#Easy comic character drawing how to#

Points 2, shows us the interest that is caused by not only making sure the legs are proportionally shorter but that they're also much smaller in width. In point 1, we see how his face favors the top of the head and his features are all in a very concentrated space. On the left, we see how the square shape of his face and body proportions contrast with the leg proportions. In Figure 4 we see how the head, neck, body and legs, are broken down and contrast against each other by seeing the break down on the right. The reason for this is, again, to add interest.Īlright now let's take a look at yet another example: By which I mean I favored the outer part of the body to attach them to rather then where the green arrows are actually located. The spacing of the legs here is something well worth pointing out. Now, this isn't something you that is done all the time but sometimes, a round shape next to a hard edged shape is a good mix and contrasts well too. Point 4 and 5 contrast, not only in size but also in shape. Notice the length of the arm and hand are longer the body, and obviously thinner. The body is not only proportionally smaller, it's also smaller in width. The size of the circle shaped head is larger than the rectangle of the body which it's connected to. In points 2 and 3 we see an example of size contrast. All the features are also very close together rather than being spaced evenly apart. Also even the mouth itself favors one side of the face to another.

In point 1, the face favors the bottom half of the head shape and is not perfectly centered. In Figure 2 we can see on the right how the proportions break up in a balanced yet contrasted way. Just like with the stick figures, when we create a character from these three shapes, it's all about creating contrast with the spacing of the proportions. Remember the shapes we practiced drawing in Lesson 2? Well, it's time to use them again. The following is an extension of that lesson. If you've forgotten what I wrote or if you've simply skipped the post, I recommend you go back and read or reread it. Remember in Lesson 3 when I wrote about the harmony between Contrast and Balance? Well, when it comes to creating characters with flat shapes, this principle still applies.

#Easy comic character drawing how to#

Perhaps as this site grows, we can investigate the other ways.įor now, let's concentrate on how to make fun cartoon characters using flat shapes. It's impossible for me to show you ALL the ways they can be used in drawing, SO I've chosen ONE way to use them in this post. You can do wonders with them alone.Ĭareers have been made by artists who don't go beyond working with flat two dimensional shapes. The Magic of Flat Shapesįlat shapes are very versatile even without being three dimensional. Mastering control of flat 2d shapes will help you out immensely. We can only give the illusion of being three dimensional. Our drawings are always going to be two dimensional. In fact, they AREN'T 'three dimensional' shapes at all, they are STILL two dimensional shapes that SEEM to be 'three dimensional.' ALL those things are good things to know how to draw, but not yet.īecause each one of those 'three dimensional' shapes are made out of TWO dimensional shapes. <= CLICK TO RETWEETīeginning drawing books often start you off drawing Spheres, Cubes, and Cylinders. Flat Shapes are Foundational to DrawingĮVERYTHING that you will EVER draw, can be broken down into a flat, two dimensional shape. All you need to know now, is what I tell you below. You've got almost all the knowledge you need to do it.

By the time your done with this lesson, you'll be able to create your own drawings and characters, just like I promised.IF you've put some Kung Fu into the process, and have been practicing. Here's where all your time and work pay off.

If you've stuck with it and made it this far, you're ready to start drawing stuff you didn't think you'd be able to before. You want to start doing 'real' drawings that LOOK like something. So you're tired of drawing stick figures and you want to draw something that's.well, more interesting. ~Edwin Land You've made it to the finish line! An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.