Character Creation from Observational Drawings
A course by Sarah van Dongen , Illustrator
Joined March 2020
Draw and paint unique characters inspired by the world around you using a variety of artistic materials
Portraying people through illustration is a powerful tool for capturing them in their best light and their natural habitat. Illustrator Sarah van Dongen has illustrated a number of children’s books and worked with clients including Adobe, Lannoo, and Querido.
In this course, she teaches you how to design characters based on drawings of human anatomy. Create a spread in your sketchbook of your own, unique character and bring them to life with different poses. Ready to give a real human touch to your illustrations?
This is Sarah’s second course with Domestika. In her first Exploratory Sketchbook: Find Your Drawing Style, she explores using your sketchbook as a way to develop both your ideas and artistic style.
What will you learn in this online course?
13 lessons & 15 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (731)
- 23,664 students
- 13 lessons (2h 45m)
- 15 additional resources (4 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Fill a sketchbook with your own unique characters in a variety of poses.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in using observational drawing to illustrate unique characters inspired by the real world.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is needed to take this course.
In terms of materials, you will need gouache, colored pencils, brush pens, markers, and other materials specified by the teacher in this course.
Reviews
Sarah van Dongen
A course by Sarah van Dongen
Sarah van Dongen is a Dutch illustrator based in Amsterdam who is passionate about telling stories. She began her studies in comparative literature but enrolled in the MA in Children’s Books Illustration in Cambridge, UK after realizing she wanted to pursue a more creative career.
Sarah’s illustration work can be found in children’s books, stationery, newspapers, and magazines across the globe. Her clients include Flow Magazine, Adobe, Tiny Owl Publishing, and Ragged Bears Publishing, among others. Sarah enjoys exploring themes like gardens, food, social interactions, mental health, and her childhood. She doesn’t shy away from subjects like insecurity, loneliness, and loss, she expresses them in her sketches to help make these feelings more comprehensible.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Materials and How to Use Them
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My Materials
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Use of Materials
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Materials and Colour
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U3
Theory and Observation
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Human Anatomy
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Drawing People from Pictures 1
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Drawing People from Pictures 2
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Drawing People from Observation
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U4
Creating Unique Characters
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Creating a Character
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Choosing Colours and Materials and Composition
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Creating Your Character Spread 1
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Creating Your Character Spread 2
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FP
Final project
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Character Creation from Observational Drawings
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational skills in drawing, character design, and illustration techniques, making it accessible for those new to art.
You’ll need a sketchbook, gouache, colored pencils, water-soluble crayons, ink brush pens, markers, and suitable paper. The course explains different tools and suggests alternatives for mixed media projects.
You’ll learn to draw people, develop unique characters, practice human anatomy, experiment with color and texture, use various art materials, and build creative drawing habits for expressive illustrations.
Yes, the course includes tips on sharing your artwork on Instagram, building an online presence, and engaging with the illustration community to showcase your creative progress.
Yes, the course teaches both realistic and abstract character drawing techniques, helping you explore different styles and develop your own artistic voice.
The course emphasizes daily sketchbook practice, providing routines, prompts, and strategies to help you develop and maintain regular drawing habits.
Yes, you’ll learn techniques for figure drawing, facial proportions, hands, feet, and using references to capture accurate and expressive human forms.
Super pour débuter !
love her style very much~
A lovely and fun course as always. I love Sarah's loose and colourful style so much and learning from her is just wonderful!
A Sarah é maravilhosa, já acompanhava o trabalho dela nas redes sociais e amei saber que ela tinha esse curso. Fiz e amei.
I love Sarah's classes, she is calm and engaging