Quick Tip: Create a Simple Character Face with Vector Shapes
Tutorial Details
- Program: Illustrator C3 and above
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Length: 18:19 min
Learn how to create a stylized and simple character face in Adobe Illustrator with Ryan Quintal. It’s all the elipse and pen tool in this one, as we’re going to use solid colors, basic shapes, and use Illustrator’s “Width” tool to create some beautiful lines. Once you’re done, you’ll have a template that’s ready to go for a wide variety of faces for characters and animation.
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By Ryan Quintal
Edgy. Daring. Sometimes a little kooky. Graphic designers of all backgrounds turn to Ryan's QuintalDesigns.com for industry articles, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop Tutorials, and a host of other fun information. A blend of strong experience, innovative design, and geeky background. Ryan's current gig is as a Designer in Massachusetts, while at the same time, attending college, where he is honing his skills for his design career.
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You have an excellent tutorial for beginners. When I was starting, I really enjoy creating character designs and faces. It’s fun to teach this to children.
Where is the “width tool” in AI CS4 ?
You know Anton, I think the width tool is a CS5 exclusive, But another way to get that effect is to use a brush stroke. You can use my tutorial here to learn the swoosh technique.
Quick and Easy Swooshes Swirls and Twirls Tutorial:
http://quintaldesigns.com/tutorials/quick-and-easy-swooshes-and-swirls-illustrator-tutorial
Thank you Ryan. This was really helpful for a beginner like me. Keep publishing more tuts :)
Thanks Adam, I appreciate it.
Nice work! please, tell me, what tool do you use to make nose, lips, eyebrows so amazing. I can’t hear on this video
It’s the “width” tool.
Hey thanks for the tutorial, this is very amazing, I wanted to do some thing like this in a while :P
my outcome: http://krontm.deviantart.com/#/d3l85l0
Great work!
Awesome, The green hair is rad.
Nice tutorial :) It was fun and funny ’cause I was laughing to your jokes, and pauses to find the right word (the iris, star trek side burns, cool hair, “yes he’s gonna be white ’cause that’s what I landed on”, the blue eyes comment, the medieval hair, you made him a buddy hehehe… and the signing out saying “your buddy”) XD
Oh and you got me thinking about the hair above the ears XD
Learn a lot from this tutorial. keep it up :D
Alas, not a single person commented on the Justin Beiber joke. Maybe I’m loosing my touch. :-p
Thank you Ryan, Illustrator was such as complicated for me but now after your tutorial everything is clear
My work : http://galvero.deviantart.com/art/I-m-cool-guy-227192202
This was a great first tutorial for me to learn various techniques and features of Illustrator. What a great application!
Thanks for the introduction, I’ll be spending more time on this site for sure!
Here’s mine:
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h432/ThinkPol1/CharacterFaceTutunguided.jpg
What is the ‘Option’ button on PC? Anybody know?
Alt :)
Thanks for this. It was really helpful, as I’m pretty new to illustrator and trying to learn more.
Awesome tut. I learned so many things watching this. Width tool! Stroke caps! Select same stroke color! I love it!
Hi ! I registered only to thank you for this amazing tutorial. I just began illustrator today and you made it very understable. I learned a lot of shapes and tips. Also, i’m french but it’s very easy to understand what you say.
Thank you for doing that kind of stuff
p.s: i don’t understand when you say “command shift left *********** ” You use it on the bottom hair and on the neck too. I did it with the layers but i would like to know the tips.
That would be left square bracket ( this [ ) I’m glad you enjoyed the tutorial :)
Where can i find this on my mac keyboard? i dont have such a bracket.
Excellent tutorial and I really enjoyed it! This is gonna be my base to make my new mascot :)
Can you please make a tutorial or kust explain how did you organize your workspace in Illustrator this way?
Thanks in advance! Tutorial is awesome, btw!!!
Thanks Ryan, Awesome Tutorial. I am new to new Illustrator…I really find your Tutorial very helpful.