The Basics of Digital Character Drawing [Coloso, NESSI]
- Publisher
- Coloso
- Product Type
- Video Course
- Author
- NESSI
- Language
- English GBC Dub v.2., Korean, English subtitles
- Duration
- 26:25
- Release date
- Dec 14, 2021
- Skill level
- Project Files
- Yes
- Product Price
- $183
This course is free for all registered GBC users.
To get access, leave a meaningful comment explaining why you need this course.
Most people don't give much thought to how they begin a drawing.
But before putting down the first line, it's important to think through the structure, establish perspective, and understand how the image will be built.
This class is designed to help beginner illustrators develop that foundation from the ground up.
Even if you've never used Photoshop before, you'll learn how to create your own characters by strengthening your understanding of line, form, perspective, value, light, color, and fundamental drawing principles.
Build Strong Fundamentals and Apply Them to Character Illustration
Strong illustrations begin with strong fundamentals.Rather than memorizing isolated techniques, this class teaches you how to understand what you're drawing and apply that knowledge directly to character artwork.
Start with the essentials of Photoshop, then gradually build your drawing skills through perspective, basic forms, lighting, anatomy, clothing, color theory, materials, and rendering.
By the end of the course, you'll bring everything together to create your own original character illustration.
NESSI's Portfolio
Explore NESSI's professional character illustrations developed through more than a decade of experience in game artwork and international projects.Instructor
Illustrator NESSI
Hello, I'm illustrator NESSI.After more than ten years of working on game character illustrations and international projects, one thing has become especially clear to me: nothing is more important than strong fundamentals.
In this class, we'll begin with the basics of Photoshop, strengthen your drawing skills through essential art theory, and then apply those fundamentals directly to commercial-style artwork.
The goal is to help you improve in a balanced way rather than focusing on only one part of illustration.
Drawing on my experience as both an illustrator and instructor, I'll break down the areas that often feel confusing or difficult and show you how to move beyond simply understanding theory.
You'll practice applying what you learn directly to your own artwork so that each concept becomes a practical skill you can continue using after the class.
Class Highlights
Start from Zero - even If You've Never Used Photoshop
Never used Photoshop before?That's completely fine.
Learn the essential tools and concepts you need to begin digital illustration, including:
- Interface navigation
- Shortcuts
- Layers
- Brushes
- Masks
- Selections
- Image editing
- Resolution and file formats
- Workflow customization
Create Your Own Characters Through Fundamental Art Theory
Learn the essential concepts behind drawing rather than relying only on intuition.Each lesson introduces fundamental principles that can be directly applied to character illustration, including:
- Line quality
- Shape and form
- Perspective
- Value
- Light and shadow
- Anatomy
- Color
- Materials
Learn Through Practical Exercises
This isn't a theory-only course.Each section includes exercises designed to turn concepts into practical skills.
Practice tasks include:
- Building three-dimensional forms from simple shapes
- Drawing objects from observation
- Applying anatomy over simplified structures
- Understanding the body through perspective boxes
- Dressing constructed figures
- Building palettes with color boxes
- Coloring under different lighting conditions
- Rendering different materials
- Completing an original character portrait
Curriculum
In-Depth Look
Section 01 Mastering Essential Photoshop Tools
01. Choosing Your Digital Drawing Equipment
- Comparing the strengths and weaknesses of:
- Cintiq
- MobileStudio Pro
- Intuos
- iPad
- Choosing the equipment that best fits your needs
- Understanding commonly used professional settings
02. Exploring Photoshop & Its Core Functions
- Understanding the basic interface
- Essential keyboard shortcuts
- Working with layers
- Customizing shortcuts
- Understanding image dimensions
- Resolution
- RGB and CMYK color modes
- Common file formats and extensions
03. Drawing in Photoshop
- Brush Tool
- Lasso Tool
- Gradient Tool
- Masks
- Layer locking
- Symmetry tools
- Shape tools
- Other essential drawing functions
04. Refining Artwork with Photoshop
- Filters
- Layer effects
- Clone Stamp Tool
- Basic cleanup and refinement techniques
05. Editing & Transforming Artwork
- Cropping
- Resizing
- Liquify
- Warp
- Working with text and fonts
- Modifying existing artwork efficiently
06. Useful Photoshop Tips
- Actions
- History States
- Adjusting memory allocation
- Customizing brush settings
- Saving and loading workspace configurations
- Creating simple animation with the Timeline
07. Bonus Lecture: Procreate Basics
- Introduction to the essential tools in Procreate
- Understanding the basic interface
- Using the iPad as an alternative digital drawing environment
Section 02 Essential Drawing Fundamentals
08. Introduction
- Instructor introduction
- Overview of the learning process
- Managing concentration while studying
- Using monthly and daily schedules to build consistent practice habits
09. Drawing Fundamentals
- Understanding different types of brushes
- Learning how to control lines
- Creating dimensional forms through pen pressure
- Developing stronger line confidence
10. Drawing What You See
- Observing subjects by simplifying them into basic shapes
- Converting complex objects into simple structures
- Practicing with guide grids
- Drawing everyday objects from observation
11. Perspective Fundamentals
- Understanding perspective through simple geometric forms
- Applying perspective to basic objects and props
- Building a three-dimensional grid
- Understanding planes in space
- Practicing perspective with more complex arrangements of objects
12. Value, Light & Shadow Fundamentals
- Understanding value
- Brightness relationships
- Basic lighting principles
- Basic shadow structure
- Applying light and shadow to previously drawn objects
Section 03 Anatomy for Character Design
13. Understanding the Face & Hair
- Basic facial anatomy
- Applying facial structure to different styles
- Working with casual and stylized proportions
- Understanding facial volume using a perspective box
- Constructing the head from different viewpoints
- Connecting hair structure to the form of the head
14. A Simple Approach to Anatomy
- Efficient ways to study the human body
- Simplifying complex anatomical information
- Different anatomy study methods
- Choosing a study method that suits your goals
15. Fundamental Human Anatomy
- Understanding body proportions from:
- Front view
- Three-quarter view
- Side view
- Back view
- Understanding chibi and casual character proportions
- Working with four- to five-head-tall stylized figures
- Fundamentals of hands
- Fundamentals of feet
16. Understanding Anatomy Through Perspective Boxes
- Drawing the body from high angles
- Drawing the body from low angles
- Constructing the human figure inside three-dimensional perspective
- Using boxes to understand body orientation and depth
17. Understanding Anatomy Through Rhythm Lines
- Analyzing body flow
- Understanding direction and movement
- Using rhythm lines to create more natural poses
- Connecting gesture and structure
Section 04 Designing Attractive Characters with Clothing & Color
18. Drawing Clothing on the Human Body
- Adding clothing to a constructed figure
- Understanding clothing silhouettes
- Applying perspective to costumes
- Developing clothing over the body
- Understanding folds and wrinkles
- Applying light and shadow to clothing
19. Applying Fundamentals to Different Body Types
- Understanding stylized deformation through simple shapes
- Exploring different body types
- Adjusting proportions while preserving structure
- Developing greater variety in character design
20. Color Theory Fundamentals
- Understanding the color wheel
- Basic color relationships
- Understanding color in relation to three-dimensional volume
- Connecting color with form
21. Color Box Practice
- Understanding base colors
- Understanding accent colors
- Using a color box to organize a palette
- Observing how colors change under different lighting
- Understanding shadows
- Understanding reflected light
22. Building Color Combinations with the Color Box
- Exploring different approaches to color harmony
- Understanding value contrast
- Creating different color moods
- Building balanced color combinations
- Applying a selected palette to a previously designed character
23. Applying Different Coloring Techniques
- Comparing different coloring workflows
- Adding shadows after establishing local colors
- Establishing shadows before introducing full color
- Glazing
- Practicing facial coloring after planning the palette
- Practicing full-body character coloring after establishing the color scheme
24. Understanding Different Materials
- Understanding the visual properties of:
- Fabric
- Leather
- Silk
- Vinyl
- Metal
- Using different brush techniques
- Using layer effects
- Applying material-rendering techniques to previously drawn props
- Rendering different materials on character illustrations
Section 05 Create Your Own Original Character
25. Creating an Original Character Portrait
Bring everything you've learned throughout the course together into a complete upper-body character illustration.Character Direction
- Planning an upper-body portrait
- Establishing the overall presentation
- Deciding how the character should be perceived
Expression & Gesture
- Facial expression
- Gesture
- Eye direction
- Pose
- Character attitude
Props & Details
- Choosing props that reinforce personality
- Adding meaningful visual details
- Strengthening the character's identity
Coloring & Effects
- Establishing the final palette
- Applying light and shadow
- Rendering the character
- Adding effects
- Refining materials and details
Final Polish
- Reviewing the overall balance
- Correcting weak areas
- Final color adjustments
- Finishing tips from NESSI
Build Fundamentals You Can Use for Any Illustration
This course is designed to give beginners a structured path from basic digital tools to complete character artwork.Rather than jumping directly into advanced rendering techniques, NESSI helps you build the underlying skills that make those techniques possible.
You'll learn how to:
- Use Photoshop confidently
- Control your lines
- Observe and simplify complex subjects
- Understand objects as three-dimensional forms
- Apply perspective correctly
- Use value, light, and shadow to create depth
- Construct faces and bodies from different angles
- Create more natural poses through rhythm and gesture
- Design clothing over the human form
- Build intentional color combinations
- Understand how lighting changes color
- Apply different coloring workflows
- Render common materials
- Bring everything together in an original character illustration
Start with the basics, understand why they work, and turn them into practical skills for creating your own characters with confidence.
