Learn simple techniques that will bring characters to life.

Explore body posture, forward motion and learn how to apply poses found in any reference to your character. Experiment with body language and exaggeration to bring personality and story to your character. Explore age-appropriate movement, line-of-action and gesture.

YOU WILL LEARN

body posture
forward motion
to use reference material
body language
exaggeration
line-of-action
age-appropriate movement
drawing with gesture

YOU WILL NEED

A character design. If you haven't got a character, you may consider taking my Design a Circus of Characters class
Draw-a-Circus-of-movement-Reference PDF
Staedtler Mars Techno Clutch pencil - a normal B or 2B drawing pencil will also do the trick
and Staedtler refillable Blue and Carbon 2mm Leads - you can also use a coloured pencil
Derwent Round Drawing Pencil, Ivory Black 6700
an eraser
A3 pad - I'm using a Bank Pad

TO WATCH

Charlie Chaplin's The Lion Cage

HELPFUL CLASSES

BOOK NOOK

Clap Hands by Helen Oxenbury
Midnight Babies MargaretWild
Millie by John Marsden
Shadow by Suzy Lee
Big Sister Little Sister by Le Uyen Pham
Harry and Hopper Margarets Wild and Freya Blackwood

MY BOOKS

Good Dog Hank by Jackie French and Nina Rycroft
Boom Bah! By Phil Cummings and Nina Rycroft
Ballroom Bonanza by Nina Rycroft
Dinosaurs Love Cheese by Jackie French and Nina Rycroft

Interested in character design?

Below is my series of Skillshare classes that walk you through the entire process of how to illustrate a character from start to finish. Use this series to either brush-up on a particular skill or work your way through, for a comprehensive guide.

Nina's Skillshare Character Design Series

Michelle Therrien

working on being a childrens illustrator

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