20+ Best Tutorials for Creating Characters in Illustrator

Illustrated characters are an excellent way to add a unique and fun touch to any project. Whether you need to create a mascot for a sports team or add extra flair to a brand identity, creating a character is sure to grab your audience’s attention. Illustrator is the perfect tool for bringing your creative character ideas to life.

Fortunately, there are tutorials available that can help you master the art of creating amazing characters with Adobe Illustrator. In this collection, we’ve gathered the best tutorials to help get you started.

These tutorials offer something for everyone. You’ll learn how to use different tools and techniques to create detailed and expressive characters that are full of personality. From learning how to draw basic shapes to creating intricate facial expressions, these tutorials cover a range of topics.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Once you’ve created your character, you can continue to customize it to fit your project’s needs. With Illustrator’s vast array of design tools, you can add unique textures, colors, and even animations to bring your character to life.

You might also like these HTML & CSS character design code snippets.

How to Create a Character in Adobe Illustrator

If you have pencil sketches lying around and want to turn them into digital works of art, this tutorial is for you. You’ll learn how to take a pencil sketch and turn it into a vector image with Adobe Illustrator.

How to Create a Vector Ninja Character (Video Tutorial)

Don’t miss this video tutorial from Chris over at Spoon Graphics if you love video tutorials. In just under 10 minutes, you will learn how to create ninja characters using Adobe Illustrator.

Monster Character Creation Kit

There are times when you don’t have time to create a vector character from scratch, yet your projects still call for it. This character creation kit has everything you need to quickly design adorable and unique monster characters.

How to Draw Isometric Character Art

Isometric art allows you to convey all three dimensions at full scale, so if that’s something you’d like to get better at or need for your design project, this tutorial is for you. The tutorial walks you through the entire process step by step.

How to Create the Masha and the Bear Characters

This tutorial will teach you how to create the characters from Masha and the Bear. This tutorial is perfect for any project geared toward a young audience, and the knowledge will help you create similar-style drawings.

How To Draw A Cartoon In Illustrator

Ever wanted to make your own cartoon? Well, now you can, thanks to this detailed Illustrator tutorial. You will learn what goes into making a cartoon, how to plan the theme of your cartoon, and how to put together an effective scene that helps you tell the story.

PixityLand-Character Creator Kit

This is another character creation kit that will allow you to create PixityLand characters. You can mix and match different elements to create entirely new characters, which makes this kit a perfect solution when you need custom characters quickly.

How to Create a Flat Design Character (Video Tutorial)

Flat design is all the rage nowadays, and in this video tutorial, you will learn how to apply flat design principles and create a full-blown character in Illustrator.

How to Create a Cute Welsh Corgi Character

Corgis are adorable. They are even more adorable when you turn them into cute illustrated characters. Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator to create the cutest Welsh Corgi you’ve ever seen.

Doctors and Children Flat People Characters

If you have a project that requires doctor or children characters, don’t miss out on this template. You’ll find plenty of premade characters that will make your project go faster.

How To Create a Cute Dinosaur Character

Take your Illustrator skills to the next level and learn how to design a cute dinosaur. This tutorial is perfect for children’s birthday invitations or even stationery design that appeals to young kids just starting school.

How to Create a Summer Illustration

Summer is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate than to create a summer Illustration depicting a beach scene? This tutorial will also warm you up during cold winter days, so be sure to check it out.

Animal Characters Set

When you’re working on a design project involving pets or animals, you need adorable animal characters. Use this template as a starting point or as an inspiration to create your own animal characters.

How to Design a Handsome Flat Hipster Character

This tutorial will help you design a handsome hipster character done up in a flat design style. You’ll learn how to use simple geometric shapes, Live Corners, and Stroke and Align panels.

How to Create a Retro Poster With an Astronaut Child

Another retro-inspired tutorial that will teach you how to create an astronaut child using Warp tools, Clipping Mask, and textures to give it a unique look.

Geek Character Set

Not only is this geeky character template perfect if you need geek characters quickly, but you can also use it as an inspiration for your own character design.

How to Create A Cute Creature Character

Take a look at this tutorial to learn how to make a cute creature from a sketch you already have. You’ll learn how to make use of custom brushes, the Paintbrush tool, the Pen tool, and the Live Paint Bucket tool.

How to Create a Deep Diving Character Illustration

Using simple and basic shapes along with the offset effect can produce exciting results. Use this Illustrator tutorial to create a fantastic deep-diving character illustration, perfect for any summer or ocean-related project.

How to Create a Vector Hipster Character (Video Tutorial)

This is another video tutorial from Chris over at Spoon Graphics. He shows you how to use basic shapes to construct a vector hipster character which makes the entire process much faster.

How To Create an 8-Bit Pixel Character

Pixels are usually associated with Photoshop, but in this tutorial, you will be using the rectangle tool to create a vector illustration that looks like a simple 8-bit style pixel character.

Isometric Characters Constructor Kit

I shared a tutorial earlier in this post that will teach you how to design isometric characters. If you want to speed up the process, consider using this isometric character constructor kit.

How to Draw Characters in Illustrator

Use this tutorial to learn how to create a female character from scratch. The tutorial uses a step-by-step approach to turn a sketch into a finished vector illustration in Illustrator.

How to Draw a Boxing Kangaroo Character

This tutorial teaches you how to make a cute boxing kangaroo character in Illustrator. You’ll work with the Path and Blend tool as well as effects and brushes to make your illustration appear more realistic.

How to Create Easy Kawaii Animals

If you want to learn how to create kawaii animals, this tutorial is for you. You’ll learn how to use the warp effect, move anchor points, and use the Pathfinder panel. The tutorial also teaches you to how to properly use the Line Segment Tool and the Reflect Tool.

How to Draw a Cute Glowing Jellyfish

Jellyfish are not cute when you meet them in real life, but this cute jellyfish character is nothing to be afraid of. Learn how to create this cute glowing character with basic geometric shapes, the Pathfinder panel, and various Effects.

How to Create a Character Kit in Adobe Illustrator

Creating your own characters in Illustrator will become a piece of cake once you’ve gone through the tutorials listed here. With this last tutorial, take it a step further and create your very own character kit that will speed up your character design process in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What will I learn from these Illustrator tutorials?

These tutorials teach you how to use Adobe Illustrator to design various types of characters, from simple cartoon styles to more complex and detailed illustrations.
Are these tutorials suitable for all skill levels?

Yes, there are tutorials for every skill level. Beginners can find tutorials with basic techniques, while advanced users can explore more intricate character design methods.
What types of characters can I learn to create?

You can learn to create a wide range of characters, including humans, animals, fantasy creatures, and more, in various styles and poses.
Do I need the latest version of Illustrator for these tutorials?

While having the latest version might be helpful, many tutorials can be followed using older versions of Illustrator, as they often focus on fundamental drawing tools and techniques.
How long does it usually take to complete a character design tutorial?

The time varies depending on the tutorial’s complexity and your proficiency with Illustrator. Some might take an hour or two, while others could be longer projects.
Can beginners in Illustrator start with these character tutorials?

Absolutely! Many tutorials start with basics and are designed to be easy to follow, even for those new to Illustrator.
What skills will I develop from these tutorials?

You’ll enhance your skills in vector illustration, including shaping, coloring, shading, and character composition, among other techniques.
Is learning character design in Illustrator beneficial for my portfolio?

Definitely! Creating unique characters is a valuable skill in graphic design, illustration, and animation, making your portfolio more diverse and appealing.

Create Compelling Characters in Illustrator

Illustrated characters add life and personality to any design project. Use the tutorials in this article to learn how to create compelling characters for any design project. You will also sharpen your Illustrator skills and learn new design techniques that you’ll apply in your everyday work and design projects.