how to draw Han Solo

Ever wanted to draw Star Wars characters and vehicles just like the professional comic book artists? In this step-by-step series, Star Wars artists and illustrators show you how to draw some of the most beloved characters in the saga.

As a smirking smuggler, handsome rogue and pilot to the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy -- the Millennium Falcon -- Han Solo had his share of close-call encounters with his trusted Wookiee sidekick Chewbacca. But it wasn't until he was hired to transport Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and C-3PO from Tatooine to Alderaan in A New Hope that his real adventure began.

Star Wars illustrator Cat Staggs explains with these easy-to-follow steps on how to draw Han Solo.

Steps 1-5 are to be drawn lightly with a pencil. No pen, no dark lines. Finished lines and details will come at the end.

Step One: Begin your drawing of Han Solo with lightly-drawn simple shapes. First draw an oval to indicate the face. Within this face shape draw lines that split the oval both vertically and horizontally. These are the "bones" of Han or the "under-drawing." Then split the bottom half of the oval with two additional lines, one half-way from center to bottom of the shape; the other, just below. Because of the angle we are tackling make sure to add the back of the head. Starting at the half way point and eventually curving up into the main oval.		Step Two: Add basic features, including visual information from all over the representation. Include both eyes on the horizontal line, then the nose on the intersection of the horizontal and vertical lines. The mouth should be just below the nose, while Han's ear appears on the horizontal line, between the eyes and the bottom of the nose. This is also where the back of the head meets the main oval. Shapes, then fine detail should come slowly, in an all-over treatment of the drawing.

Step Three: Refine the oval face-shape to show the smuggler's cheekbones, jaw and neck.		Step Four: Now add hair to the head with light descriptive lines, and include a collar and neckline to add structure.

Step Five: Now lets get rid of the under-drawing, by erasing the basic lines (the oval and the horizontal/vertical lines), leaving basic shapes which begin to form the pictorial puzzle that is this hero of the Rebellion.		Step Six: Tighten the features slightly, by sketching his pearly white teeth, the descriptive folds that denote the rugged cheekbones, brow, and confident eyes. (Be sure to include his charming chin scar.) Also, lightly outline the shapes of the darks (shadows) and lights (highlights) that define Solo. The light and the dark are easier to see and to define, if you first break them down into simple shapes that fit together like the pieces of a puzzle.

Step Seven: Now that the pieces are coming together, your simple, lightly-drawn figure should become finer and more detailed. It begins to show volume and appears to be 3-dimensional. Now you can color him as you like.

Step Eight: Starting with the lightest shadows, or mid tones, work towards the darkest shadows gradually, leaving the highlights for the last. Remember, your darkest dark should be next to your lightest light. This particular project includes the addition of white to further highlight the fine hair and other important facial details. Now he looks ready to make the Kessel run in 12 parsecs.