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  • Publisher: Search Press
  • Edition: BB Hardback HB, matt lam + spot UV cover, H&T bands and ribbon
  • Publication: 16 February 2027
  • ISBN 13/EAN: 9781800924512
  • Carton Qty: Not Yet Published
  • Size: 210x285 mm
  • Illustrations: 2400
  • Pages: 292
  • RRP: $40.00
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The Art of Character Design

$40.00

A complete step-by-step guide to drawing fantasy art figures by Lou Chaoye (Kami)


Edelweiss Preorder
Book Description

Bring your favourite fictional characters to life, or create your own, with the definitive guide to drawing fantasy characters for animation, comics or fine art!

Written and illustrated by renowned illustrator Lou Chaoye (Kami), this comprehensive manga art manual teaches you how to create and draw professional-quality figures, then breathe character and life into your creations through proportions, pose and costume.

You'll find an incredible amount of new and inspiring ideas inside, so you can use this book both as reference and as an idea generator to spark your creativity. Filled from cover to cover with more than 100 practical exercises and examples, this invaluable guide breaks down every element of drawing human characters from eyes and emotions to posture to help you create stunning results.

  • Key techniques for drawing the human body: from basic proportions in a variety of styles, you'll learn how to properly express anatomy, movement, emotions and expression.
  • Three key drawing styles are covered: traditional Chinese manhua, Japanese-style manga and ultra-cute chibis, allowing you to explore different stylistic approaches from the realistic to the stylized.
  • Costume and accessorise your characters: from everyday clothing to fantastic costumes and traditional dress from around the world, Lou provides artistic insight into creating and clothing your own characters through dozens of examples and exercises.
  • Explore viewpoint, perspective and composition: create artwork with impact, and tell a story with your pictures.

Lou Chaoye's techniques and straightforward teaching method makes this stunning book suitable for beginners, while readers with painting experience, and animation professionals, will find it an invaluable resource for inspiration and reference.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Body Proportions 9

Basic proportions 10

Main joints of the body 12

Male proportions in different styles 13

Nine-head male 13

Eight-head male 14

Seven-head male 14

Six-head male 15

Five-head male 15

Three-head male 16

Two-head male 16

Female proportions in different styles 17

Nine-head female 17

Seven-head female 18

Six-head female 18

Five-head female 19

Four-head female 19

Three-head female 20

Two-head female 20


Chapter 2

Drawing the head and face 21

Structure of the head 22

Gender differences 22

Proportions of the face 23

Drawing the head 24

Lines, angles and perspectives 24

Drawing the head face-on 28

Drawing the head at three-quarter face 33

Drawing the head from the side 36

Drawing eyes 39

Drawing noses 42

Drawing mouths 46

Drawing ears 49

Drawing heads at different ages 53

Early childhood 53

School age 54

Teenage 56

Maturity 58

Middle age 60

Old age 62

Expressing emotions 64

Joy 64

Angry 66

Sad 68

Surprise and shock 70

Shyness 72

Drawing hair 73

Hairlines 73

Hair volume 74

Hair growth and direction 75

Hair in movement 77

Drawing different types of hair 78


Chapter3

Drawing complete figures 87

Human body structure 88

Eight-head male 89

Seven-head female 93

Two-head chibi male 97

Two-head chibi female 99

Body size and proportion 101

Gender differences 101

Variation in body proportions 103

The Torso 105

Drawing the torso 106

Different body types and the torso 115

The neck 118

The chest 124

The abdomen 126

The lower torso 128

The torso in motion 131

The arms 137

Drawing the arms 137

The hand 141

The arm in motion 145

The legs 148

Drawing the legs 149

The feet 154


Chapter 4

Pose and posture 157

Basics of posing 158

Standing and balance 158

Sitting poses 160

Squatting poses 161

Running poses 162

Perspective 162

Perspective types and examples 163

Choosing a viewpoint 166

Drawing common poses 176

Standing 176

Sitting 178

Walking 180

Running 181

Jumping 182

Squatting 183

Reclining and lying down 184

More unusual poses 185


Chapter 5

Clothing and costume 187

Types of clothing 188

Close-fitting clothing 188

Loose clothing 191

Mix-and-match clothing 194

Folds and drapery 197

Fabrics and folds 197

Body shape and folds 198

Poses and clothing 200

Drawing clothing 202

Drawing tops 202

Drawing skirts and trousers 206

Drawing shoes 211

Clothing your characters 214

Chinese style 214

Western regions style 220

Japanese style 222

Korean style 225

Indian style 226

European style 229

Ancient Egyptian style 234

Drawing fantasy clothing 236

Sci-fi style 236

Mythical style 240

Magical style 245

Animal fantasy style 250


Chapter 6

Composition 255

How to approach composition 256

Number of characters 256

Lines of direction 261

Proportion and position 264

Proportion 264

Position 265

Arranging your characters 266

Drawing scenes with multiple characters 266

Drawing scenes with figures and animals 268

Variety in composition 270

Movements 270

Relationships 272

Groups 273

Proportion 273


Chapter 7

Drawing complete characters 275

Chibi-style characters 276

Cake Princess 276

Demon Prince with Steed 279

Japanese-style characters 282

Girl in Kimono 282

Handsome Angel 285

Manhua-style characters 287

Celestial Lotus Spirit 287

Serpentine Yaogua 290

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