Design enchanting characters for animation, illustration, video games, comics, and more! This action-packed book showcases the unique interpretations of 50 specially commissioned artists. From concept sketches and thumbnails, to emotions, expressions, and outfits, they share their explorations alongside expert advice.

To bring each character to life, further pages explore action and pose with a library of dynamic sketches and basic-shape overlays. The result is a revealing collection of each artist’s ideas and experiments as they reimagine classic characters from fairy tales and folklore. 50 classic characters reimagined. 50 innovative professional artists. 2,000+ drawings and sketches.

Delve into the popular and competitive world of heroine design as 50 of the world’s finest character artists from the fields of animation, illustration, comics, and games share a behind-the-scenes look at their stunning sketchbook pages. A range of styles and genres are explored, including classic comic book superheroines and magical princesses, plus historical, fantasy, and sci-fi heroines from across time and space.

From concept sketches and initial thumbnails, to emotions and expressions, outfit variations, and an engaging chosen design, artists share their previously unseen explorations alongside expert advice for crafting compelling heroine designs. Further pages explore action and pose – a library of dynamic sketches with invaluable basic-shape overlays, offering a revealing collection of each artist’s ideas and experiments.

Fundamentals of Character Design: How to create engaging characters for illustration, animation & visual development

Why do the characters in our favorite books, animations, and games stay with us long after the final scene? The heroic protagonist, evil villain, comedic sidekick - even the supporting cast – have been crafted by clever character designers with incredible skills at their fingertips. This comprehensive character-design toolkit, written by industry professionals, includes everything you need to design successful and compelling characters.

Delve into the vibrant, exciting world of character design with Creating Stylized Characters!

Join professional illustrators, animators, and comic artists as they demonstrate how to exaggerate form and proportion. Sharing in-depth and industry-informed knowledge of creating fun and memorable characters, this book teaches essential creative skills that are applicable to both digital and traditional media.

Learn how to design exciting heroes, villains, and monsters, as well as about key concepts such as gesture, color, poses, and expressions.

Discover how top children’s illustrators portray characters, narratives, and themes through the art of visual storytelling in this uniquely practical and inspirational handbook.

Indispensable techniques are revealed alongside captivating illustrated examples, while in-depth sample stories show how the professionals approach their work. There are even tips for artists who want to write the story too!

Step behind the scenes of the animation, illustration, and video game industries to learn how their characters are briefed and designed!

Indispensable for both students and professional character designers alike, this book focuses on how to tailor your work to meet the individual needs of audience, media, marketing, and production, while still creating truly dynamic, imaginative, and original characters.

Dive into the exciting world of chibi fantasy heroes, martial arts fighters, and magical girls in this dynamic introduction to creating manga drawings.

Learn how experienced artists turn their ideas into believable concepts, with easy-to-follow steps, helpful tips, and art theory made simple. Discover how to create finished characters, from rough sketches to final color designs, and tackle essential subjects, including anatomy, expressions, and color,

Use pencil and pen to achieve a range of drawing and shading techniques, take the first steps into digital drawing with Clip Studio Paint, and develop your own creations with the help of downloadable resources.

Bring characters to life on your iPad® with creativity and ease, using Procreate™ to conceptualize, sketch, and paint directly onto the screen.

Master the basics, from setting up your first canvas to using a selection of tools such as Brushes, Layers, and Adjustments to add depth and energy to your creations. To achieve details such as hair, skin, and garments, you are guided through tools and techniques for character-specific results.

Whether you draw characters from reality, or dream up new, fantastical beings, this book unlocks your design potential with Procreate for next level-results.

Tap into the world of Procreate, the groundbreaking app for the iPad that brings unbounded creativity into the hands of digital artists of all levels!

In this invaluable beginner’s guide, professional artists show you how to draw, paint, and sketch digitally, at home or on the go. Packed full of expert tips, diverse projects, and inspirational artwork, it unlocks the secrets of this affordable, versatile, and highly intuitive software. Exploring the creative potential of layer masks, blend modes, and how to create your own custom brushes, leading artists from across the concept art and illustration industries share eye-opening step-by-step tutorials to enable you to confidently create your own digital masterpieces. From creating your first canvas to exporting your final artwork, Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting in Procreate shows beginners and experienced creators alike how to get the most from this digital art game-changer.

Learn how to create a range of exciting environments with Procreate on your iPad, ranging from naturalistic outdoor ‘En plein air’ studies to imaginative twists on real locations.

With ten detailed step-by-step tutorials to follow, you’ll soon learn the tools and techniques that professional artists use to paint captivating environments, as well as the art-theory knowledge needed to make the strongest creative choices. From custom brushes and Adjustments to blend modes and Transform options, you will discover a powerful range of tools and workflows to apply to your own future projects, whether you are painting idyllic countrysides or scenes from urban life.

This jam-packed installment in the popular Sketching from the Imagination series explores the work of anime and manga artists from around the world, celebrating 50 talented creators with a passion for these vibrant cornerstones of Japanese pop culture.

Discover rarely seen sketches, drafts, and works-in-progress by hand-picked traditional and digital artists from creative industries around the globe. From kawaii characters to futuristic robots, from magical knights to dystopian cyberpunks, this captivating volume gathers hundreds of inspiring images that will delight any enthusiast of anime and manga.

Dive into the next volume of 3dtotal’s bestselling Sketching from the Imagination series as it explores the endlessly popular world of character art. From animators to children’s book illustrators, comic creators to game designers, discover the work of 50 traditional and digital artists as they share a behind-the-scenes look at their sketchbook pages. Revealing where they find their inspiration and ideas, they also discuss their favorite tools and skilled techniques for developing early character concepts into fully formed designs. Offering insightful tips along the way, this valuable resource is sure to inspire and delight artists of all skill levels.

Over 300 pages featuring hundreds of unique character sketches that span a variety of styles and genres.

Immerse yourself in the concept art belonging to one of the most beloved role-playing games of 2023. Known for his colourful and complex, retro-anime inspired illustrations, it’s no mystery as to why Bryce and Sabotage Studio collaborated to make this turn-based RPG inspired by the classics.

Sea of Stars: The Concept Art of Bryce Kho showcases all the incredible characters that Bryce has lovingly brought to life through years of discussion with Creative Director Thierry Boulanger, and is a book to enjoy for gamers and art-lovers alike.

Delve into the enchanting world of dragons, wizards, and warriors with this dynamic introduction to creating fantasy concepts.

Learn how experienced artists craft magical characters and mythical creatures with easy-to-follow step-by-step guides, insightful tips, and art theory made simple.

This enchanting artbook is the first published collection from Italian illustrator and comic-book artist, Simone Ferriero, better known as Simz to his online community. Inside The Art of Simz, readers will discover the digital artist’s much-loved witches and their spectral cat companions as they continue to mix the modern day with magical fantasy.

Starting with an in-depth look at his creative journey, Simz shares how he found his creative feet, his experience in education, his leap of faith into working as a freelance illustrator, and his professional milestones to date.

Simz also discusses the challenges he’s faced along the way, and offers advice to those seeking to pursue a successful career in the art industry.

The Art of Sam Yang is the debut art book from the popular digital illustrator, whose stunning art and entertaining tutorials have earned him over 3 million followers across his social media platforms. His intriguing, anime-inspired character designs have wide appeal, and many aspiring artists strive to match Sam’s level of complexity in digital art. Not only does Sam take the reader behind the scenes into his studio and personal sketchbooks, but he also reveals his creative process in detailed, step-by-step walkthroughs. Fans and readers will get the opportunity to discover insights into Sam’s working methods and coveted techniques while learning about his involvement with the international art community and what it takes to be a successful artist in a saturated market. Existing fans will love delving into high-quality galleries of his artwork, old and new.

In this colorful and vibrant hardback art book, popular visual artist Pernille Ørum shares her artwork over the years, starting with some of her earliest drawings; sharing her progression through various forms of education and offers an abundance of advice to anyone wishing to break into the animation industry themselves – with tutorials on useful business concerns such as how to approach a character design, and a detailed look at the processes she uses for creating her bright, edgy drawings.

With the combined content of Pernille’s best works, including art that she has created especially for the book; career advice and tutorials; and a foreword from Disney Legend, John Musker (Co-Director of Moana, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) this is undoubtedly a book that any budding animator or artist should reserve space on their bookshelf for.

Illustrator Djamila Knopf's first art book leads us through her universe, where anime-influenced characters, exquisitely drawn and colored settings, and fantastical travels through other worlds enchant her loyal fans and fellow artists worldwide.

Across its pages you will find a collection of Djamila's best artwork, sketchbook pages, tutorials, and personal insights into her thought processes, early influences and journey of becoming an artist.

Step back into a familiar world where fantasy meets reality in Luminescence: Shedding Light on the Creative Process with Djamila Knopf. This second instalment from the German-born artist aims to demystify the creative process by breaking it down and making it more accessible to artists of all abilities.

Readers will discover multiple studies and tutorials, as well as brand-new exclusive artwork, and cover topics such as finding your artistic voice and magic realism. Luminescence is a wonderful addition for anyone looking to become a more intuitive creator.

Concept artist and illustrator Atey Ghailan takes you on the journey of his career in his first art book.

In addition to revealing his Japanese-inspired influences and a gallery of his popular works, Atey shares details from behind the scenes of his experiences in the art industry so far, ways of defeating the dreaded artist's block, and showcases some never-before-published work.

Be surprised, charmed, and intrigued by the unique work of Linnea Kikuchi (AKA Feefal), whose 1 million Instagram followers enjoy her surreal yet utterly believable creations. In this brand-new collection, she guides us through classic pieces, never-before-seen works, and tutorials commissioned specially for the book.

From early influences to her current workflow, Feefal’s captivating world is presented in this beautifully produced hardback volume.

Digital artist Gu Zheg Wei (AKA Guweiz) shares his anime-inspired world in this beautifully produced and insightful book, leading you through his fantasy world with a portfolio packed with gritty detail and a surreal vibe. Guweiz began drawing when he was 17, inspired by an anime art tutorial on YouTube. Discovering a natural talent, he carried on drawing and quickly amassed a fan-base for his edgy illustration style.

Throughout this book, readers will discover his artistic journey from the very beginning, with behind-the-scenes details about how some of his most popular pieces were created. He reveals his secrets for turning influences into truly original digital art, including that all-important narrative that takes drawing and painting beyond the purely visual.

The World of Guweiz: The Art of Gu Zheng Wei follows the digital artist as he explores the new narrative focus of his most recent works. This second installment boasts a comprehensive, curated collection of art, multiple step-by-step tutorials, and exclusive insights into the world of freelancing. Discover how Guweiz develops his bold-as-brass protagonists and tag along as they navigate his gritty, ruthless fictional settings.

This stunning book is perfect for those seeking to improve on visual storytelling while immersing themselves in the creative imagination of this world-renowned artist.

This book celebrates Frank Frazetta’s enduring influence on artists working across the creative industry today, featuring professional illustrators, concept artists, painters, and sculptors who hold ‘the godfather of fantasy art’ among their biggest inspirations.

In step-by-step tutorials, eleven artists reveal how they create exclusive homages inspired by their favourite elements of Frazetta’s work and style. Respected guests and industry legends – including Sara Frazetta, Robert Rodriguez, Allen Williams, Rafael Grassetti and The Shiflett Brothers – also share their personal tales of Frazetta’s influence on their lives and work, and discuss their favourites of his many iconic paintings.

Brand new tutorials and artwork reboot 3dtotal’s essential guide as the go-to resource for any aspiring digital painter.

Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool for digital artists, and this book is the newcomer’s indispensable manual for getting started and developing into a versatile digital artist. A definitive update of the bestselling Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting, this second edition is packed with new content using the software’s latest tools. From the basics of brushes and blending modes to the dynamic potential of layer masks and photobashing, professional artists from across the concept art and illustration industries share accessible step-by-step guides. Learn how to create stunning digital paintings with creativity, skill, and confidence.

Fundamentals of Creature Design: How to create successful concepts using functionality, anatomy, color, shape & scale

Every monster, alien, and fantasy beast seen on screen and in games emerges from the imaginations of talented concept artists. This book unlocks that world to reveal the must-have skills behind creating compelling creatures.

From applying knowledge of anatomy and evolution, to establishing clever workflows, everything you need is in this comprehensive creature-design toolkit.

Turn the pages of this lavishly produced book to discover a collection of monsters, creatures, and characters created by illustrator and digital artist Fran Garcés, AKA Dibujante Nocturno.

Explore an inspiring gallery of his fantastical works and discover step-by-step tutorials that break down not only the artist’s workflow and routine, but also his intricate pen sketching techniques, cleverly chosen color palettes, and detailed rendering.

This inspiring book presents a unique opportunity for fans of fantasy art and creature design to see how the epic art of Dibujante Nocturno is created.

Learn how to critique your own art — focus on the fundamentals, identify problems, then fix them — for results that advance your technique to the next level.

Richly annotated images, in-depth tutorials, and striking before-and-after results show how the fundamentals can elevate your art from good to great.

Even more expert advice, key techniques, and illuminating artwork upgrades 3dtotal’s bestselling Art Fundamentals, the cornerstone of every artist’s bookshelf. Whether you work in a traditional or digital medium, understanding the foundations of art itself is essential for engaging and confident results. Real-world rules make concept art so much more believable, while a clear comprehension of time-honored principles can elevate a classic subject to new levels of accomplishment.

This must-have, updated edition of Art Fundamentals is written and illustrated by experts from a range of creative backgrounds. It demystifies the crucial elements of art, while specially selected artwork details how the fundamentals have been cleverly applied to the canvas by incredible professional artists.

In this book, professional artist Brett Bean has taken everything he knows about drawing and created an invaluable collection of straightforward tasks, expert advice, and incredible examples of how simple techniques can result in imaginative illustrations. All you need is paper and a pen or pencil to start practising, taking the lead from Brett's clear directions and exercises along the way. Discover the techniques and tools available to you as an artist, from simple lines and shading methods to the effective use of shape, contrast, and negative space. Later in the book, build your confidence in tackling trickier tasks such as drawing perspective, anatomy, and lighting. Every piece of advice is illustrated with cool drawings and presented with Brett’s witty personality, making this the truly fun way to learn to DRAW!

The ultimate guide to drawing anatomy in perspective and pose. Discover a brand-new approach to drawing the human form with this unique guide by expert Tom Fox (aka tomfoxdraws). Tom’s trademark teaching style uses innovative box mannequins made from simplified shapes, ensuring believable results even when tackling tricky subjects such as perspective, proportion, and three-dimensional form.

He covers all the usual features of the body, including the bones, muscles, bony landmarks, and soft tissues that contribute to the human form, all in an accessible style that is easily applied to your own work.