I started doodling a beaver and I'm now realizing that there is a LOT you have to decide on. Nova and Maffi had colors already set out for me to use and I don't have that here so I'll have to decide that; I'm thinking maybe orange? I definitely feel like I want something bright, maybe unnatural. And then I will have to somehow pick out hair and personality... and then the hardest part, a name!
My strategy, like with Maffi, is to play around with pixel art first and then move on from there.