THUNDEER'S 3D LEARNING RESOURCES
🗿 SCULPTING
Resources for sculpting in popular 3D software. The "Fresh Start!" and "Beginner" pages already cover the basics of sculpting, but I'll be repeating some resources here for the sake of organization.
Resources directed primarily for learning character creation in 3D.
Pick resources that fit your learning style, instead of brute forcing learning in a way you don't enjoy - that's why I tried including multiple options in each topic for you to pick from!
ZBrush
BEGINNER
Open page
SCULPTING - BEGINNER (ZBRUSH)
Courses, videos, blog posts & books
SCULPTING - BEGINNER (ZBRUSH)
Courses, videos, blog posts & books
INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED
Open page
SCULPTING - INTERMEDIATE (ZBRUSH)
Courses, videos, blog posts & books
SCULPTING - INTERMEDIATE (ZBRUSH)
Courses, videos, blog posts & books
👨🎓 STANDALONE COURSES
PAID
From Basics to Advanced 3D Sketching
Raf Grassetti
I will share with you my techniques for sketching in 3D using ZBrush, from basics to advanced. (Important: This is not an intro to basics of ZBr...
https://grassettiart.gumroad.com/l/ygqQZ
PAID
Creature Design Class
Raf Grassetti
This is a class created out of my creature design workshop, 4+ hours of video demonstrating the full process of creating this charact...
https://grassettiart.gumroad.com/l/Khcjd
PAID ($65)
Zbrush Stylized Characters
Abe Leal 3D
Learn the basics of Zbrush and Digital Sculpting while creating a Stylized Oni Character from scratch
https://www.abeleal3d.com/courses/ZBSC
PAID ($129)
Creating a Souls Boss in ZBrush
FlippedNormals
Creating a Souls Boss in ZBrush If you've ever played a Souls game and been awestruck by the world-building and designs, you've come to the right place! In this 18-hour course, the aim is to create a thematically similar character to those of the beloved Souls universe. Let's take a ZBrush journey together and explore
https://flippednormals.com/collections/courses/products/creating-souls-boss-zbrush
PAID ($129)
Advanced Characters for Game Cinematics
FlippedNormals, Ben Erdt
Advanced Character Creation with Ben Erdt Join senior Blizzard character artist Ben Erdt and learn to build advanced characters for game cinematics! You'll learn to analyse a concept sketch, sculpt your character in ZBrush, create materials in Painter, light and present your work, and much more. After completing the co
https://flippednormals.com/collections/courses/products/advanced-character-creation-with-ben-erdt
PAID ($129)
Mastering Realistic Characters
FlippedNormals
Realistic Character Portrait MasterclassWe're excited to present our very first Exclusive Character Masterclass! With over 20 hours of expert training, you'll learn how to make a full character bust for production. Every single step is shown in real time without time-lapses, from the first brushstroke in ZBrush to the
https://flippednormals.com/collections/courses/products/realistic-character-portrait-masterclass
PAID ($175)
Creating Creatures for Games
FlippedNormals
Course Overview Duration: 50 Hours 30 Minutes Software: Blender, ZBrush, Marmoset Toolbag, Substance 3D Painter, Unreal Engine 5 Videos: 112 fully subtitled lessons Topics Covered: Creature sculpting, retopology, low-poly creation, topology optimization, UV mapping, UDIM workflows, baking, texture painting, hard-surfac
https://flippednormals.com/collections/courses/products/creating-creatures-for-games-the-complete-masterclass
PAID
Realistic Character Creation | Full 3D Tutorial Series
Logan Wiesen
Learn to Create Studio Quality Characters & Build a Professional Portfolio!
https://www.udemy.com/course/realistic-3d-character-creation/?referralCode=ABD9204236298AF91493
PAID ($110)
AAA Game Character Creation | Step by Step Guide | Full Course
Tutorials - AAA Game Character Creation | Step by Step Guide | Full Course, USD $110.00. Welcome to AAA Game Character Creation Full CourseWhy should you take this course?The gaming and animation industry is now much...
https://www.artstation.com/marketplace/p/nDNNV/aaa-game-character-creation-step-by-step-guide-full-course
📺 YOUTUBE
Tricks for Creating Realistic Fabrics - ZBrush Top Tips - Marcel Nilo
Maxon ZBrush
The Power of NoiseMaker and MicroPoly - ZBrush Top Tips - Vichar B N
Maxon ZBrush
Quick Tips on Sculpting Anatomy - ZBrush Top Tips - Steve Lord
Maxon ZBrush
The Power of ZBrush Layers for Detail Sculpting - ZBrush Top Tips - Oscar Trejo
Maxon ZBrush
Quickly Create Stitching Along a Curve - ZBrush Top Tips - Michael Pavlovich
Maxon ZBrush
Speed Up Your Workflow with Frame Mesh! - ZBrush Top Tips - Spicer McLeroy
Maxon ZBrush
Bend MICROPOLY and NANOMESH to your will in ZBRUSH (To make fluffy sweaters and chainmail!)
hart
Expression And Teeth Tutorial to help you not cry
Chloe Worthy
3 Steps To Sculpt Helmet | + Free Assets
Art of Haf
💻 BLOG POSTS
Master ZBrush Curves brushes: Tips and Tricks
Pablander Academy
In this tutorial, I provide a clear breakdown of the settings, workflows, and practical techniques that make ZBrush curve brushes predictable and effective. Through step-by-step demonstrations, you will learn how to apply these methods to hair, straps, drapery, spikes, and other curve-based geometry, transforming curve brushes into a dependable part of your sculpting process.
https://www.pablander.academy/tutorials/master-zbrush-curves-brushes-tips-and-tricks
A Useful 3D Cam view!
Pablander Academy
Turn the boring reference cam in ZBrush into something actually useful that you can use for reference while sculpting or texturing! So you know how ZBrush has that camera view widget on the top right of the interface... you can click around it to move the camera and snap to different axes. Well, you can actually customise this quite a bit and make it way more useful than just a button for navigation.
https://www.pablander.academy/newsletter/a-useful-3d-cam-view
Simulate ‘Tight Clothing or Tiny Fabric Wrinkles
Pablander Academy
Alright, I wanted to share one of my favorite techniques to simulate ‘tight clothing’ or tiny wrinkles on fabric like this:
https://www.pablander.academy/newsletter/simulate-tight-clothing-or-tiny-fabric-wrinkles
Creating a glove in ZBrush
Pablander Academy
I thought I share a simple but effective technique to produce clothing accessories like a glove or a boot that will conform to the volumes of the body. Here is the render of the quick blockout of the glove we are going to make:
https://www.pablander.academy/newsletter/creating-a-glove-in-zbrush
Projecting surfaces in ZBrush
Pablander Academy
For this tip, I thought I follow up with something we did on today’s ZBrushLive stream. We wrapped up this simple character project and added some details using the projection method (like the patch and logo on the jacket:
https://www.pablander.academy/newsletter/projecting-surfaces-in-zbrush
ZBrush tip: Scales and Lizard skin details
Pablander Academy
Alright, let's get into this tip. This is something that doesn't require much setup and once you understand the basics of the workflow, I'm sure you'll be using this for a whole bunch of other stuff... it's really cool.
https://www.pablander.academy/newsletter/zbrush-tip-scales-and-lizard-skin-details
Quick Hard-surface polishing technique
Pablander Academy
I have a very sketchy model for a 'robot' head that I've been sketching with Dynamesh on a single subtool. Also I've gone through the process of polygrouping a few areas of the sketch based on what I think could be the large pieces that make up this robot:
https://www.pablander.academy/newsletter/quick-hard-surface-polishing-technique
📚 BOOKS
🌀 MISC
Blender
BEGINNER
Open page
SCULPTING - BEGINNER (Blender)
Courses, videos, blog posts & books
SCULPTING - BEGINNER (Blender)
Courses, videos, blog posts & books
👨🎓 STANDALONE COURSES
⭐ FREE
Blender Fundamentals 4.5 LTS: Sculpting - Blender Studio
Blender Studio's own training course
Start learning Blender at your own pace with this complete fundamental course.
https://studio.blender.org/training/blender-fundamentals-45-lts/chapter/blender_4-5_lts_sculpting/
PAID ($49)
Introduction to Sculpting in Blender
FlippedNormals
Introduction to Sculpting in Blender Learn how to sculpt in Blender with our easy-to-follow course, taking you through everything you need to know! You'll learn how to use the different sculpting tools in Blender, such as dyntopo and remeshing - as well as sculpting techniques like understanding how to create appealing
https://flippednormals.com/collections/courses/products/introduction-to-sculpting-in-blender
📺 YOUTUBE COURSES
Sculpting in Blender for Beginners (Full Course/Tutorial) #b3d
CG Boost
📺 YOUTUBE
Sculpting for Complete Beginners! (Blender Tutorial)
Ryan King Art
💻BLOG POSTS
📚BOOKS
INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED
Open page
SCULPTING - INTERMEDIATE (Blender)
SCULPTING - INTERMEDIATE (Blender)
This thread will be constantly updating.
(Last updated: 06/09/2026)