Gators... And Snail

As part of my New Year's resolutions for 2018, I've decided to draw more digital art, regardless of whether my work is refined or otherwise. I want to be able to develop my skills, and I feel that unless I actually go out and try to make art despite any mistakes I might possibly make, then I won't ever move forward in my art in general.

For today's doodles I've decided to take on a more cartoony art style, with the most unlikely of subjects: my gator plushes, and a snail I had made from long, long ago:

Character Bios (From right to left):

Stubby

Gender: Male

Species: Gator Hatchling

Likes: Fish, classical and jazz music, exploring, learning new things, starry nights, nuzzles

Dislikes: Electronic dance music, pork, swimming, not doing anything, bullies

Stubby is an energetic croc hatchling with a sense of adventure. Orphaned as a child, he was nearly turned into a meal by his biological mother until a strong current from a then-happening tropical rainstorm sent him downstream. He eventually wound up in the care of Crocigator, who originally found him on the shores of the riverbank, but took him in anyway out of (he would never admit) pity and a tug at his conscience. The two of them live in Crocigator's shack in the swamps, but every now and then he will venture off on some small adventure on his own, accompanied by his friend snail, Pointy, and his neighbor, Pudgy; after which should they ever get into a pinch, they are more often than not bailed out of it by Crocigator himself.

Despite being a gator Stubby cannot swim, preferring instead to ride a raft, or being carried around by Crocigator over the water.

Crocigator

Gender: Male

Species: Fishergator

Likes: Sleeping, tail fishing, fish, Scottish and Celtic music, rainy days, black-and-white old films

Dislikes: Noise, exerting too much effort on anything, repairing his shack after a bad storm, anyone picking on Stubby

Perpetually lazy, Crocigator is very relaxed and laid-back, wanting to take everything a little at a time rather than all at once. He would also rather do things in the most convenient way for himself--choosing to fish with a lure on his tail rather than a traditional pole or actively seeking out fish himself, as he considers the former being too excessive with the use of a pole, and the latter needing too much effort. Despite this, he is capable of displaying sheer brute force should he decide to put his mind to it; but such an instance comes only once in a blue moon, and most of the time he is either lazing about or sleeping.

Crocigator does not show it very often but he cares deeply for Stubby's welfare; while he often lets the hatchling do what it wants, Crocigator tends to worry at times, leading him to track Stubby's movements on a regular basis just so he can keep a watch on the young one while on his adventures.

Pudgy

Gender: Male

Species: Boatsgator

Likes: Fish, socializing, country music, pole fishing, gardening, boating, collecting old books

Dislikes: Being alone, his boat capsizing, his pole snapping, his plants wilting, the dark

Pudgy is a cheerful gator who engages in all sorts of hobbies: gardening, fishing, and reading books. He is also a boatsgator, giving boat rides to others who wish to be ferried down the swamp. Most individuals who come across this gator find themselves drawn to his friendly personality, sometimes to the point of him being taken advantage of.

His seemingly active and meaningful lifestyle however is, deep down, a mere distraction from his own loneliness. Although he has built good bridges with everyone he has met, people come and go, to the point that he was left by his lonesome in the swamp. The only one left was Crocigator, who lived just next door, but preferred to keep to himself and didn't wish to be bothered. One day, Pointy winds up moving into his home, without protest on Pudgy's part, as he realizes one friend that never leaves is better than none (plus he picks the bugs clean off his garden).

In time he finds a new friend in the young Stubby, after growing up in Crocigator's care. Stubby also frequently visits him (much to his delight), and indulges often in his collection of books; this eventually instilled within the young gator his sense of adventure. Sometimes he also winds up joining the hatchling when the latter goes to explore the swamps with Pointy, finding himself in more trouble than he originally bargained for when he decided to make friends with a snail and baby gator...

Pointy

Gender: Male

Classification: Derp Snail

Likes: Bugs, hanging out with Pudgy and Stubby, electronic dance music, parties and raves, watching VHS tapes of children's shows

Dislikes: Salt, swimming, birds, people throwing up at parties and raves, dog slobber

Pointy is a bit of a vagrant; long before he came to the swamps he was a mere garden snail in the backyard of a typical American home. That is, until the owners decided to weed out all the bugs in their garden, including himself. Over the years, he has traveled far and wide and has seen more of the world by clinging onto car bumpers, trains, boats, and even airplanes and cargo ships. His travels one day led him to the swamps, and, perhaps out of weariness and the desire to finally settle down, made the acquaintance of the lonely Pudgy, and moved in with him. When Stubby began to visit Pudgy, they became friends, and the snail has found himself frequently accompanying the young hatchling whenever he goes out exploring the swamps.

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Something tells me I'll be drawing more of these guys in the future, so you can expect more of these guys in my future posts.