How to Draw Character Art for the Artistically Challenged

Not everyone can be good at drawing. I get that. For some of you, you can try to draw something and you end up with a cucumber? In a hat?? Not everyone has super artsy genes.

SO HERE I AM AS YOUR ART FAIRY GODMOTHER TO ASSIST YOU. TODAY YOU SHALL DRAW CHARACTER ART.

I'm going to give you several different techniques, from 'super beginner' to 'just ok at art' and everywhere in between, and you shall find the magic touch that will make you able to make character art. So have a seat, and I'll tell you what you can do!

Level 1: Tracing over a picture

If you are the most beginner-est of all beginners, fret not, I got u. Even if you feel that you don't have a drop of artistic talent, trust me, you can trace.

1. Print up a picture that resembles the character you want to draw and make sure you print it big enough to be around the size you want your drawing.
2. Place another piece of paper over the printed picture and slap both of them against a light surface so you can see the printed picture through the blank paper(you can use a window if you want, or you can make your own lightbox by putting your phone flashlight under a clear box lid and doing your tracing on top.
3. Now trace away! Go over the most important lines(outlines of the face, features, limbs, etc), and make sure you do it very, very lightly. No, lighter than that. Start off with super light lines and darken them a little later when there isn't a light on underneath. Lightboxes make you draw very hard and if you're not careful your lines will be too dark to erase if you make a mistake.
4. *optional step* Shade and color it if you want! Tada, it's art!

Level 2: Use a tutorial

There are drawing tutorials all over the web. I've found super helpful ones on Pinterest, Instagram, and especially YouTube. I would highly recommend Sycra and Mark Crilley on YouTube as they are both very helpful and cover everything you need to know on a specific topic. Again, make sure you're drawing lightly!! You can always sketch a different line or make a line darker, but there's no erasing a super dark line.

Level 3: Use a reference

I'm serious. Even if you think you're not that good at art, try using a picture of a person who looks similar to your character as a reference for your own drawing. Make sure you pay attention to the overall shapes(the ovalness of the head, the shape of the torso, etc.), to make sure you get the silhouette right. References help you figure out what you drew wrong, as well as showing you the correct proportions. Plus if you're likely to forget a detail, like I am, the reference will keep you from forgetting.

Other Tips:

Practice a lot! Even if you feel like you're not that good now, you can be. Very few people start out being able to draw perfectly from day one. Always practice, and practice a lot. If technique drawings, like circles and straight lines, help you improve, then do it! If drawing the same face over and over again helps you, do it! There are no rules in art.

And last, if you feel like even these ideas are above your skill level, never fear. Here are some things you can do instead of drawing:

• Hire someone to draw it for you. A family member, a professional from the internet, a friend.
• Print a coloring page that looks like your character and color it in with their eye color, their hair color, etc.
• Find a picture on the internet that reminds you of your character, then photoshop it a little bit so it has all the right details to become your OC.
• Skip any artistic stuff altogether and just make them an aesthetic board on Pinterest! They're fun, and they're not complicated.

I really hope this helped my artistically challenged friends. If you feel like I missed anything, or if you have any other tips, let me know down in the comments!