In this tutorial, we will learn how to make a funny boy character in Adobe Photoshop. After drawing the sketch, we’ll use shapes, layer styles, the brush tool, and other effects to add some dimension to and life to our character.

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Tutorial Details

• Program: Photoshop CS3
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Estimated Completion Time: About 40 minutes

Step 1

First create a new 2000 pixel by 2000 pixel document with a white background.

Step 2

Then lets make a quick sketch. Use the Brush tool and turn on the Shape Dynamics feature in the Brushes window.

Step 3

After that we are going to make a color sketch, so turn off Shape Dynamics for a harder Brush, and color the boy in the new “Colors” Layer.

Step 4

Now, let’s begin to add some details to our character, starting from the head. Make a circle with the Ellipse Tool, be sure to choose the Shape Layer feature. Then Command-click on the shape’s contour to make the object editable.

Choose the Pen Tool. Now you can add a new vertex by clicking anywhere on the contour. Command-click on a vertex if you want to move it or Alt-click on it if you want to change the sharpness of the angle. So let’s add the ears.

Step 5

Double-click on the right side of the Layer in the Layers window to open the Layer Styles window and add the following Layer Styles.

Step 6

Create a new layer and draw the blush areas using the Brush Tool. Then blur it with Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Step 7

Now we need to turn off layer visibility for a while, so we can draw the eyes. In order to do that just Click on the eye-icon near the layer shown below. Draw a circle and transform it with Edit > Free Transform (Command + T).

Step 8

Add the following Layer Styles.

Step 9

Draw the pupil and the shadow above the eye.

Step 10

Now select the three layers related to the eye in the Layer window and group them (Command + G). Then drag the group to the New Layer icon to copy the group and thus create a second eye. Use the Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal and move the second eye to the right position.

Step 11

To draw the glasses, start with a circle using the Ellipse Tool. Then select the Subtract from Shape Area (-) feature and draw another circle inside the first one. To change circle position Command-click on the contour and use Free Transform (Command + T).

Step 12

Copy this layer and place it above the second eye. Draw all the other elements with the Pen Tool.

Step 13

Merge all layers related to the glasses by selecting them and then pressing Command + E. Add the following Layer Styles.

Step 14

Draw the mouth with a Pen Tool and add an Inner Shadow to the layer.

Step 15

Now we are going to draw the teeth and add the Inner Shadow to them. To copy the Layer Style from one tooth to another drag the icon of the Layer Style while holding Alt + Command. Then clip the unwanted part of the teeth by selecting them in the Layers Window and pressing Alt + Command + G. This will create a Clipping Mask.

Step 16

Now draw the nose and add the following Layer Styles. Be sure to turn off the Use Global Light.

Step 17

Now add some freckles onto the face using the Ellipse Tool.

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