question for those with ponysona's/oc's...

[stjarne]

a few, actually. i haven't made an OC that i've genuinely liked in what feels like forever, not since i was a younger teen. i've been wanting to establish a ponysona for myself for some time & i've made so many sketches of her, but one thing... i can't figure out what her cutie mark or name should be. i want something that represents me but i don't know what would.
how have you guys overcome this in making your sona's/oc's? how did you decide on what their cutie mark or name would be? and why did you settle on what you ended up using? where did it come from, what's it's importance to you, & how do you think it's unique to you? i hope these questions make sense.

my current sketch of my 'sona':

this is what she's currently looking like & she's gone through a few minor changes! she's a light blue pegasus & about the same height as a regular G3 figure, so quite small. (i'm 4'8" in real life) her mane is styled with sharp-ish bangs framing her face and wavy hair leading into pigtails, about shoulder length & secured with star-shaped hair ties/clips. oo:

 

[blueming]

I wish I could help you out, but I’ve been having similar struggles. The sonas I made when I was younger don’t feel like me anymore, but I can’t settle on a new pony that I like. Keep us updated as you figure things out, but don’t feel pressured to decide on anything! I think the right name and cutie mark will come to you in time.

 

[stjarne]

@blueming thanks blue & i'm glad i'm not alone in that. i used to be able to churn out oc's like hotcakes, but that's because i was a kid & let my imagination run wild- i wasn't so caught up in what made them unique. i just enjoyed making them (and drawing them in comics, lol). i should learn from my younger self but it's hard

 

[Skybreeze]

Firstly, your sketch is very sweet.

As far as naming it can be as simple as naming a pony after something you like or a saying or whatever. I chose Skybreeze many, many years ago during my Neopets days and I had a Uni that I did over lays of Skybreeze. So she’s been apart of my life for well over 20 years now.

As I’ve grown so has Skybreeze and her designs and cutie mark. I’ve also aged her over the years through generations too. Because while she started life as my pegasus uni she was always an MLP in my eyes. Lol

Her symbol is a butterfly gliding on a summer breeze. Not sure why, I just liked it and it was easy enough to draw all the time and consistently. The colours I chose are my favourite colours a blue/teal for her coat, blue eyes (I had very blue eyes until I was one), mane is brown because I have brown hair and symbol is pink/purple dominate because I like those colours. Her hair is always up because mine is up a lot with little baby hairs all over half the time.

Also, you don’t have to give your pony a symbol. If you don’t have one yet, don’t stress over it. She can be a “blank flank” until you figure it out.

 

[stjarne]

Firstly, your sketch is very sweet.

As far as naming it can be as simple as naming a pony after something you like or a saying or whatever. I chose Skybreeze many, many years ago during my Neopets days and I had a Uni that I did over lays of Skybreeze. So she’s been apart of my life for well over 20 years now.

As I’ve grown so has Skybreeze and her designs and cutie mark. I’ve also aged her over the years through generations too. Because while she started life as my pegasus uni she was always an MLP in my eyes. Lol

Her symbol is a butterfly gliding on a summer breeze. Not sure why, I just liked it and it was easy enough to draw all the time and consistently. The colours I chose are my favourite colours a blue/teal for her coat, blue eyes (I had very blue eyes until I was one), mane is brown because I have brown hair and symbol is pink/purple dominate because I like those colours. Her hair is always up because mine is up a lot with little baby hairs all over half the time.

Also, you don’t have to give your pony a symbol. If you don’t have one yet, don’t stress over it. She can be a “blank flank” until you figure it out.

thank you for giving me some insight, it's super appreciated. neopets was where all my old oc's came from! they were what i always drew in comics as a kid & so they hold a lot of memory.
and thank you for the comment on the sketch-- i've always thought mine ended up looking and feeling a bit similar to yours, which was kinda a coincidence lol. i love light blue (among other colors) & pegasi are my fave especially in G3 (maybe they can be friends)

 

[StormMaeker]

My pony OC doesn’t have a cutie mark because I could never figure out what one to give them. I made my OC when playing around with that DeviantArt pony maker around 2011/12 time but I only managed to finally come up with a name a month or so ago, Atmos Lazuli (atmosphere + lapis lazuli because they’re so blue). The only thing that’s changed about them is the colour scheme slightly when trying to reuse the colour palette until I saved it properly and getting myself to do a character reference to keep the palette on it

I did at some point try to give Atmos a cutie mark but it was kind of forced, like the old name, but I had forgotten completely until I found old works. Now I’m fine with Atmos having no cute mark. They’re an all-rounder character and can be put into whatever situation I like. Also, Atmos isn’t really an OC that’s supposed to be me, they’re just a pony I’ve scribbled a lot


For the customs I’ve made somehow a cutie mark has came easier to me than with Atmos. Have you got an idea for what sort of colour palette your OC may have? It could give an idea of what sort of themes the cutie mark could be. The star-shaped clips/ties could somehow tie in with the cutie mark design. Lucky Lily’s colours were based on the base of the pony I used to custom but also some lilies that were on my dining room table. The cutie mark is just a literal lily but MLP’d up with the hearts. My first custom was just a spin on the base of the original pony (Heart Bright - Heart Break) and I’ve just finished a fakie custom which I’ll name Quiver Leaf… because that’s the only name that comes to me. I’m trying to come up with a friend for Atmos at the moment as well

Another way to come up with a name could be using alliteration, like Lucky Lily, Pinkie Pie, Star Swirl

I’m sorry this ended up being a really long response, I hope something helps!

 

[Daintress]

That is a super cute ponysona! I don't have one yet, but I always thought if I was going to make one, her cutie mark would be a waterfall scene because I love to hike to remote waterfalls. Even little ones. And I take a bunch of pictures, so I have lots of inspiration. Probably a waterfall similar to this one would make a good cutie mark. Sadly, I can't draw. LOL! So, the idea is here in my head, but that's where it will likely remain. I would probably call her Linne, after the feminine Gaelic word for waterfall. She'd be pale green, like the Basic Fun Minty, but she'd have to be in the Firefly pose. And she'd need blue, silver and green hair, with silver gem eyes....so clearly I've given this more thought than I gave myself credit for. LOL!

So, I guess my advice is: think of something you really like to do - maybe you went parasailing once and loved that, or fishing or skiing or maybe you like to sew, or sit by the fireside on a cold night...and turn that thing into your cutie mark, then turn your cutie mark into a name maybe by looking at your roots - do you have geneology related to a people who speak a different language? Maybe that could provide some guidance towards a name.

 

[Sassarazzmadazzles]

Well, for Po, she doesnt have a cutie mark cause she is just TOO much to have to choose one thing to represent her.
Its something that I will never give her, even though it is accustom for "ponies" to have symbols, I like her with her blank flank too much, but that may be cause when I was little, I never played with "ponies" just "horses" so that may be a reasoning why I don't ever give her a symbol

Edit: I wanted to ad that Po-Nay is not a representation of me myself, but rather a pony that I made from my own heart and love dearly

 

[stjarne]

thanks for all your different takes guys! there really is a lot of different things i could choose from so it's overwhelming. she may be a blank flank for awhile then. i'll just focus on name.

@StormMaeker i really appreciate the long response dont worry! im not sure about the color palette- i just know she's light blue & maybe has glittery wings. (like most g3 pegasi) blues, greens, pinks & reds are at the top of the list as fave colors.
i do like alliteration in pony names. and one word names in general. (i.e. lily lightly, star swirl, kimono, snuzzle, etc) i came up with a list last night of words i kinda like. i put it below:

Spoiler: Spoiler

Quirk, Quark, Blitz, Teensy, Tiny, Pebbles, Tumbler, 'Wittle', Wiggles, Star, Step, Lil', Leap, Scribble, Thimble, Mist, Magic, Eyes,
Light, Love, Wing, Tap, Beat, Ripple, Nimble, Dazzle, Mochi, Melt, etc.
there are some words in other languages i could consider too. 'sirimiri' for example is spanish & means "drizzle, light rain, drizzling rain, fine constant rain, sprinkle."

 

[StormMaeker]

thanks for all your different takes guys! there really is a lot of different things i could choose from so it's overwhelming. she may be a blank flank for awhile then. i'll just focus on name.

@StormMaeker i really appreciate the long response dont worry! im not sure about the color palette- i just know she's light blue & maybe has glittery wings. (like most g3 pegasi) blues, greens, pinks & reds are at the top of the list as fave colors.
i do like alliteration in pony names. and one word names in general. (i.e. lily lightly, star swirl, kimono, snuzzle, etc) i came up with a list last night of words i kinda like. i put it below:

Spoiler: Spoiler

Quirk, Quark, Blitz, Teensy, Tiny, Pebbles, Tumbler, 'Wittle', Wiggles, Star, Step, Lil', Leap, Scribble, Thimble, Mist, Magic, Eyes,
Light, Love, Wing, Tap, Beat, Ripple, Nimble, Dazzle, Mochi, Melt, etc.
there are some words in other languages i could consider too. 'sirimiri' for example is spanish & means "drizzle, light rain, drizzling rain, fine constant rain, sprinkle."

Your pony looks like she could be a Sirimiri, flying about with those glittery wings that could look like a light drizzle of rain in the sunlight

Of course it’s your choice what you go for, I think these are good sounding words so far

 

[Cozytoyhoard]

I never been able to pin down a ponysona, tho I've definitely tried lol.

Currently I'm leaning towards a chunky gray unicorn. Undecided on the hair, but I want it to be predominantly white. I'm toying with Cozyhoard for the name. Maybe a toychest for the symbol? Or a dragon??? Idk lmao.

Your sona doesn't have to be set in stone. You can mix it up however you want and no one will hold it against you. It is hard to switch back to the carefree art you did as a kid after you start doing ~serious~ art. But life is short. Make your sona how you want and not how you think other people would want it.

 

[Sassarazzmadazzles]

The way that I actually came up with Po, I was just doodling one night with my niece, (lots of other ponies), Then I just came up with a random Pegasus base and gave her accessories, and for some reason, I loved her so much. So I named her and later colored her.

I would say don't think TOO hard. If you think too hard, it'll become so much more complicated for you.

Unless this pony is specifically YOU then sure, put more "you" into it. But if you're just wanting a pony to call your own that you love, just let your pencil flow and something will come up soon ♥

 

[Tak]

There’s so much great advice in here. Just take your time. My daughter has changed her ponysona’s styles over the years. Mine in literally just me, how I feel inside, as a pony. I’m old, though, so I had lots of time to ponder her. Take all the time you need.

 

[stjarne]

just wanted to say thank you guys for all the support here. i've been experimenting and came up with a potential cutie mark for her/them. sneak peak here the colors of the lines are probably subject to change but general outline. supposed to be a falling star, with the line's from it's path forming a heart

 

[Tak]

just wanted to say thank you guys for all the support here. i've been experimenting and came up with a potential cutie mark for her/them. sneak peak here the colors of the lines are probably subject to change but general outline

View attachment 51156

I love it!

 

[cloverburiel]

Hello, obviously I am kinda new when it comes to starting out a ponysona, i just made mine even though i did do pony art. But for me I used some references from things I like such as nature and anime, i also like pastel cute things so I used that as main inspiration, I also like looking at g1, g2 and g3 for character inspiration, I also use a random color scheme generator as well.

 

[Neelah]

just wanted to say thank you guys for all the support here. i've been experimenting and came up with a potential cutie mark for her/them. sneak peak here the colors of the lines are probably subject to change but general outline. supposed to be a falling star, with the line's from it's path forming a heart

View attachment 51156

That's really cute!! It's giving me G3 vibes, idk it just kinda seems like it fits their overall feel. I really like it!