Free character design courses and tutorials

Learn character design from start to finish with these step-by-step tutorials. Pick up tips and tricks to help you create convincing characters in a range of styles.

All Character Design tutorials:

  1. How to Draw Hair and Clothes for a Virtual Dress-Up Doll in Illustrator

    How to Draw Hair and Clothes for a Virtual Dress-Up Doll in Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    This has always been my favorite part of playing with dolls: dressing them up! If you're playing along with the Community Challenge, this is where the base...

  2. How to Draw a Doll Base Body for a Dress-Up Game in Illustrator

    How to Draw a Doll Base Body for a Dress-Up Game in Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    I grew up playing with paper dolls. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but with Adobe Illustrator, creating digital paper dolls can be a fun and easy project...

  3. Create a Thanksgiving Illustration With Basic Shapes Using Illustrator

    Create a Thanksgiving Illustration With Basic Shapes Using Illustrator

    Tutorial Beginner

    Thanksgiving is here! In this tutorial, you will create a pilgrim character, bowl and roasted turkey in Adobe Illustrator. Using just simple shapes - it's...

  4. Kandi Runner: Create a Ready-to-Animate Vector Game Sprite

    Kandi Runner: Create a Ready-to-Animate Vector Game Sprite

    Tutorial Beginner

    There are few projects more fun than drawing out video game character concepts. The colors, the clothing, and the overall design have few limitations for the...

  5. Create a Cute Adipose From Doctor Who in Adobe Illustrator

    Create a Cute Adipose From Doctor Who in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    With the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who there's no better way to celebrate than with some fantastic fan art. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a...

  6. How to Create a Flat, Subtle Textured Fox in Adobe Illustrator

    How to Create a Flat, Subtle Textured Fox in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    This tutorial goes through the full process of creating a cute dressed fox, drawn and colored in a "flat" style. We will learn how to create fur, clothes,...

  7. Create a Tim Burton Inspired Bride of Frankenstein in Illustrator

    Create a Tim Burton Inspired Bride of Frankenstein in Illustrator

    Tutorial Advanced

    This tutorial will go through the process of creating a symmetrical Halloween Brides of Frankenstein portrait in Adobe Illustrator using the Reflect Tool...

  8. Create a Colorful, 1940s-Inspired Witch in Adobe Illustrator

    Create a Colorful, 1940s-Inspired Witch in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Advanced

    Pick up your broom, we're going for a ride! Join me in Adobe Illustrator to create a bright and colorful little witch flying high above a city with the Pen...

  9. Create an Easy, Retro Pumpkin Card in Adobe Illustrator

    Create an Easy, Retro Pumpkin Card in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Beginner

    In this tutorial you will learn how to create a retro Halloween greeting card in Adobe Illustrator. It will include an easy to create pumpkin and a simple...

  10. How to Create a Cute, Nerd-Like Snake Character in Adobe Illustrator

    How to Create a Cute, Nerd-Like Snake Character in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    Follow this tutorial and learn how to draw a cute nerd-looking snake character in Adobe Illustrator. The tutorial is composed of two main parts, creating the...

  11. Create a Simple School Teddy Bear in Adobe Illustrator

    Create a Simple School Teddy Bear in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    In this tutorial we will learn how to create a cute Teddy Bear and some school themed items. We'll be using basic shapes and the Pathfinder panel, so you...

  12. Create a Cute and Simple Panda With Basic Shapes in Adobe Illustrator

    Create a Cute and Simple Panda With Basic Shapes in Adobe Illustrator

    Tutorial Intermediate

    In this tutorial you will learn how to create a cute illustration with upside down panda in Adobe Illustrator. You will use the basic shapes and some use of...