[Course]illustrator,ziya Details
Intro
Class Intro
Illustrator, Ziya
"From basic body structures to customized character design, we're covering it all!"
Stylized Character Design Rooted in Fundamentals
Ziya, a professional illustrator, shares her approach to designing attractive and expressive male characters. Drawing inspiration from Art Nouveau, animation, and contemporary art, she walks you through her process in this class, helping you build a strong foundation while developing your own artistic voice.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between drawing accurate anatomy and creating expressive characters, this class is for you. Rather than relying on memorization, you’ll learn how to simplify and adjust forms to design characters that feel dynamic and full of personality.
You'll work through the entire process, from interpreting references and building gestures to adding light, texture, and atmosphere. The focus is on making thoughtful visual choices that reflect your individual style.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your fundamentals, this class will help you gain confidence, create more polished work, and move forward with a clearer sense of direction in male character illustrations.
You'll work through the entire process, from interpreting references and building gestures to adding light, texture, and atmosphere. The focus is on making thoughtful visual choices that reflect your individual style.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your fundamentals, this class will help you gain confidence, create more polished work, and move forward with a clearer sense of direction in male character illustrations.
Class Preview
Still Not Sure?
Check Out Ziya's Class Preview!
Chapter 10.
Stylized Face + Expressions
1. Stylizing face according to personal taste
Class Perks
Special Gift from Ziya
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Customized Brush Set- Includes 40 brushes Ziya has personally picked, customized, and used over the years -
Texture Set- Contains over 50 high-resolution texture overlay images
- Helps bring a more tactile, finished feel to your artwork -
In-Class Work Files- Layered working files from Ziya’s class demonstrations
- Allows you to follow along and practice directly on the files
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Real-Time Timelapse- 2 full-length timelapse videos of Ziya'c omplete illustration, showing the entire process with no major skips
- Perfect for rewatching and studying at your own pace -
Hairstyle Cheat-Sheet- Features 30 hairstyles that are great for studying styles and speeding up workflow -
Anatomy Cheat Sheet- Features essential tips, simplified breakdowns, and body proportions
- Perfect for quick reference and speeding up your anatomy workflow
Expert Illustrator Ziya's Portfolio
*This portfolio includes fan art
Why Take This Class?
Don't Let Structure Hold Back Your Style
Do you want to create attractive and expressive male characters but struggle to find the right balance between structure and style? This class is designed to help you bring your male character designs to life while developing your own artistic voice.
Rather than just memorizing anatomy, you'll learn how to break down proportions, gestures, and expressions to create characters that feel dynamic and full of personality. You'll also explore lighting, rendering, and textures to add depth and polish, making your work stand out.
Most importantly, this class isn’t just about following a formula. It’s about helping you find your own approach to drawing appealing male characters, ensuring your art feels both unique and unforgettable. By the end of the class, you’ll have a stronger artistic foundation and the confidence to push your work even further.
21 Class Exercises
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Reflection: Do you have a style? Do you have a favorite style? -
Define your purpose and try to practice daily -
Draw one scene with different compositions, each telling a different story -
Complete the perspective practice sheet -
Create an original value sketch of a daily object
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Anatomy practice -
Find your favorite faces/references -
Complete the face practice sheet -
Complete the face practice sheet-2 -
Complete the hairstyle sheet
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Complete the hairstyle rendering sheet -
Practice drawing hands -
Render hands -
Complete the texture sheet -
Coomplete the folds sheet -
Rendering accessories -
Draw along with the video or start an original piece
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Follow along - Face -
Follow along - Hair -
Follow along - Body -
Follow along - Background -
Set up your own page
*Above are sample images for a better understanding.
Final Products
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Character + Background -
Old Work Reimagined: Character Illustration Study
Instructor
Illustrator
Ziya
Hi! I’m Ziya, a digital illustrator based in Atlanta. I’ve always loved drawing, starting with characters from my favorite shows as a kid. After art school, I took time to reconnect with what truly inspired me—stylized characters, expressive figures, and visual storytelling. Sharing my work online helped me grow a supportive audience and led to freelance opportunities that shaped my career.
My style blends influences from Art Nouveau, contemporary illustration, and animation. I enjoy exploring different approaches to character design, from realistic to cartoony. Over time, my work has been recognized by Communication Arts, the Society of Illustrators, and 3x3 Illustration, and I’m excited to keep creating work that feels honest, dynamic, and uniquely mine.
Illustrator, Ziya
[Current]
Ziya Studio LLC Founding Artist
Projects & Awards
[Awards]
3x3 Illustration Annual
Merit - No. 15, 16
Honorable Mention - No. 16, 17
Creative Quarterly Winner - CQ 61
American Illustration Society
Applied Arts Media Student Award
Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2023
Award of Excellence
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles
Highlights
Class Highlights
Draw Faces from Reference with Style
Learn how to reinterpret reference photos through a stylized lens. Focus on simplifying the details and emphasizing key features to create work that feels both intentional and personal. This approach helps you build a stronger sense of design and identity in your character art.
Refine Your Work with Confident Detailing
Develop a practical approach to rendering that highlights important areas without overworking the piece. You’ll focus on clarity, balance, and control, allowing your artwork to feel complete and polished. These skills are essential for creating strong visual impact.
Add Light, Mood, and Depth
Understand how to use lighting and contrast to enhance atmosphere and storytelling. You’ll explore ways to guide the viewer’s eye, support the character’s presence, and create a sense of cohesion. This helps your work feel immersive and emotionally grounded.
Class Details
You'll Learn
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Stylized AnatomyLearn how to creatively adjust real-life proportions to design characters that feel expressive, unique, and still believable. Perfect for developing a strong and appealing visual style. -
Hand Drawing and GesturesMaster the art of drawing natural hand poses and dynamic gestures that bring your characters to life with energy and personality. -
Value and ShadingDiscover how to use light and shadow to create depth, contrast, and a strong sense of form. Improve your shading techniques and elevate the overall impact of your compositions.
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Texture and MaterialLearn how to render skin, fabric, metal, and more using light, shading, and brushwork. Whether aiming for realism or stylization, make your surfaces feel tangible and convincing. -
Rendering DetailsFocus on essential details that elevate your art. Learn where to add highlights, textures, and polish to enhance realism and draw attention—without overwhelming your work. -
Adding AtmosphereEnhance your storytelling by mastering the use of lighting, color, and background effects. Create mood, depth, and immersion that pull viewers into your character’s world.
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Interview with
Illustrator Ziya
Question.01
Why did you choose this specific topic?
I chose this topic because drawing attractive male characters is both my passion and expertise. Over the years, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the key elements that make male characters visually appealing, whether it’s strong facial structure, expressive eyes, or dynamic body language.
I’ve noticed that many artists struggle with striking the right balance between masculinity and beauty, often defaulting to exaggerated features or overly rigid forms. My goal is to help students refine their skills, master anatomy and stylization, and develop their own unique approach to drawing compelling, handsome male characters.
Through this class, I want to share my techniques, insights, and artistic philosophy to inspire others to create characters that are not only visually stunning but also full of personality and depth.
I’ve noticed that many artists struggle with striking the right balance between masculinity and beauty, often defaulting to exaggerated features or overly rigid forms. My goal is to help students refine their skills, master anatomy and stylization, and develop their own unique approach to drawing compelling, handsome male characters.
Through this class, I want to share my techniques, insights, and artistic philosophy to inspire others to create characters that are not only visually stunning but also full of personality and depth.
Question.02
What makes your class different from other classes?
My class stands out by combining strong foundational anatomy with stylized appeal, teaching students how to create attractive male characters that feel both structured and expressive.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, I break down different types of male attractiveness, guiding students in mastering facial features, posing, and dynamic lighting to enhance impact. Beyond just technical skills, I focus on storytelling and personality, ensuring that every character exudes charm and depth. Most importantly, this class helps artists develop their own unique style, rather than just copying a formula for drawing handsome men.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, I break down different types of male attractiveness, guiding students in mastering facial features, posing, and dynamic lighting to enhance impact. Beyond just technical skills, I focus on storytelling and personality, ensuring that every character exudes charm and depth. Most importantly, this class helps artists develop their own unique style, rather than just copying a formula for drawing handsome men.
Question.03
Is there anything else you would like to share with your students?
The most important thing I want my students to remember is to enjoy the process. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing perfection or comparing yourself to others, but art is a journey, not a race. Embrace mistakes, experiment fearlessly, and allow yourself to grow at your own pace.
Also, don’t be afraid to draw what you love. Whether it’s stylish characters, dramatic lighting, or expressive poses, your passion will always shine through in your work. Stay curious, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun with your art. The more you enjoy creating, the more your unique voice will develop naturally. Keep going—you’ve got this!
Also, don’t be afraid to draw what you love. Whether it’s stylish characters, dramatic lighting, or expressive poses, your passion will always shine through in your work. Stay curious, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun with your art. The more you enjoy creating, the more your unique voice will develop naturally. Keep going—you’ve got this!
Required Programs
This course will use Adoe Photoshop, but students may also follow along using other drawing software such as Clip Studio Paint and Procreate.
Please purchase and install these program(s) for an optimized chapter experience.
*These programs and/or materials will not be provided with the chapter.
