Aras — Character Sheet

I’ve been wanting to properly design this character for a while. This is Aras.

He’s of Turkish origin, and this piece is part of a personal character design project where I explore cultural identity through visual storytelling. Rather than leaning into overt genre tropes, I focused on grounding him in subtle details, drawing from traditional clothing, materials, and silhouettes to reflect a sense of heritage and history.

A big source of inspiration came from an exhibition I visited in Turkey, “Mâzîden Âtîye Zarâfet”, which showcased women’s clothing from the late Ottoman Empire to the early Republic. Seeing these garments up close had a strong impact on me. The craftsmanship, layering, and intricate detailing informed many of the design decisions in this piece, even if indirectly.

Aras is part of a larger personal project, with more to come.