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How to Study and Use Reference for Character Design
A complete guide to understanding, analyzing, and using references to create original characters with 9+ hours of lessons and 70+ videos.
Most artists struggle with references. Not because they lack talent, but because nobody teaches how to study them
✨ Maybe you collect dozens of references but still don't know how to use them.
✨ Maybe you try to draw from them and feel like you're just copying.
✨ Or maybe you want to design original characters but don't know where to start.
The truth is that references are one of the most powerful tools an artist can use.
Professional artists don't rely on imagination alone. They study, analyze, and combine references to build believable characters and stronger designs.
Once you understand how to observe, break down shapes, and extract ideas from references, drawing becomes much clearer and much less frustrating.
In this course, you'll learn a practical process to study references and transform them into original character designs step by step.
This is the skill that connects observation, drawing, and character design.
Using references is a skill any artist can learn
Do you want to design more believable and original characters?
Do you collect references but feel unsure how to actually use them when drawing?
Are you a beginner or developing artist who wants a clearer process for studying and
designing characters?
Learning to study and use references is one of the most important skills in character design.
I designed this course for artists of all levels, from complete beginners to artists who already draw but want a stronger process for developing original characters.
You will learn the fundamentals of studying references: how to analyze shapes and proportions, build clear structures, and transform inspiration into original character designs.
With the right approach, references become a powerful tool for creativity and storytelling.
Hey, I'm Nicow!
I am a self-taught artist. I started drawing at a very young age and learned through consistent practice, long observation, and curiosity. I didn’t grow up believing I had a “gift” for drawing. My only real strength was, and still is, a deep passion for the craft.
What defines my approach is that I am not only a practicing artist, but someone who has spent a lifetime trying to understand drawing deeply. I have a strong interest in memory, learning processes, and pedagogy, which allows me to explain not just what to draw, but how to learn drawing efficiently.
My goal as an instructor is simple: to give artists clear methods, strong foundations, and confidence, so they can progress without relying on talent myths; only on practice, understanding, and passion.
What they say about me:
Imagine feeling confident when using references
✨ You open your canvas with a few references and immediately know how to start.
✨ Instead of copying, you understand how to analyze shapes, proportions, and ideas.
✨ Your references become inspiration that helps you design original and believable characters.
How would that change the way you draw?
Learning how to study references can completely transform your creative process.
Instead of feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you begin to see references as tools that guide your ideas and strengthen your designs.
In this course, you'll learn the tools, methods, and mindset used by professional artists to study references and turn them into strong character designs.
Step by step, you'll build a process you can rely on every time you create a character.
At the end of the course you will be able to:
Use references with confidence
You will understand how to study and analyze references so they guide your drawing instead of limiting your creativity.
Understand what you see
You will learn how to simplify references into shapes, proportions, and structures that make drawing characters clearer and easier.
Create original character designs
You will transform inspiration from references into unique characters with stronger ideas, silhouettes, and storytelling.
Course Content
The course has 9 modules for 9+ hours of learning and practicing. It also includes full-length artwork tutorials! You can pause and replay the videos as much as you want. The course is suitable for everyone, teens, adults and children because there is no explicit content. It would be best to take the course in order, because it will start from the basics to lessons at a more advanced level.
Practice makes perfect!
In my course you will learn:
Modules 1 & 2
Introduction & Course Overview + Learning How to Learn Drawing
Start by understanding how the course works and how to get the most out of it. In these modules, you’ll also explore how artists actually learn to draw. You’ll discover how the brain processes drawing, common mistakes that slow progress, and the mindset needed to improve consistently.
Modules 3 & 4
Warm-Up & Drawing Preparation + First with a Rough
In these modules, you’ll develop the habits that prepare artists for drawing. Through structured warm-up exercises and gesture drawing, you’ll improve your control, observation, and ability to capture movement and energy in your sketches.
Modules 5 & 6
Figure Drawing and line + Choosing the Right References for Character Design
Here you’ll learn how to construct the human figure using simple shapes, proportions, and perspective. Then you’ll dive into one of the most important skills for character design: finding, selecting, and analyzing the right references.
Modules 7 & 8
Best Advices + Character Design Step by Step
These modules focus on essential artistic principles and applying everything you’ve learned. You’ll explore key advice for developing stronger ideas and then follow a complete step-by-step process to create original characters using references.
Module 9
What's next?
The course concludes by helping you continue your growth as an artist. You’ll learn how to identify your weaknesses, build a practice routine, and keep improving your character design skills beyond the course.
Find out more about what you'll get with the course!
My character design course will elevate your artistic skills! What's better than improving yourself while having fun? Plus, you will achieve beautiful results in no time.
Let me tell you more about my methodology and the platform structure.
All videos are in FULL HD and you can adjust the speed, audio and quality.
In all my videos, I try to use as many visual elements as possible, such as pictures and references, so you can take some inspiration and you can practice. You can follow each step as I show it to you, and you can comment and compare with other students under each video or in the group so you can resolve any doubts you have and learn new tricks!
The course is designed to be as practical as possible. You can review the lessons as many times as you want, where you want, and when you want!
Doesn't that sound amazing?
Included in my course:
Fundamentals & Materials
We will look together at the materials, basic techniques, and knowledge needed to begin this journey. Approaching a new technique means first learning how best to use the tools at your disposal.
Practical exercises
Theory is important, but what makes you a true artist is practice... Lots of practice! You'll find lots of exercises to get started with and from which to get inspiration. I will show you some tricks that will make your designs truly unique and masterpieces.
Lifetime Access
Once you register for the course, you will have lifetime access and you can watch it whenever you want! This will enable you to better learn even the most difficult notions. You don't have a deadline, you can take the course even for 5 minutes a day! This possibility, doesn't it seem incredible?
Flexibility
This is one of the course's strengths: being able to watch the videos wherever you want, whenever you want, and as many times as you want. The course is available from any device so you can watch the course from the comfort of your home or take a single lesson on the train!
Community of artists
As soon as you sign up for the course, you will join a group of people who, like you, share this passion and are following the same course as you. This means you'll be able to exchange ideas, tips or ask questions because you'll be surrounded by people who love art the same way you do!
My daily support
On this journey, you will never be alone! You can write to me and you will receive my feedback as soon as possible, so you will always feel supported. Sometimes, approaching character design is not easy. You may feel that you are not enough, but don't worry: I will be there to help you, step by step!
... and more!
JOIN NOWBonuses:
Extra contents that you will get for free with the course
Bonus #1
My Personal Photoshop Brushes (.abr)
Value: $47 FREE
Bonus #2
My Personal Brushes on Procreate
Value: $47 FREE
REGISTRATIONS ARE CLOSING SOON!
Learn Character Design once and for all!
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TWO OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS
Here you can find two options that only differ in how you want to pay! The first option is a one time payment and the second is a monthly option with four payments. The price displayed below is in US dollars, but you can pay with ANY currency.
Start learning Character Design now!
My Guarantee to Every Student
If you are not satisfied with the course for any reason, you have the right to obtain a full refund within the first 14 days. This is my guarantee to you, I want all my students to be satisfied. Also, this means that there is no risk as well! Give it a try and experience the program first-hand!
