Learn to Sculpt Stylized Characters the Way the Pros Do
From your first blockout to a finished collectible
100+ hours of real instruction from a Disney veteran
Your Sculpt Looks Good.
But It Doesn't Quite Match the Concept.
You have the reference right there on your screen, and something isn't translating, but you can't always put your finger on exactly what. It might be the proportions. It might be the silhouette. It might be something subtle in the forms that you can see isn't right, but you don't know how to fix it.
That gap between the concept and your work is the thing every sculptor is trying to close.
Learning to close that gapΒ is the skill that separates good sculptors from great ones.
And it's exactly what the 3D Character Workshop is built around.
Hello, I am Shane!
You've probably seen me sculpting on YouTube, either on my own channel or on Maxon's. I've been doing this professionally for over 25 years, including about 10 years at Disney working on Disney Infinity and Toy Story 3. Right now I'm back contracting with Disney on consumer products.
But here's the thing. I didn't stick around this long because of the resume. I stuck around because I'm genuinely obsessed with this stuff. The shape language. The dynamic pose. The expression. The appeal. And the challenge of getting as close as possible to the concept, not just technically, but with the feel of it. That's the part that keeps me coming back.
After 25 years, it still gets me excited to sit down and sculpt.
The part of my career I'm most proud of though? Teaching.
Teaching Turned Out to Be More Rewarding Than Sculpting.
Eight years in, over 2,500 students, and I love it more every year. I've developed a system that works whether you're a complete beginner or a working artist ready to level up. Several students now work at Funko, Blizzard, Disney, and McFarlane Toys.
Several more run their own STL businesses. No expensive art school. Just a working industry professional who's figured out how to actually teach this stuff.
Whatever Brought You Here, You're in the Right Place.
Maybe this is a hobby, and you just want to make things you're proud of. Maybe you want to print your own collectibles, sell STLs, or do freelance work. Or maybe you're serious about breaking in, and you know your work needs that level of professional polish that gets you noticed and gets you hired.
Whatever the goal, this is your corner of the internet. Stylized sculptors of all skill levels, all working to get better. πͺπΌ
By the End, You'll Be Able to
Sculpt
Sculpt stylized characters with real appeal and professional polish. You'll understand form, silhouette, and anatomy well enough to look at your work critically and know exactly what to fix.
Build
Take a character from concept to completion through the full pipeline. Whether that's a game-ready asset with retopology and textures, or a finished 3D printed collectible you hold in your hands.
Work
Create at a level that opens doors. Build a portfolio that gets you noticed for freelance work, studio jobs, or your own STL business. Or just make things you're genuinely proud of. Either way counts.
Four Courses.Β Four Bonuses. Everything You Need. One Price.
Over the past 8 years, I've built a collection of courses called the 3D Character Workshop. Four complete courses that take you from the basics all the way through the full pipeline. Whether that's a game-ready character or a finished 3D printed collectible.
Most of the courses are taught in ZBrush, but students have successfully followed along in Blender and Nomad Sculpt. You don't need the latest version of anything; the concepts are what matter. Not sure where to start? The 3D Character Workshop Basics includes a beginner Mini-Bust walkthrough built specifically for people who are new to sculpting.
You get lifetime access to all of it.
Lion-O 3D PrintingΒ Guide
34 hours from first blockout to finished collectible. Covers stylized anatomy, posing, slicing, and keying for print. Guest instructors walk you through both FDM and resin printing start to finish.
3D Character Workshop Basics
The foundation. Learn how to block out characters with confidence, build stylized anatomy, and develop the eye for appeal and design that makes everything else click. The best place to start.
Sir-LoinΒ Game Character
33 two-hour episodes covering the complete game-ready pipeline. High-res sculpting through retopo, UVs, baking, and texturing in Substance Painter. Students say this one alone is worth the price.
Cate Archer Game Character
A complete character walkthrough from design brief to final render. Scripted and structured for clear, efficient learning. Covers rendering in Keyshot and Marmoset. Great second course after the basics.
Bonus - Space Girl Nomad Walkthrough
A complete character creation course built entirely in Nomad Sculpt. Three hours, start to finish. Perfect if you sculpt on iPad or just prefer Nomad over ZBrush.
Bonus - Live Q&A Replays
Every monthly Q&A call with Shane is recorded and added here. A searchable library of real answers to real questions from students at every stage. Often, the best insights live.
Bonus - Industry Pro Interviews
Candid conversations with working professionals from studios and toy companies. What the industry actually looks like from the inside, and what it takes to build a career in it.
Bonus -Β Official 3DCW Blender Addon
A workspace redesign built specifically for Blender. Custom lighting, sculpt tools, retopo helpers, and a 3D printing ruler. Comes with its own tutorial series.
Example of Student Work
A Community That Actually Feels Like One.
One of the things I'm most proud of about the 3D Character Workshop isn't the courses, it's the community that's built up around them. Over 2,500 students means a lot of people at different stages, working on different things, all interested in the same corner of the art world.
It's a safe place to share your work, get feedback from people who understand what you're going for, ask technical questions and get real answers fast, and just talk about what's happening in the industry.
The community and the courses all live in the same place, with a solid mobile app so you can stay connected and keep learning wherever you are.
This Is the Year You Stop Watching and Start Sculpting.
You've seen what's possible. You know this is where you want to be. Both options below get you full access to everything immediately. The only question is which one fits your situation right now.
Try It Risk-Free for 14 Days.
Get in, explore the courses, dig into the community. If, within 14 days, you decide it's not the right fit, send me a message, and I'll refund you in full. No hoops, no hard feelings.
I want you in here because it's genuinely right for you, not because you felt stuck.
Ready for What's Next?
Ask About the Mentorship.
The course gives most students everything they need. But if you've worked through the course and you're serious about making this a career, the mentorship goes further. Real feedback on your work. How to price yourself. How to handle clients and deadlines. The unglamorous parts nobody covers in tutorials.
I didn't get where I am without going through it. The mentorship is how I help you get there faster.
