Top 10 Tips for Drawing Characters
Whether it's superheroes, Disney characters, or any form of cartoon characters, there are specific techniques that can help when drawing them.
Many of these tips can also apply to drawing other subjects as well. However, they are especially helpful for improving your ability to draw characters.
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Use basic shapes (squares, circles, etc.) to construct body proportions
It's a wise idea to outline the body using basic shapes, and then trace over them.
That way, it'll be easier to construct the body's overall structure.
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Use a light hand
I got better control over pencil pressure when I shaded anime eyes and hair, and then started drawing light guidelines.
It looked less blocky when I used a bunch of different shapes and inked over the final lines.
Don't draw too hard since you will likely need to erase afterward, which can cause smudges.
This tip applies to drawing almost anything.
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Use lines to outline the face
When you're drawing facial features, it helps to use thin lines to place them in the desired spots.
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Use examples or reference pictures
Examples or pictures can help give you a clear visual of how to draw something correctly and with fewer errors.
That's what I do!
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Use markers to create a cartoon-like style
Markers can help make the drawing look more cartoony if that's the style you're going for.
If you want the drawing to look more realistic, use colored pencils instead.
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Use different markers for varying shades
Self-explanatory. If you want a particular part of a character to look darker, use a darker marker.
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Use rulers, coins, or similar objects to trace shapes easily
Using these tools can significantly help you produce better results in your drawings.
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Use correct proportions
It's best to use proper scaling to make sure your character's body is proportionate (unless you're drawing a caricature, in which case tip #9 is more useful).
For example, don't draw unusually short or long legs if the rest of the body is too short.
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Use specific features to exaggerate when drawing caricatures
Make specific features larger than their usual size when drawing caricatures.
You can also enlarge the face itself, or both the facial features and the face.
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Use the grid technique
The grid technique is useful for almost any kind of drawing, but it's especially helpful when drawing characters. It involves lightly tracing squares and using them to draw the character's whole body by constructing it piece by piece. It's kind of like putting puzzle pieces together.
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Use icons to simplify complex features
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Use observation of the art style's characteristics to guide your design