craft of the medium
Soft light shading tutorial by Akaszik
Gwen Process by LilyOndine
Writing resources
Round 12 - Team Features
Round 13 - Team Features
Round 14 - Team Features
Round 15 - Team Features

Affiliates

:iconoc-take-over::iconoriginality-club::iconall-original-ocs::iconfightinglaziness::iconnano-ocs::iconlove-your-oc::iconanime-manga-creation::icontheoccreators::iconowncharactersclub::iconstoriesandcharacters::iconcreatefantasyart:

Comments


Add a Comment:
 
:iconjafanadis:
JafanAdis Featured By Owner Jan 6, 2024  Student Artist
When the next class opens I plan to enroll :thumbsup:
Reply
:iconzakuro-kona:
Zakuro-Kona Featured By Owner Jan 8, 2024   General Artist
Awesome!! :D We look forward to having you!
Reply
:iconjafanadis:
JafanAdis Featured By Owner Jan 24, 2024  Student Artist
I have a question. Would you accept villain OCs? :?
Reply
:iconzakuro-kona:
Zakuro-Kona Featured By Owner Jan 24, 2024   General Artist
Absolutely! (I just did a bad guy in my last round, in fact. XD)
Reply
(1 Reply)
:iconpetrotasia:
Petrotasia Featured By Owner Sep 9, 2023
Love to see this group still running strong!!
Reply
:iconakaszik:
Akaszik Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2023
The memory of your crisp sumbissions to the group is still inspiring!
Reply
:icondukeofperplex:
DukeOfPerplex Featured By Owner Jan 15, 2023  Student General Artist
This seems like a very fun group! Unfortunately, I found about this too late to participate this round. Do you guys happen to do multiple rounds a year, or just once per year? 
Reply
:iconzakuro-kona:
Zakuro-Kona Featured By Owner Jan 15, 2023   General Artist
Welcome! :wave: Yes! We try to do two rounds per yer. The next one will be held this summer. :)
Reply
:icondukeofperplex:
DukeOfPerplex Featured By Owner Jan 15, 2023  Student General Artist
Alright, thank you! :heart:
Reply
:iconspacecastaway:
SpaceCastaway Featured By Owner Jul 1, 2023   General Artist
Hey, if you're still interested, new round of OC-training begins today :) 
OC-Training Round 17 Agenda by Zakuro-Kona
Reply
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