Look to the process (Part Two)

With some sketching time under my belt I started looking at characters that might suit my story ideas (more of that later).

My initial studies were almost straight from photographic reference. I was looking at an absent or late father and a strong but weary mother.

The father was based on the image of a homeless army veteran. He's kindly, well remembered but lost to us.

The mother figure was based on a photographic portrait by Dorothea Lange. Hers is the image of maternal strength in adversity.

This more detailed yet unfinished portrait led me to consider where I'd like to take my characters. Would my animated characters be constrained to realism or should I feel free to exaggerate, caricature, twist and warp their images to suit the story?