Character reference / artist notes

Alfyn design guide

A practical reference for drawing Alfyn: the warm coffee-colored fur, floppy ears, soft build, glasses, outfit language, and small design choices that make him feel like himself.

Character
Anthropomorphic floppy-eared dog
Height
178 cm / 5 ft 11 in
Build
Soft, slightly pudgy, fluffy
Scent note
Vanilla and coffee
Alfyn SFW reference sheet with body, outfit, and accessories
Primary SFW reference sheet. Select image to open full size.

Plate 01

Read This First

Alfyn should read as gentle, friendly, and a little soft around the edges. The design works best when the face stays expressive, the fur markings stay clear, and the glasses remain part of the silhouette.

  • Glasses are part of the core design and should stay on.
  • Keep the floppy ears, fluffy cheek fur, and soft rounded muzzle.
  • Use warm beige body fur with darker coffee-brown accents.
  • The tail is big, bushy, and the same warm body color with darker accents.
  • The overall body language should feel approachable rather than sharp.

Curator's correction

Um, actually...

The glasses are not optional, the soft build is intentional, and the coffee-brown accents should stay readable. Clothes and props can wander; the face, ears, and softness do the identifying work.

Alfyn raising one finger in an Um, actually pose
Fact checker / Alfyn

Plate 02

Design Anchors

01

Face

Round glasses, warm eyes, soft cheeks, light beige snout, small dark nose, and a friendly expression.

02

Fur Pattern

Mustard beige base, dark brown ears and hair, darker hands and feet, and a cream belly and muzzle.

03

Body

Slightly pudgy, fluffy, relaxed, and huggable. Avoid making him too angular or overly athletic.

04

Personality

Friendly coffee enjoyer energy: thoughtful, warm, a little bashful, and quietly enthusiastic.

Plate 03

Color And Marking Notes

Body fur Hair and ears Muzzle and belly Hands and feet Usual shirt Neutral pants

Exact colors can shift with the artwork, lighting, or palette, but the relationship matters: warm coffee base, cream center markings, deeper brown accents, and a cheerful yellow wardrobe note.

Plate 04

Outfit Language

Alfyn shirt reference with yellow checked and plain button-up shirts
Short-sleeve button-up shirts. Yellow plaid is the signature option; other yellows also work.

Default Clothes

Alfyn is usually seen in a yellow checked button-up shirt with light, neutral pants. Shorts are also welcome when the pose or mood fits.

  • Madras-style yellow check is the strongest read.
  • Blue or alternate warm shirts are okay as variants.
  • Pants and shorts can flex, especially beige, olive, grey, or muted blue.

Plate 05

Accessories

Alfyn rectangular dark brown glasses reference
Rectangular dark brown rimmed glasses with clear lenses. Not optional.
Alfyn optional calculator and diver watch references
Optional watches: calculator watch or diver-style watch.
Small props

Coffee, wired earbuds, stationery, and soft everyday desk objects all fit Alfyn's world. They are welcome, but should support the character rather than cover the core markings.

Artist handoff

What To Keep, What Can Flex

Keep

  • Glasses, floppy ears, soft muzzle, and fluffy cheek silhouette.
  • Coffee-brown hair and ear accents.
  • Cream muzzle, chest, belly, and inner front markings.
  • Soft, slightly pudgy build and big bushy tail.

Flexible

  • Exact shirt pattern, as long as the palette still feels warm and Alfyn-like.
  • Pants, shorts, shoes, watches, and small props.
  • Pose, expression, lighting, and art style.
  • Color values, when adjusted for the piece's palette.

Ask Me

  • If the fur colors or markings need a major redesign.
  • If the glasses need to be removed for a specific concept.
  • If something feels ambiguous in the sheet or notes.
  • If you want extra context from the gallery or a specific artwork.

Need more context? Browse the gallery for finished pieces, or message me through the contact page if a design choice needs clarification.