Introductory Guide to Character Art & Design

Designing a new character is a fun endeavor for any artist, no matter your experience level. In this article, learn the basic approach of character design as well as digital art tips using apps like Clip Studio Paint to improve your drawing skills and express your character designs just as you want.

Character art can be all types of genres, from realistic to pixel art, anime styles, or 3D-rendered styles. However, there are some universal aspects to consider when creating a character design, no matter the genre.

Silhouette

As well as the body shape and proportions, the type of clothing that your character wears also adds to their portrayal. For example, a rounded silhouette gives a soft impression, while an angular silhouette gives a more harsh impression.

Color scheme

While a limited color palette isn't required, giving your character a consistent color theme that supports their personality traits can supplement other aspects of their design.

Distinctive characteristics

What makes your character unique? Do they have a scar, prominent markings, personal jewelry, or other visual elements to differentiate them? Think about your character's backstory and how you can reflect this on their appearance.

Typical expressions

Just as each character has their own distinct personality, the way they express emotions will also be different. There's no one-size-fits all character expression sheet. Think about how expressive or reserved your character is, and practice some typical facial expressions to get more comfortable drawing your character.

When creating a cast of characters, for example for a comic or animation, make sure to have variety in these essential elements in order to clearly differentiate your characters and make them memorable.

Use references

When drawing characters, photo and image references can be a huge help. While you draw with a digital tool, you can keep your reference images close to hand in a separate canvas or in the Sub View palette in Clip Studio Paint.

While studying from photos and real life is important to improving your art, 3D models can also assist you in learning anatomy and proportions. 3D pose libraries such as Clip Studio Assets and Posemaniacs offer thousands of pose references that you can refer to for all kinds of scenes, from daily life to acrobatics. Clip Studio Paint even includes detailed customizable 3D models for faces and hands, offering support for all aspects of character drawing.

3D models are also helpful when drawing multiple characters together in a scene. By putting them on the same 3D layer, you can check the proportions and maintain consistency.

Use patterns and textures for more realistic clothing

Clothing can be difficult for beginners to draw well. As always, start by studying real fabric references and photos to understand how different types of fabric drape and move on a body.

Once you’ve drawn the shape of the clothes, patterns and texture can add a lot to the interest of the design. You can hand-draw patterns and designs, or import pattern materials for a consistent look. In Clip Studio Paint, simply drag the pattern image to the Layer palette, then use transform tools to warp it to the shape of the clothing.

There are also many brushes available for drawing things like fluffy fabric, shoelaces, denim, and more to help you depict the clothing style you want.

Add a simple background

Even if you prefer drawing characters rather than scenery, a simple background can add to the character and help showcase their world view. Here are some tips for simple backgrounds to elevate your character illustrations.

- Use pattern materials like dots or stripes
- Paint rough brush patterns or color patches behind your character
- Outline the character
- Use chromatic aberration for a distorted effect
- Import background images and apply filters to blend them with your character

One tip to get more comfortable with drawing backgrounds is to start with small props or simple elements beside your character, like a chair or a small area of the environment. As you get more confident, you can begin to add complex elements around your character and gradually progress to drawing detailed environments.

Learn more tips and advice for character art

Even as you explore your own unique style for drawing characters, there are always new techniques and tools available to learn. On Clip Studio Tips, you can find artist-created tutorials with images and video covering all kinds of artistic genres and techniques. Try Clip Studio Paint free for up to 6 months to get started creating professional-level character designs.