How to Draw - Character Design

Character Design

If you're planning on starting from scratch and creating you're own character, you've got to go from the basics. It's one thing to verbally describe your character in terms of height, hair color, outfit, etc. It's another thing to draw them in context with other characters and settings.

First, you need to start sketching. You may already know in your head what you want, but it's often difficult to put that image down on paper. You may end up simplifying or changing some aspects of your character to make them easier to draw, especially their clothes. Simple is always better. If you're not sure what you want, sketching is even more important. Experiment with designs and styles of illustration. You may want your art to be lifelike, or cartoon-style. Whatever you like best is what you should aim for.

Secondly, you need to create rules for your character's design that will keep their look consistent. Make mental notes of where their hair falls to, how long the clothes are in relation to parts of the body, etc. This also goes for facial structure. Remembering these basic rules will help you sketch more quickly, and your character's look will not unintentionally change from drawing to drawing.

Once you have a look that you're comfortable with, create a design sheet. Animators and comic book artists use these to make sure other artists in their studio all draw a character the same way. Design sheets can include body sketches, facial expressions, clothing styles, and some key frames of motion for reference. They don't have to be completed drawings, but simple sketches to serve as a frame of reference. Below are some examples of design sheets for my four main character species.

First, the dragons. These sketches cover the basic body plan and head shape, plus some anatomy details, expressions, and finally movement during a stride.

Next are the eagles. There's a basic body sketch, detail of the head and foot, a landing pose for movement reference, and a sketch in the upper right showing the wing and feet in an upward flight stroke.

A griffon design sheet, with head structure details, and sketches from profile and partial tilt positons.

This lion design sheet includes some sketches of how emotion is displayed in the head and feet.

Here are a couple character designs for a hyena-ground sloth creature and a Pteranodon done in the art style seen in Samurai Jack. Be sure to make notes on any ideas you may have mid-drawing!

And here are some character design sheets for Saura, a character featured in my Samurai Jack fanfiction.

Character design sheets are by no means permanent. If any of you remember my old drawings of my characters, you'll know how much their look has changed over the years. As your artistic skill is honed, you'll find yourself better able to express your characters, and may tweak their basic design or revamp it entirely.