10 Free Illustration Tutorials for Learning New Techniques

Learn new styles and techniques to enhance your illustrations with tips and advices from great experts

In the field of illustration, there is always something new to learn to enhance our practice and grow as artists: be it manga techniques, eastern art, different narrative styles, or tips to achieve perfect anatomical proportions.

You will find 10 illustration tutorials below that will help you expand your creative possibilities, under the guidance of some of our top experts.

Watch the video, and click on the red title to access the post with a full tutorial explanation. Enjoy!

Illustration Tutorial: Tips to Illustrate a Children's Story

To illustrate a children’s book, you need to be able to sum up a story in a series of simple images that captivate a reader’s imagination.

In her tutorial, illustrator Teresa Martínez (@tereza_mtz) shares her creative process and secrets for turning the adventures and characters of the written pages into beautiful drawings.

Illustration Tutorial: Applying Sumi-e Techniques to Watercolor Painting

Sumi-e is an ancient painting technique originating in China. The origin of sumi-e is related to the Tang dynasty and the Buddhist monks who brought it to Japan.

In this video, to get started with this technique, illustrator Flor Kaneshiro (@florkaneshiro) reviews the elements you need to learn: pressure, speed, direction, and rhythm of the brushstroke.

Illustration Tutorial: How to Draw Manga Faces Step by Step

With the head and face as a starting point, artist and illustrator Andrea Jen (@andrea_jen) teaches how to design a manga character with method and precision.

This tutorial also shows us the fundamental differences to consider if we want that character to be male or female.

Architectural Drawing Tutorial: How to Make a Good Composition

To make a good composition with depth, in this tutorial, Alex Hillkurtz (@alexhillkurtzart), an artist specialized in storyboarding, explains how to apply two techniques that add dynamism and take our sketches to the next level.

Illustration Tutorial: Basic Concepts of Female Anatomy

In this tutorial, illustrator Natália Dias (@nataliadsw) teaches us the basics of the female anatomy, with a particular focus on the shapes of the head and neck.

This knowledge allows us to draw balanced and proportionate forms.

Illustration Tutorial: 5 Basic Tips on How to Shade with Ink

Inking and shading are fundamental elements that help place an object or a character into the space of a drawing, as well as indicate where the light comes from.

In comics, this is an essential feature. In his tutorial, Sergio Bleda (@sergibleda), a cartoonist and illustrator, shows you how to shade with India ink like a pro.

Illustration Tutorial: Ink Strokes And The Sumi-e Technique

In this video, Mika Takahashi (@takamiks), an award-winning artist and illustrator, teaches us how to explore the possibilities of India ink to create hypnotic stains using a 2000-year-old technique.

Drawing Tutorial: How to Create a Superhero Comic Page

Learn some basic tips for creating and designing a comic page with illustrator and cartoonost Salva Espín (@salvaespin).

In this video he teaches us how to create an easy-to-read page step by step, while keeping the narrative effective and the images attractive.

Character Design Tutorial: How to Draw Comic-Style Female Hair

In this tutorial by Marcio Takara (@marciotakara), you will learn how to draw different hair types to give movement and personality to your characters.

The illustrator will provide you with tips for using hair as a powerful storytelling tool to convey your character's attitude and energy.

Manga Tutorial: Give Eyes Color and Sparkle

Artist Tania Oksentiuk (@taniidraw) is an expert in creating Eastern-style drawings and provides us with a series of tips for coloring and brightening anime eyes with markers.

Eyes are the most expressive part of the face in this genre, reflecting the personality of each manga character.

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