Character Design for Picture Books

Are you feeling stuck with designing characters for picture books? Have you gotten feedback that your characters are stiff or not drawn consistently?

This class is designed to help you take your character designs from bland and stiff to charming and energetic.


Skill level: Beginner

Class length: 2 hr 4min


2 Enrollment Options

One-time Purchase:

Get lifetime access to this course with the one-time purchase option. No Subscription fees. 100% self-paced, so you can watch the pre-recorded videos on your own schedule. 

$35

Enroll with Skillshare:

With a Skillshare membership, you’ll get access to my entire class catalog, including this class. New members can unlock a free one-month trial.

$168/year
(Price varies by countries)

As we work on your characters through the step-by-step videos, you’ll learn:

  • How to use the personality of your character to guide it’s design

  • How to use shapes to convey personality and character

  • How to use style to unify a set of characters

  • Learn different exercises to explore character design

  • How to make a character appealing for picture book audiences

  • How to draw expressions and poses

Included in this class

  • 20 video lessons, 2 hrs of content

  • Class handout with sample story to work from

  • Resources and list of books used as examples

This class is for beginning illustrators.

  • This class is perfect for beginner illustrators wanting to illustrate picture books for kids. Mirka uses examples from her own work and from other picture books to illustrate each lesson, and uses simple exercises to help you build up your skills.  

     

Meet Your Teacher:

People always told me that I should illustrate picture books, but I was afraid of failing and didn’t know where to start. It wasn’t until having kids and reading 100’s of picture books that a fire was lit inside me to create the same book-joy that I felt when reading with my kids.

I want to show you how you can begin your picture book journey to feel the same joy and fulfillment that I’ve received. Gather your supplies, and let’s begin on this wonderful journey into the world of picture books!

- Mirka Hokkanen

What Students Are Saying

  • If you want to learn how to use Procreate this is your course! Mirka teaches you each tool this app has, and she makes a children's illustration as an example to put into practice everything you've learned.

    Sylvia G.

  • What a great class! I learned that illustration on procreate doesn’t need to be difficult. It was fun to watch this process and it helped me as a children’s book illustrator. Thank you!

    Karine J.

  • Thank you, Mirka, for sharing your process and tips along the way. It's always inspiring and I learn so much from other artist's approach and behind-the-scenes. The digital brushes in the resources are also pretty neat:)

    Giulia M.

2 Enrollment Options

One-time Purchase:

Get lifetime access to this course with the one-time purchase option. No Subscription fees. 100% self-paced, so you can watch the pre-recorded videos on your own schedule. 

$35

Enroll with Skillshare:

With a Skillshare membership, you’ll get access to my entire class catalog, including this class. New members can unlock a free one-month trial.

$168/year
(Price varies by countries)

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