Learning the Basics of Stylised Character Design
If, like me, you struggle to do any justice to the human form in sketch, then I suggest taking a more gentle and fun approach to drawing people by following online classes or art books which teach how to draw stylised characters. I am by no means an art expert: I’ve done my schooling in science rather than the arts, but I have found learning to draw stylised characters much more straightforward and fun than trying to create realistic drawings of people.
“Illustrate People in Procreate: Basics of Stylised Character Design” by Iva Mikles
The above title is the name of the class I am following on SkillShare.com. The class teaches you to draw the different aspects of the body (head, hair, face, torso, arms, hands, legs and feet) within normal and exaggerated proportions, within a composition (in this class, that is within a window of a house).
Currently, I am practicing drawing both male and female heads with different hairstyles. This has been so much fun to do!! I’ve also started experimenting with watercolour pencils, to give the basic sketches a bit of vibrancy. This has led me to watch numerous videos (on YouTube and SkillShare.com) to get my head around how to effectively use watercolours. I will post about what I learn at a later date after further art adventures in that direction. For now, I hope to get to the point of drawing fully formed characters in a few weeks and posting them on my gallery page.
Below are a few basic drawings I have done while following the class.
Basic head sketch (made using the Procreate app on an iPad)
Male head with purple curly hair (made using the Procreate app on an iPad)
Male head with red, curly hair (coloured with watercolour pencils)
Purple hair (coloured with watercolour pencils)
Blond Curly Hair: Male Head
I really recommend the “Illustrate People in Procreate: Basics of Stylised Character Design” class by Iva Mikles, if you are particularly interested in more cartoon type people illustrations. It’s a fun class, and definitely teaches the beginner drawer a lot of new tricks.