Human OC Ideas

Press the button for one human OC: age and place in life, daily occupation, look, habit, want and secret.

Human OC Ideas: 30 OCs

A bachelor uncle of fifty-five, invited to everything, who keeps the keys for three neighbors on vacation. Look: curls pinned up with a pencil. Habit: asks strangers what they are reading. Wants a seat on the team bus. Hides a map with one street circled.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

  • Age and place in lifebachelor uncle of fifty-five, invited to everything
  • What they do all daykeeps the keys for three neighbors on vacation
  • Look and one detailcurls pinned up with a pencil
  • A habitasks strangers what they are reading
  • A wanta seat on the team bus
  • What they hidea map with one street circled
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    OC of the day

     

    1. A bachelor uncle of fifty-five, invited to everything, who keeps the keys for three neighbors on vacation. Look: curls pinned up with a pencil. Habit: asks strangers what they are reading. Wants a seat on the team bus. Hides a map with one street circled.
    2. A twelve-year-old girl, eldest of five and second in command, who reads aloud at the nursing home. Look: a sweatshirt whose cuffs are gnawed to threads. Habit: hums the song from the last store they were in. Wants to be called by their full name, not the nickname. Hides shame about a paperback kept nine years too long.
    3. A woman of twenty-nine, everyone's emergency contact, who sews costumes for the dance school's recital. Look: a vest with far too many pockets, all in use. Habit: taps out a marching beat on any tabletop. Wants a window that faces the sunrise. Hides loneliness at their own parties.
    4. A woman of twenty-nine, everyone's emergency contact, who repairs the whole building's bicycles for nothing. Look: braids finished with mismatched beads. Habit: picks the slowest checkout line, to chat. Wants to stop being introduced as someone's sibling. Hides a second diary, written for snoopers to find.
    5. A grandmother of sixty-eight, newly a runner, who fixes radios from the curb and gives them away. Look: a bike helmet clipped to the bag. Habit: slips out of gatherings unannounced. Wants to be handed the map on the next trip. Hides a set of juggling balls, nearly mastered.
    6. An eleven-year-old in the middle of a growth spurt, who organizes the block's yearly cleanup. Look: a bike helmet clipped to the bag. Habit: gives directions using long-vanished storefronts. Wants a bike with no previous owner. Hides a set of juggling balls, nearly mastered.
    7. A middle child of forty-four, still the peacemaker, who fishes from the pier and throws everything back. Look: bangs trimmed too short last week. Habit: apologizes to any doorframe they collide with. Wants to stay awake through a meteor shower. Hides a cookie tin of movie stubs from one rough year.
    8. A woman of twenty-two, sole tenant of a first studio, who folds napkins at the family restaurant before opening. Look: a thermos carried like a baton. Habit: photographs meals but never people. Wants a garden plot on the waiting list's first page. Hides relief that the big plan fell through.
    9. A woman of sixty, newly the boss, who laps the municipal pool until the lifeguard yawns. Look: an ankle-length skirt concealing cargo pockets. Habit: keeps a joke ready for elevators. Wants to be handed the map on the next trip. Hides a second diary, written for snoopers to find.
    10. An empty nester of fifty with a suddenly quiet house, who restores a jukebox one part at a time. Look: headphones worn round the neck like a collar. Habit: bounds up staircases, skipping alternate treads. Wants to cross the reservoir stroke by stroke by August. Hides that they quit the team and still wear the jacket.
    11. A twelve-year-old girl, eldest of five and second in command, who walks the shoreline with a metal detector. Look: binoculars hung on a shoelace. Habit: clears their throat before disagreeing. Wants a desk by the window at the back. Hides a report card from fourth grade.
    12. A sixteen-year-old girl with a brand-new driving permit, who knits hats nobody asked for. Look: bib overalls clipped on a single shoulder. Habit: ends voice messages with their own name. Wants to cook the family's holiday meal without help. Hides shame about a paperback kept nine years too long.
    13. A retiree of sixty-six, volunteer at everything, who repairs the whole building's bicycles for nothing. Look: a sweatshirt whose cuffs are gnawed to threads. Habit: doodles cubes in every margin. Wants to stay awake through a meteor shower. Hides that they quit the team and still wear the jacket.
    14. A grandfather of seventy-one, new to texting, who delivers the street's newsletter by hand. Look: socks that never match, chosen on purpose. Habit: balances along the gutter edge, heel to toe. Wants a part in the play with at least one line. Hides envy of a friend's noisy house.
    15. A man of twenty-four back in his childhood bedroom, who folds napkins at the family restaurant before opening. Look: curls pinned up with a pencil. Habit: thanks the crossing signal when it changes. Wants to be mistaken for brave. Hides a talent for impressions, used on nobody.
    16. An eighteen-year-old girl on a gap year she did not plan, who watches trains from the footbridge. Look: a vest with far too many pockets, all in use. Habit: lines up objects by height. Wants to be called by their full name, not the nickname. Hides having voted for the other name for the dog.
    17. A new father of thirty running on three hours of sleep, who minds the booth at the weekend flea market. Look: a backpack hung with clinking keychains. Habit: waves at the driver again from the curb. Wants to be picked first, for anything. Hides that the prize essay had a second author.
    18. A bachelor uncle of fifty-five, invited to everything, who counts birds for a yearly survey. Look: socks that never match, chosen on purpose. Habit: apologizes to any doorframe they collide with. Wants to beat a parent at chess, just once. Hides a savings tin labeled something boring.
    19. A stepfather of forty learning two teenagers' names for things, who knits hats nobody asked for. Look: paint-flecked jeans and spotless sneakers. Habit: ends voice messages with their own name. Wants to be taken for a local. Hides hope about a letter that has not come.
    20. A woman of forty, the family's middle sister, who helps coach the youngest swimmers. Look: a lunch box older than they are. Habit: picks up every call by announcing first and last name. Wants to hike the ridge that shows from the kitchen. Hides shame about a paperback kept nine years too long.
    21. An eleven-year-old in the middle of a growth spurt, who teaches chess in the park to anyone who sits. Look: a school blazer with someone else's name inside. Habit: peels the labels off bottles in one piece. Wants to keep a diary for a whole year. Hides a talent for impressions, used on nobody.
    22. A man of forty-eight, the oldest player on the team, who teaches chess in the park to anyone who sits. Look: hair left unpinned, down to the elbows. Habit: taps out a marching beat on any tabletop. Wants a desk by the window at the back. Hides envy of a friend's noisy house.
    23. A fifteen-year-old boy, suddenly taller than his best friend, who runs the same six miles at dawn. Look: headphones worn round the neck like a collar. Habit: smooths every tablecloth within reach. Wants to read every book on one particular shelf. Hides joy at being the last one awake.
    24. A twelve-year-old girl, eldest of five and second in command, who organizes the block's yearly cleanup. Look: a denim jacket crowded with enamel pins. Habit: greets the bus driver by the wrong name, daily. Wants to ride each bus route as far as it will go. Hides weariness with their own greatest talent.
    25. A woman of forty, the family's middle sister, who walks five dogs for five neighbors. Look: a home haircut, a little crooked. Habit: slips out of gatherings unannounced. Wants to beat a parent at chess, just once. Hides weariness with their own greatest talent.
    26. A man of thirty-five starting over in a new city, who folds napkins at the family restaurant before opening. Look: hair left unpinned, down to the elbows. Habit: answers quiz shows out loud, usually wrong. Wants to raise a squash that needs a wheelbarrow. Hides delight in thunderstorms.
    27. A new mother of thirty-three back at work this week, who records the sounds of the neighborhood. Look: a memo pad strapped closed with a hair tie. Habit: tears paper napkins into even strips. Wants one stamp in a brand-new passport. Hides that the prize essay had a second author.
    28. A nineteen-year-old on a first night shift, who grows prize tomatoes on a fire escape. Look: a home haircut, a little crooked. Habit: answers quiz shows out loud, usually wrong. Wants to be mistaken for brave. Hides a report card from fourth grade.
    29. A man of forty-eight, the oldest player on the team, who referees the pickup games nobody else will. Look: a memo pad strapped closed with a hair tie. Habit: keeps a joke ready for elevators. Wants a bike with no previous owner. Hides pride in a sibling they tease in public.
    30. A man of sixty-two in his first week of retirement, who counts birds for a yearly survey. Look: a lunch box older than they are. Habit: greets the bus driver by the wrong name, daily. Wants to hike the ridge that shows from the kitchen. Hides hope about a letter that has not come.

    Next step Get a scene to draw this OC inGive this OC a past

    Age and place in life: all 42 ages and places

    Boys and men 14

    • bachelor uncle of fifty-five, invited to everything A gift bag in one hand, wherever he stands.
    • college freshman whose parents never had his chance A lanyard worn outside the jacket, proudly.
    • fifteen-year-old boy, suddenly taller than his best friend Pant cuffs an inch short, and a slouch to hide it.
    • grandfather of seventy-one, new to texting A phone held at arm's length, and one finger typing.
    • great-grandfather of ninety with no barber left Hair a little longer than his generation wears it.
    • man of forty-eight, the oldest player on the team Knee tape, and a grin wider than anyone else's.
    • man of sixty-two in his first week of retirement A wristwatch he keeps checking for no reason.
    • man of thirty-five starting over in a new city Boxes for furniture, and one framed picture already hung.
    • man of twenty-four back in his childhood bedroom Adult shoulders under a ceiling of glow stars.
    • new father of thirty running on three hours of sleep One shirt button off by a hole, and a cloth forgotten on the shoulder.
    • nine-year-old boy, the youngest of four brothers Hand-me-down sleeves rolled twice, and a stance copied from someone bigger.
    • seventeen-year-old boy in his last summer at home A duffel bag half packed in every background.
    • stepfather of forty learning two teenagers' names for things A careful half step back from every group.
    • twelve-year-old boy newly arrived from another country A dictionary in the back pocket, and eyes that watch mouths.

    Girls and women 14

    • aunt of fifty-two, stand-in mother to her sister's kids Three graduation photographs in one wallet.
    • eighteen-year-old girl on a gap year she did not plan A name tag from a job, half hidden by a scarf.
    • fourteen-year-old girl one week into a new school Backpack worn on both shoulders, straps pulled tight.
    • grandmother of sixty-eight, newly a runner New shoes that are far brighter than anything else she owns.
    • great-aunt of eighty-five, last of nine siblings A ring on a neck chain, and a chair nearest the door.
    • new mother of thirty-three back at work this week A photograph taped inside a notebook cover.
    • sixteen-year-old girl with a brand-new driving permit Car keys held like a medal.
    • ten-year-old girl, the only child on a street of retirees Pockets full of other people's hard candy.
    • twelve-year-old girl, eldest of five and second in command A baby on one hip drawn as casually as a schoolbag.
    • woman of forty, the family's middle sister Standing between two people in every group, with a hand on each.
    • woman of forty-six, back in school this fall A highlighter behind one ear, and reading glasses pushed up.
    • woman of sixty, newly the boss A blazer over the chair more often than on her.
    • woman of twenty-nine, everyone's emergency contact A phone in the hand in every pose, with the screen lit.
    • woman of twenty-two, sole tenant of a first studio A single mug, a single chair, and many plants.

    Could be anyone 14

    • eleven-year-old in the middle of a growth spurt Wrists showing past the cuffs, and a new clumsiness with doors.
    • empty nester of fifty with a suddenly quiet house Table set for one at the corner of a table for six.
    • exchange student halfway through the year Two flags on one backpack.
    • fifteen-year-old on a fourth house move A bag that is never fully unpacked.
    • high school senior, a year younger than the class The smallest person in a row of the same graduation gown.
    • middle child of forty-four, still the peacemaker Palms out, between two people.
    • neighbor of seventy-five, memory of the whole block A folding chair on the sidewalk, angled to see both corners.
    • newcomer of fifty-eight learning the language Sticky notes naming everything in the kitchen.
    • nineteen-year-old on a first night shift Eyes very wide under fluorescent light.
    • only child of thirty caring for two parents Two shopping lists and one calendar, carried everywhere.
    • person of thirty-eight, twice promoted and lost A good coat, and a look around for the exit.
    • retiree of sixty-six, volunteer at everything Three different lanyards on one neck.
    • thirteen-year-old twin, the younger by six minutes Always drawn half a step behind and a little to one side.
    • twenty-six-year-old sharing a house with five strangers A labeled shelf in a crowded refrigerator.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-03. Made up for this list: 14 boys and men, 14 girls and women and 14 that could be anyone, from nine years old to ninety. None is a real person. No entry describes a body's shape or how good anyone looks. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    What they do all day: all 42 occupations

    Making and mending 14

    • bakes for the entire block every Friday Flour on the forearms and a tea towel over one shoulder.
    • builds model bridges out of spaghetti A glue gun, and a look of dread at open windows.
    • carves spoons on the back step A thumb wrapped in tape, and curls of wood on the boots.
    • fixes radios from the curb and gives them away A screwdriver behind the ear, and an antenna under one arm.
    • grows prize tomatoes on a fire escape Twine, stakes, and a watering can made from a milk jug.
    • is rebuilding a rowboat in the driveway Sawdust in the hair, and a pencil gripped in the teeth.
    • keeps six beehives on a flat roof A veil pushed back like a sun hat.
    • knits hats nobody asked for A ball of yarn trailing from a coat pocket.
    • letters the chalkboard menus on one street Chalk dust to the elbow on one arm only.
    • paints the scenery for a community theater A stripe of sky blue across one knee.
    • presses flowers from every vacant lot A fat book held shut with rubber bands.
    • repairs the whole building's bicycles for nothing Black fingertips, and one clean thumb for the phone.
    • restores a jukebox one part at a time A chrome reflection across the face.
    • sews costumes for the dance school's recital A wrist pincushion and loose sequins on the sleeves.

    With other people 14

    • delivers the street's newsletter by hand A canvas bag worn across the body.
    • folds napkins at the family restaurant before opening An apron tied over ordinary clothes.
    • hands out programs at the concert hall A stack fanned in one hand like playing cards.
    • helps coach the youngest swimmers A whistle, a towel, and wet shoes.
    • keeps the keys for three neighbors on vacation Three key rings on one finger, each with a paper tag.
    • keeps the scorebook for the local ball team A pencil on a string round the neck.
    • minds the booth at the weekend flea market A cash box on the knees, and a thermos by one foot.
    • organizes the block's yearly cleanup A clipboard, and one glove tucked in the back pocket.
    • reads aloud at the nursing home A finger keeping the place, and eyes up over the page.
    • reads the announcements at the community center One hand cupped at the mouth out of habit.
    • referees the pickup games nobody else will Arms half raised, ready for either call.
    • sorts the unclaimed goggles at the swim club A box of single goggles at the hip.
    • teaches chess in the park to anyone who sits Two fingers resting on an invisible clock.
    • walks five dogs for five neighbors Leashes braided round one wrist, and a lean to the left.

    Alone, mostly 14

    • counts birds for a yearly survey Binoculars and a stub of pencil on a clipboard.
    • fishes from the pier and throws everything back A bucket that is always empty.
    • laps the municipal pool until the lifeguard yawns A goggle ring pressed round each eye.
    • plays the same pinball machine at the laundromat Hips angled, and both thumbs busy.
    • practices the trumpet in a parking garage Cheeks full, and the eyes shut.
    • records the sounds of the neighborhood A fuzzy microphone held out like an offering.
    • runs the same six miles at dawn Reflective tape on one ankle.
    • skates the empty rink before it opens Scarf ends flying straight back.
    • solves the newspaper crossword in pen Ink on the side of the writing hand.
    • studies in the library's farthest carrel A tower of books with a head behind it.
    • takes one picture of a single lamppost each noon A camera strap wound twice round the wrist.
    • times the tide with a stopwatch, for fun A stopwatch in one fist, and a notebook page ruled into columns.
    • walks the shoreline with a metal detector Headphones on one ear only.
    • watches trains from the footbridge Forearms on the rail and the chin on the forearms.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-03. Made up for this list: pastimes and unpaid jobs that a person of nine or of ninety could have. No brand, team, app or company is named. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    Look and one detail: all 42 looks

    Clothes 14

    • a denim jacket crowded with enamel pins Draw four pins properly and suggest the rest as dots.
    • a grandparent's coat, taken in at the seams Old-fashioned lapels on a modern frame.
    • a pressed shirt, even on Saturdays Crisp creases down each sleeve.
    • a school blazer with someone else's name inside Show the collar turned out once, with the label.
    • a secondhand blazer over a concert tee Sharp shoulders, soft collar. Keep the contrast.
    • a soccer jersey from a team that folded A faded crest drawn as a blur.
    • a sweater knitted by someone who guessed the size Sleeves past the knuckles and a hem at the hip. Keep it roomy in every pose.
    • a sweatshirt whose cuffs are gnawed to threads Thumbs hooked in the cuffs in every relaxed pose.
    • a vest with far too many pockets, all in use Give each pocket a different bulge, and let one flap stay open.
    • a yellow slicker that swallows both hands Only the fingertips show at the cuffs.
    • an ankle-length skirt concealing cargo pockets Hands vanish to the wrist at the hips.
    • bib overalls clipped on a single shoulder The loose strap swings and counters every movement.
    • paint-flecked jeans and spotless sneakers Speckle the knees and leave the shoes pure white.
    • socks that never match, chosen on purpose Give each sock its own pattern and color.

    Hair and head 14

    • a bleached streak growing out Two bands of color, with a soft line between them.
    • a buzz cut, and a knit cap kept in the pocket The cap's shape shows in the jacket.
    • a headscarf in a different print each day Treat the scarf as the place for color in the design.
    • a home haircut, a little crooked One side sits a finger lower. Keep it consistent.
    • a paper clip doing the work of a hairpin One bright bent wire above the ear, catching the light.
    • a part that changes sides with the weather Draw the part on the left in one panel and on the right in the next.
    • a side part as straight as a ruler One clean pale line, front to back.
    • a sun hat with a chewed chin cord The cord's frayed end is always near the mouth.
    • a topknot poking out above a visor The visor's brim is curved from being rolled in a pocket.
    • bangs trimmed too short last week A wide clear forehead, and a hand that keeps checking.
    • braids finished with mismatched beads Each bead a different color, and drawn to click.
    • curls pinned up with a pencil The pencil is sharpened, and gets used.
    • hair left unpinned, down to the elbows Let it move more than the clothes do.
    • headphones worn round the neck like a collar Two round shapes under the jaw.

    Worn or carried 14

    • a backpack hung with clinking keychains Draw it from behind first. It is the outline.
    • a bandage on a different finger every week Small, plain, and never explained.
    • a bike helmet clipped to the bag A round shape bumping at the hip.
    • a book bag bearing a branch library's stamp Corners of three books press through the cloth.
    • a chunky band on the pointing finger It taps on tables, so draw it near surfaces.
    • a lunch box older than they are Dented corners and a newer handle.
    • a memo pad strapped closed with a hair tie The corner of it shows above a back pocket.
    • a pencil case that doubles as a wallet The zipper gapes, and coins show among the pens.
    • a thermos carried like a baton A steel flask gripped at the middle, swinging with the stride.
    • a woven wristband bleached to pale straw Loose threads at the knot.
    • an umbrella carried on cloudless days Hooked over the forearm like a cane.
    • binoculars hung on a shoelace Small field glasses bumping at the chest on a knotted lace.
    • eyeglass frames rejoined by a twist of copper A tiny bright twist at one temple.
    • sneakers with handwriting along the soles Names and dates in pen round the white rubber.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-03. Made up for this list: clothes, hair and things worn or carried. Every look is something the character chose or was handed down: none is a body shape, a skin tone or a judgment of how good anyone looks. No brand is named. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    A habit: all 42 habits

    In talk 14

    • answers quiz shows out loud, usually wrong Leaning toward a screen with one finger raised, mid-answer.
    • apologizes to any doorframe they collide with A hand patting the doorframe.
    • asks strangers what they are reading Leaning in, with the head tilted to see a cover.
    • clears their throat before disagreeing A fist at the mouth, and the eyebrows raised.
    • ends voice messages with their own name A phone held flat like a slice of toast.
    • gives directions using long-vanished storefronts Pointing at a building, with the other hand sketching an older one.
    • greets the bus driver by the wrong name, daily A cheerful wave at a bus door, and a driver who has stopped correcting it.
    • hums the song from the last store they were in A shopping bag on one arm, and three notes drawn trailing behind.
    • keeps a joke ready for elevators A sideways glance, and a breath taken in.
    • lip-syncs to whatever leaks from a stranger's earbuds Lips just parted, and eyes on someone's earbuds.
    • picks up every call by announcing first and last name Standing straighter for the first two seconds of a call.
    • recites billboards under their breath Chin up, and the mouth forming capital letters.
    • thanks the crossing signal when it changes A small nod at a traffic light, from the curb.
    • waves at the driver again from the curb Half turned back on the sidewalk, with one hand up.

    With the hands 14

    • clicks a pen in sets of three Draw the thumb blurred and the rest of the hand still.
    • cracks each knuckle before starting anything Hands laced, and pushed outward.
    • doodles cubes in every margin Stacked boxes down the side of any page in the scene.
    • draws on fogged windows, then wipes it away A fingertip face on a bus window, half erased by a sleeve.
    • lines up objects by height Salt, pepper, phone and keys in a tidy slope.
    • peels the labels off bottles in one piece A curl of paper kept flat under a glass.
    • pokes elevator buttons with one knuckle An index finger bent, never straight.
    • pushes one cuff up and tugs it down again One arm bare to the elbow and the other covered.
    • sets a quarter twirling whenever they are stuck A silver blur on a tabletop.
    • shuffles cards when there is no game A pack arcing between the two palms.
    • smooths every tablecloth within reach Both palms sweeping outward across a table edge.
    • squares up their seat before walking away A hand on the chair back, last of all.
    • taps out a marching beat on any tabletop The fingers lifted, caught mid-beat.
    • tears paper napkins into even strips A small pale heap beside the plate.

    In a place 14

    • balances along the gutter edge, heel to toe Arms a little out, and eyes down.
    • bounds up staircases, skipping alternate treads One foot planted, and the other hanging over a gap.
    • checks the stove twice from the hallway Leaning back through a doorway, with the coat already on.
    • claims the third row on the left of any bus A bag set on one particular seat, like a flag.
    • eats dessert before the meal when alone A spoon in a pudding, beside an untouched plate.
    • falls asleep in any moving vehicle The head against a window, and the mouth a little open.
    • knows which floorboard creaks in every house they visit One long careful step over a board that looks like all the others.
    • photographs meals but never people A phone held flat above a plate.
    • picks the slowest checkout line, to chat A basket with three things in it, behind the fullest cart in the store.
    • saves the window seat for their bag A backpack buckled in like a passenger.
    • slips out of gatherings unannounced A coat lifted from the pile, and a back in the doorway.
    • stands at the rear of every group photograph A head just showing between two shoulders.
    • stops to pet every cat on the route Crouched, with one hand out and the bag sliding off.
    • waters other people's plants in waiting rooms A paper cup tipped over a pot.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-03. Made up for this list: small things a person does without thinking. None is an illness, a disability or a feature of anyone's body. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    A want: all 42 wants

    To do something 14

    • to beat a parent at chess, just once One hand hovering over a piece, not yet committed.
    • to build a kite that actually flies A kite nose down in the grass, and string wound round both hands.
    • to cook the family's holiday meal without help A recipe card propped against a pot.
    • to cross the reservoir stroke by stroke by August A far shore drawn small, and toes at the waterline.
    • to finish a puzzle of three thousand pieces A table given over to it, and meals eaten standing up.
    • to hike the ridge that shows from the kitchen A finger on a window, tracing the skyline.
    • to keep a diary for a whole year A page numbered in the corner, in the hundreds.
    • to play one whole tune without the sheet music A music stand turned to face the wall.
    • to raise a squash that needs a wheelbarrow Arms measuring a circle of air.
    • to read every book on one particular shelf A bookmark most of the way along the row.
    • to ride each bus route as far as it will go A transit map with routes inked over.
    • to speak in front of the whole assembly Index cards gone soft from handling.
    • to stay awake through a meteor shower A blanket on a roof, and a flask.
    • to whistle loudly enough to stop a bus Two fingers at the lips and cheeks full, on an empty curb.

    To have something 14

    • a bedroom with a working latch A hand flat on a closed door, from the inside.
    • a bike with no previous owner A handlebar with fresh tape over old.
    • a desk by the window at the back An eye on a seat across the room.
    • a dog of any size, shape or temper A leash already bought, hanging on a hook.
    • a garden plot on the waiting list's first page Seed packets sorted in a shoebox.
    • a library card with no fines on it A card held up to the light like a banknote.
    • a part in the play with at least one line A script with a single sentence highlighted.
    • a seat on the team bus A bag packed, at the edge of a parking lot.
    • a single unscheduled Saturday A calendar square left white among crowded ones.
    • a telescope, and somewhere dark to use it A cardboard tube held up to one eye.
    • a window that faces the sunrise A chair turned toward a blank wall, practicing.
    • one stamp in a brand-new passport A blank booklet, opened and closed.
    • their name on the wall of record times A plaque board, and one finger on an empty slot.
    • their own key to the workshop An empty split ring, turned over in the fingers.

    To be seen differently 14

    • to be believed about the thing they saw Both hands spread, describing a size.
    • to be called by their full name, not the nickname A name tag corrected in pen.
    • to be forgiven for last winter A letter started on three different sheets.
    • to be good at something nobody taught them A corner of a room with one worn patch on the floor.
    • to be handed the map on the next trip Hands half raised toward a folded map that someone else is holding.
    • to be invited to stay and eat Lingering in a kitchen doorway with the coat on.
    • to be left alone for one afternoon A handwritten sign taped to a door.
    • to be mistaken for brave Chin up, and both hands deep in the pockets.
    • to be picked first, for anything Standing a little forward of the line.
    • to be remembered by the bus driver A small wave, and hope.
    • to be taken for a local A map folded very small in a fist.
    • to be the one people call when it matters A phone face up on the table, watched.
    • to be thought funny by one particular person A joke begun, and eyes checking one face.
    • to stop being introduced as someone's sibling Half hidden behind a taller figure, and leaning out.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-03. Made up for this list: ordinary wants that a person of any age could have, none of them about romance, looks or money for its own sake. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    What they hide: all 42 hidden things

    A thing 14

    • a cookie tin of movie stubs from one rough year A tin under the bed with a lid that does not quite close.
    • a costume from a play that was canceled One bright sleeve showing from a garment bag.
    • a drawer of letters never mailed Envelopes addressed and stamped, in a neat stack.
    • a harmonica played only in the stairwell A small rectangle making a shape in a shirt pocket.
    • a map with one street circled Pinned behind a calendar.
    • a novel, three chapters long, in a desk A stack of paper with a rubber band, face down.
    • a phone full of photographs of clouds A screen tilted away from the viewer.
    • a pickle jar of beach glass beneath the mattress Green and brown light on the floorboards.
    • a report card from fourth grade A folded square in the back of a wallet.
    • a savings tin labeled something boring A cocoa tin that rattles wrongly.
    • a second diary, written for snoopers to find Two notebooks: one on the pillow, and one taped under a drawer.
    • a set of juggling balls, nearly mastered Three round bulges in a coat.
    • a stray kitten in the garage A saucer by a door, and scratches on one hand.
    • a trophy won for something embarrassing A small gold figure at the back of a closet shelf.

    A fact 14

    • a birthday wish from three years ago, still pending One spent candle kept in a drawer.
    • a dislike of the dish everyone thinks is the favorite A polite second helping, and a full fork held still.
    • a middle name nobody has been told A form filled in, with one box left carefully blank.
    • a talent for impressions, used on nobody A face caught mid-mimic in a mirror, with the door shut.
    • having voted for the other name for the dog A dog looking up at its name tag, and a face looking away.
    • never having learned to tie a necktie A tie kept knotted on its hanger, ready to slip on over the head.
    • not knowing left from right without checking a hand A quick glance down at one thumb and forefinger making an L.
    • the real reason for quitting piano lessons A closed keyboard lid with a potted plant on it.
    • that the deep end has beaten them two times Goggles on, at the shallow end, alone.
    • that the prize essay had a second author A certificate hung just off center.
    • that the signature casserole starts with a mix A carton pushed to the bottom of the trash.
    • that they are afraid of escalators A long look at the stairs beside.
    • that they quit the team and still wear the jacket A sleeve patch with the year picked off.
    • that they understand more of the language than they speak A small smile at the wrong moment.

    A feeling 14

    • a soft spot for the neighbor they complain about A snow shovel carried one house too far.
    • delight in thunderstorms A face at a window when everyone else has stepped back.
    • dread of the telephone ringing A glance at a screen, and then the screen turned over.
    • envy of a friend's noisy house Lingering on a porch after the goodbye.
    • homesickness for a place they left at five A hand resting on a globe, in passing.
    • hope about a letter that has not come A walk to the mailbox drawn three times across a page.
    • joy at being the last one awake Feet up, one lamp, and a dark house.
    • loneliness at their own parties At the sink, washing glasses, while the room goes on behind.
    • nerves before every single haircut Hands gripping a cape from underneath.
    • pride in a sibling they tease in public A newspaper clipping folded in a phone case.
    • relief that the big plan fell through Shoulders dropping while the face stays sorry.
    • shame about a paperback kept nine years too long A spine turned to the wall on a shelf.
    • weariness with their own greatest talent A medal used as a bookmark.
    • worry that a grandparent is lonely A second cup set out on every visit.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-03. Made up for this list: small secrets, none of them a crime, an illness or anything about romance. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    How it works

    These human OC ideas come in six parts: an age and place in life, what the character does all day, a look with one detail, a habit, a want and a thing they hide. No powers, no magic, no costume.

    Read the full guide

    Normal character ideas need one odd detail

    Each part is ordinary and one detail is exact: a sweater knitted by someone who guessed the size, a thermos carried like a baton, sneakers with handwriting along the soles. Draw the detail first. It is what makes a normal person a character.

    How the parts fit any age

    The occupations, wants and secrets were written to suit a child of nine and a great-grandfather of ninety. A want is small enough to draw: to cross the reservoir stroke by stroke by August, or a bedroom with a working latch.

    • The hidden thing gives you a second drawing: the same character, alone.

    Questions and answers

    Does it deal boy OC ideas and girl OC ideas?

    Both. Of the 42 entries in the first list, 14 are boys and men, 14 are girls and women and 14 could be anyone. The tool mixes all three, so press again until that part suits.

    What makes human character ideas interesting without powers?

    A want and a secret. On this page a character may want to be taken for a local and hide a middle name nobody has been told. Neither needs a cape.

    Does any part describe a body?

    No. The look list holds clothes, hair and things worn or carried, and every look is one the character chose or was handed down. No entry is a body shape, a skin tone or a judgment of looks.

    Are these based on real people?

    No. Every age, occupation, look, habit, want and secret was made up for this page, and no real person, brand or team is named.

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