The Definitive Character Workshop for Movies and Games by Christopher Herrick

This workshop is for intermediate artists ready to level up their character and creature creation skills. Veteran character artist Christopher Herrick walks you through the entire process of building his Kyka character, from concept art to final render. You’ll jump between Maya, ZBrush, Houdini, and RenderMan, picking up production-ready workflows that studios actually use. The goal? Build a portfolio piece that shows you can handle the full pipeline.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• AAA studio workflows for character and creature creation
• Concept art development that tracks with a character’s backstory
• Advanced sculpting techniques in ZBrush
• Houdini workflows for procedural modeling, simulations, and eye creation
• Retopology and UV mapping for production
• Look development, texturing, and rendering with RenderMan

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Intermediate knowledge of 3D modeling and sculpting
• Tools: 3-button mouse, drawing tablet
• Hardware: Minimum 16GB RAM, dedicated GPU

📝 Description

This isn’t a generic modeling course. You’ll flex both creative and technical muscles as you move through different disciplines: concept art, sculpting, grooming, lookdev, Houdini simulations, procedural modeling, lighting, rendering, and compositing. The workshop is built around a single, complex character—Kyka—so you see how each stage connects.

One standout section is the eye creation module. You’ll build a fully functional eye using Houdini’s simulation tools, covering anatomy and technical setup. It’s the kind of detail that separates a good character from a great one.

Christopher emphasizes decision-making at every step. You’ll learn how to push a design, make it production-friendly, and keep it believable. The course is project-based, so you’re not just watching—you’re building something for your portfolio.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Intermediate 3D artists looking to break into AAA games or VFX
• Character artists who want to expand their skills into Houdini and procedural workflows
• Artists aiming to build a standout portfolio piece for studio recruitment

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Christopher Herrick is a veteran character artist with years of experience in the film and game industries. He has worked on high-profile projects and is known for his ability to blend technical skill with artistic vision. His teaching focuses on practical, production-ready techniques that help artists become invaluable team members.

🏁 Final Result

• A fully realized model with detailed textures, grooming, and a custom Houdini eye simulation
• A portfolio-ready render that demonstrates your ability to handle a complete character