psychology of personality

 Stanchfield, W.S.2009.Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures. Focal Press
Academic
Source:Book

"In the book, Psycho-Cybernetics, the author, plastic surgeon Maxwell Matltz, tells how the personality itself seems to have a "face". "This physical 'face of personality' seemed to be the real key to personality change. If it remained scared, distorted, 'ugly', or inferior, the person himself acted out this role in his behaviour regardless of the changes in physical appearance". That applies to drawing as well. Just "copying" the live model in class, or "sticking to the model" in animation does not ensure a faithful depiction of a character's action or personality. The "face of personality" can be found as much in the gesture as in the physical makeup." pg 86

This quote suggests that when creating a character you need to think of the personality however the look also affects the personality. As if you have changed the look of the character over time it does not mean that the personality will change too. Personality can be shown through expression, clothes and makeup, its not necessarily just the the facial expressions.
I really like how pyschology of personality ties in with drawing. I find myself reading pyschology books to create personality traits for new charaters. Looking further into this subject I am learning that you need to have passion to draw a characetr but you also need to do a bit of research before starting, to decide what you want to create and how you will create it. Drawing sketches and concept art are all parts of this.

"Dr.Maltz goes on to say, "...the 'self-image,' the individuals mental and spiritual concept or 'picture of himself, was the real key to personality and behaviour. " Again, applying that to drawing - isn't it our character's "self-image" that we are drawing? We have to create the illusion that it is our character who is thinking- who has decided to perform the action" pg 86

Reading on into the same page I came accross this quote. This quote suggests that you need to draw as if you are the character, you cannot just draw the character doing an action such as running away, you need to show the character thinking about it, you need to show how the character actually expresses how they are thinking and then comes to the conclusion of running.