How to Create a New “Girl Tribal Character” Design in 16 Simple Steps

Give your art projects a boost of creativity by blending historical designs with modern visions.
Follow this sketching video to draw a girl from an Asian tribe and see the results!

How to Create Girl Tribal Character Design Sketches

To draw an attractive character design (male or female) with clothes, the outfit is essential.
However, to succeed:

• You have to start by drawing the (nude) body first.
• Then only, draw the fashion clothing style.

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Step 1. Find a cozy cafe

Let’s go to chill in a cafe to sketch!

Ambience Matters

Drawing in a cozy cafe can provide a wonderfully relaxing environment that boosts creativity. I love sketching in the “Ngot cafe” in Ho Chi Minh City, where I find the perfect balance of background noise and peace. Where do you like to draw most? Let me know in the comments!

Vietnam has plenty of them.
I recommend you order a Cafe Sua Da! It is Ice Milk Coffee. So delicious!!

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Step 2. Look for inspiration in historical fashion

I found a very interesting poster displaying tribes’ outfits all over the world.
And one attracts my attention.

History Poster as Inspiration

I stumbled upon a beautiful poster showcasing tribal outfits from around the world. 
One particular woman from an Asian tribe caught my eye.
How about taking this historical fashion and using it as a springboard for something new?

Explore More: Check out 8 Reasons Why You Should Sketch Daily for inspiration on why daily sketching can lead to such creative discoveries.

• If you look at video games, animation, and movies, the designers behind them often take inspiration from history books. They twist the originals as their wish to make them innovative and even more interesting.

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Step 3. Find a comfortable seat

My seat is at the corner where I can find peace in this quiet coffee shop.
I can’t hear the noise of the motorbike from upstairs.

Comfort is good to have!

I’ve found a spot in the corner of the cafe where the seating is just right for drawing.
The seat and the table height give me a proper posture for drawing.
(Some cafes have a too low or too highchair that handicap the drawing practice)

Remember, a good posture reduces the stress on your body, which can help your sketches flow better.
Have you ever struggled with uncomfortable drawing environments?

I will draw from here looking at the poster.
Luckily I have a good vision.

* I used to have a nerdy look with big glasses. But I went to LASIK a few years ago to operate my eyes and regenerate my full sight

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Step 4. Learn from the past to create something new

The Power of History

Don’t let your ego tell you not to copy.
Instead, embrace history as a treasure trove of inspiration.
This approach can lead to innovative and interesting designs.

Inspiration Drawing Techniques: Dive into How to Learn Drawing Faster for techniques on how to use history to fuel your creativity of unlimited ideas!

Picture a world where every newborn must rediscover the wheel. It would be a bizarre and inefficient place, with each generation starting from square one. (Though, I must admit, it’s an intriguing thought to ponder what such a world would look like!)

Learn how to copy and absorb information to mix them, and cook them in your brain to innovate!
That is how brainstorming creative method is so efficient.

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Step 5. Interprete with your own style

The original drawing has its own gravure old style.
However, I want to absorb the data to redraw them my own way.

Think of your mind as an idea shaker to generate new ideas!
That’s the magic power designers and artists learn to master every day by sketching daily.

Your Unique Twist: 

While the original drawing has a distinct style, we’re going to absorb and reimagine it with our own flair. This process is like shaking ideas in your mind to see what new concoctions emerge!

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Step 6. Start with a vertical axis

This simple line has its importance.
You will use it as the main guide for your drawing.

Guiding Line

This simple vertical line is your anchor for ensuring symmetry and proportion. It’s amazing how one line can guide the entire sketch!

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Step 7. Draw the body following the axis

The pose is static.
So you need to follow the body parts all along this axis.

Symmetry in Pose

Since our character is in a static pose, this axis helps maintain balance as you sketch each body part.

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Step 8. Draw the arm visualizing the bones

To draw the pose, it is much easier to start drawing the skeleton.

Simplify the Anatomy

Start with the bones, represented by sticks.
This technique simplifies the complexity of drawing arms, making it easier to position them correctly.

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Step 9. Draw the outfit

Only when you have a good picture of the body, you can start drawing the outfit.

Clothing on Structure

Only once you have the body sketched, add the outfit.
Remember, the body’s form is the canvas for your fashion.

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Step 10. Draw the body first

Foundation First

Just like in fashion design or animation, the body is the foundation for any clothing design.
Start with the anatomy, and your creativity will flow more freely.

It is the same process as learning how to draw a body for fashion design or concept art, or animation…
Drawing clothes has a similar process to drawing a shoe.

• To draw clothes, you need to draw the body first.
• To draw a shoe, you need to draw a standard foot first (called Shoe last)

Draw the base drawing first.
And your mind will be relieved of the proportion and posing information.

Preparing your sketches thinking of the human anatomy
is the only way you can draw clothing designs with your full creativity.

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Step 11. I draw hatching for shadows and color blocking

Depth and Detail

When you feel pretty satisfied with your accomplishment, add shadows, prints, and color/material blocking. Hatching adds depth and shadows, making your character come to life.
It’s a fast and effective way to show form and texture.

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Step 12. Think in 3 dimensions

Many fashion illustrations are flat.
I recommend you learn how to draw like animators, comics, and manga artists.
They can build up the body model in 3d in any position drawing from imagination!

Dynamic Design

Fashion illustrations can often be flat, but by thinking in 3D, your sketches will have more life and movement.

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Step 13. Tip to draw a hand easily

Hands are crazy difficult to draw for a beginner.

To simplify the hand, group the 3 last fingers.
You don’t have to leave the hand space blank or hide them in the pocket or in the back.
I know this trick too, I did it when I was younger.

Simplify the Hand

Grouping the last three fingers together can simplify the often daunting task of drawing hands.
This trick can help you overcome the fear of drawing hands!

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Step 14. Create additional fashion poses

When you know how to draw body anatomy in 3 dimensions, with the bones as sticks, you can create your own fashion poses. It elevates the fun and freedom of creativity!

Dynamic Poses

With a good understanding of anatomy, you can create fluid, dynamic poses.
This elevates the fun and creativity of your designs. Practice also drawing the side view to train your 3D vision.

A body is organic and full of curves.
The bones use sticks while the muscles use curves.
(I draw with what I call the S-curves)

I want to draw as if the body were like in “dancing movement“.

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Step 15. Check your gravity line

A beginner’s mistake is to draw an unstable body posture.

The gravity line is very useful to check your body balance.
It starts from the bottom of the throat, then goes down to the ground vertically.
Then check your body position if it feels balanced.

Balance is Beautiful

A good posture in your drawing ensures the character looks balanced and natural.
The gravity line is a handy tool for this.

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Step 16. Tada!! Well done!

Starting a blank page is not easy.

It’s a pleasure to draw from reference pictures as you outsource a part of your inspiration.
It is so much fun!

Celebrate Your Progress: 

Starting a blank page isn’t easy, but by using reference pictures, you’ve unlocked a new level of creativity. Remember, your journey in sketching is filled with joy, exploration, and growth!

I recommend you create your own library of inspiration pictures as a database.
If you want to make it seriously, create folders by type.
For example Mechanical, Machines, Transport, Nature, Human, Science….

Whenever you need a boost of inspiration you can pick up something there.
The pictures don’t have to come from Google’s image but most interesting, from your phone camera.

Take inspiration from real life!

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Conclusion

In conclusion, drawing a girl’s body for character design sketching is not just an exercise in art but an exploration of creativity and cultural fusion.

By:

• Starting with Historical Inspiration: Drawing from historical fashion, particularly from an Asian tribe, provides a rich foundation for creating unique, culturally-infused designs.
• Embracing the Iterative Process: Following a step-by-step approach, from establishing a vertical axis to drawing the body anatomy, ensures that each sketch builds upon the last, fostering growth and skill refinement.
• Visualizing in 3D: Understanding the body in three dimensions allows for more dynamic and fluid character poses, enhancing the storytelling aspect of your art.
• Experimenting with Fashion Poses: Creating multiple poses not only adds variety to your portfolio but also allows you to explore different aspects of design and personal style.
• Checking for Balance: Ensuring the body’s posture is balanced with the gravity line adds realism and credibility to your sketches.

This tutorial encourages you to blend the old with the new, using history as a springboard for innovation. Remember, the journey of learning to draw is filled with both challenges and joy.

Keep sketching, keep iterating, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process of bringing your creative visions to life. Whether you’re drawing for fashion design, animation, or personal projects, the principles outlined here will serve as a guide to unlock your full creativity.

So, start your sketchbook adventure, gather your inspiration from the world around you, and let your imagination run wild. Your sketches are not just drawings; they are a testament to your ability to learn, adapt, and create something truly unique.

Happy sketching!

See you tomorrow!
Cheers,
Chou-Tac

PS: For more encouragement and tips, check out 8 Reasons Why You Should Sketch Daily to stay motivated.