Sketchbook – Creating Characters Based on Real People by Diego & Sebastian Ramírez Jacinto

Learn to design characters that feel alive by pulling inspiration straight from the people you see every day. Diego and Sebastián Ramírez, the duo behind Los Awesombrosos, show you how to ditch the guesswork and use your sketchbook as a tool for real-world observation. This isn’t about copying a photo; it’s about capturing the essence of a person—their posture, their quirks, their vibe—and turning that into a character with a story to tell.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Observe real people to find unique character ideas.
• Draw stylized heads and expressive faces from scratch.
• Build the body using a simple “3 spheres” method.
• Use gesture and clothing to communicate personality.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: A passion for drawing and observation.
• Tools: Sketchbook or drawing pad, pencils and/or markers.
• Hardware: Access to a tablet and digital drawing software (like Photoshop or Procreate) for the final stages.

📝 Description

This course is built on a simple but powerful idea: the best characters come from real life. Diego and Sebastián Ramírez walk you through their entire process, starting with the most important step—learning how to actually see people. You’ll practice filling your sketchbook with quick studies, focusing on the shapes and gestures that make each person unique.

From there, you’ll move into structured lessons on anatomy, but with a stylist’s eye. You’ll learn a straightforward method for drawing the head, building the face, and capturing expressions that feel genuine. The body section is just as practical, breaking down complex forms into the “3 spheres” and teaching you how to draw hands and clothing in a way that adds to the character’s story. The final lessons focus on gesture and polish, showing you how to take a raw sketch and develop it into a finished, portfolio-ready character design.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Artists and designers of all levels who want to improve their character design skills.
• Anyone looking to strengthen their observation and drawing abilities.
• Animators or illustrators who want to create characters that feel grounded in reality.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Diego and Sebastián Ramírez Jacinto, known professionally as Los Awesombrosos, are freelance artists with over six years of experience in the animation industry. They have worked on a wide range of projects for major studios like Netflix, DreamWorks, HBO Max, and Disney TVA, specializing in character design and visual development. Their unique approach to capturing humanity and authenticity in their designs has earned them recognition, including the Quirino Award for “Best Design for Animation.”

🏁 Final Result

• A fully developed, detailed animated character based on a sketch from your own sketchbook, demonstrating your ability to transform real-life observations into a unique design.