5 Timelapses for Learning How to Draw Your Favorite Heroines

Discover five different professionals' processes for sketching, illustrating, and painting emblematic female characters

From comics to films, the stories we tell are often a reflection of society. Thus, just like in the real world, women have also had to fight to claim their spot in the worlds of fiction. In recent years, superheroines and female protagonists have broken away from established roles and brought their own voices to stories and spaces previously reserved for male characters.

If these empowered women inspire you, too, take a closer look at how professional artists draw them. Explore the creative process behind some of the most emblematic female characters and learn to draw your own heroines step by step.

1. Timelapse: How to Draw Wonder Woman with Marcio Takara

In 1941, Wonder Woman became an icon as an opponent to the chauvinist American society of the time. She was the first modern female superhero in comic book history and was also the first to make the leap to the big screen with her own movie. Join Marcio Takara, Marvel and DC Comics illustrator and professor of the Female Character Design for Comics course, as he teaches you how to draw Wonder Woman from scratch.

2. Timelapse: This Is How You Draw Black Widow with Elena Garnu

Social unrest and the feminist movement of the '60s combined to bolster demand for more female characters in comics. This led to the development of the Black Widow character, who first faced off against Tony Stark before joining The Avengers. In the online course Illustrated Portraits with Procreate, illustrator Elena Garnu shows you how to shape expressive faces in Procreate using Black Widow as a perfect example.

3. Timelapse: Harley Quinn in Watercolor with Sergio Bleda

She started out as a "girlfriend of" before becoming a recurring villain in Batman's adventures and even starring in solo stories. Harley Quinn has taken the DC universe by storm, and she's here to stay...and slay. See how Sergio Bleda—an illustrator with more than 29 years of experience drawing newspaper comic strips, picture books, and full-fledged comics—adds color from scratch using what he believes is the best technique for coloring a vignette: watercolor. Learn more with him in his courses Watercolor Coloring for Comics and Illustrations, Inking Techniques for Comics and Illustration, and Comics and Illustration: Present Your Editorial Project.

4. Timelapse: Illustrate Cruella with Amy Pearson

The comic book industry is not alone in the process of adapting its characters to a more modern reality. Disney has spent years reviewing the stories of its most popular protagonists, even giving some of its star villains a second chance. A clear example of this is Cruella, whom illustrator Amy Pearson brings to life in this Timelapse through a perfect combination of graphite, watercolor, and Adobe Photoshop. Learn how you can do the same in her course Portrait Illustration with Analog and Digital Techniques.

5. Timelapse: How to Draw Daenerys Targaryen with Jordi Ros

And, of course, we can't forget TV shows. Daenerys Targaryen is a prime example of a powerful female character and leader, combining attitude, aptitude, and charisma while making complicated decisions in larger-than-life, Game of Thrones-style fashion. Join designer and artist Jordi Ros and see how he draws this fearless female front-runner. In his online course Methodology and Conceptualization for Designing Characters, you'll delve deeper into the process of researching, depicting, and presenting your characters professionally.

After viewing these five illustration timelapses, you're probably already thinking about grabbing a pen and paper to start your next creative project. If you're looking to further your understanding of how to illustrate your ideas, here are some resources to help you.

More resources on illustration:

1. Keep creating your own heroines with these ten free online illustration classes for designing characters from scratch.
2. Practice with these Gesture Drawing Exercises: How to Draw Expressive Poses and learn how to create characters full of personality.
3. Take your designs one step further and shape your own story with this Drawing Tutorial: How to Create a Superhero Comic Page.