3D Character Design and Illustration
A course by Enrique EscalonaGraphic Designer and 3D Illustrator
A course by Enrique Escalona, Graphic Designer and 3D Illustrator
Bring characters from your imagination to life from scratch with Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Illustrator
Pareidolia is the ability to find faces wherever you look. For graphic designer and 3D illustrator Enrique Escalona, this is his secret weapon for creating characters with simple expressions and big personalities. He transforms what he sees into sketches and works them into finished models with the power to charm any audience.
In this course, learn how to create 3D characters from scratch using Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Adobe Illustrator. Discover how to turn geometric shapes into bodies, design background elements for your character, and bring any idea from your imagination to life.
What will you learn in this online course?
23 lessons & 22 downloads
Using Splines and Deformers 1
10 minutes, 36 seconds
Use of Splines and Deformers 2
11 minutes, 6 seconds
Generators and Volume Constructor
14 minutes, 13 seconds
Search for References and Inspiration
11 minutes, 41 seconds
Character Drawing
9 minutes, 27 seconds
The Face, the Soul of Our Character 1
14 minutes, 4 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin your adventure by getting to know Enrique Escalona and hear about what sparked his passion for character design. He tells you a little bit about himself, his work, and the experiences that led him to 3D illustration. He also discusses the importance of steeping yourself in other artists' work as a way to cultivate your own.
In the next stage of your journey, cover important modeling concepts and stock up on references for your final project. Enrique introduces you to Cinema 4D's interface and basic tools and shows you the ones he uses most often in his workflow. Then, create a mood board you can refer to while sketching your characters.
Now it's time to apply what you've learned and create your character and their companion. Start with the face and carefully model each feature to give them charm. Continue working on the body and repeat the process with your character's sidekick. Finish up by giving your characters a place to live and model background elements to bring your composition to life.
Finally, learn how to work with the Redshift interface and design a scene with photographic lighting. Enrique shows you how to apply color and textures to your models and guides you through each step of the process to create a professional render. Wrap up the course by putting the finishing touches to your project and discover some useful tips on how to present your work.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Design and model a 3D character with a sidekick, from the first sketches to the final touches.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in 3D illustration who wants to create memorable characters like those from their childhood.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is needed to take this course.
The only materials you need are a computer with Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Illustrator. You can also use Photoshop to put the finishing touches on your work.
Reviews
- 2 years ago
Excelente curso!!! Estoy aprendiendo muchisimo!!!
- marulandagiraldoPLUS2 years ago
Excelente curso, aprendí demasiado. Lo recomiendo.
- 3 years ago
Me encantó!
- 3 years ago
Buen curso!
- 3 years ago
Muy minucioso en la explicación. Un muy buen curso
Enrique is the founder of collaborative projects like @congraphart and has worked with major brands like Xiaomi. He has also worked on sets for theatre productions like Young Frankenstein, The Addams Family, and Ghost thanks to his job as a production assistant for set construction.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
Work Flow
- Using Splines and Deformers 1
- Use of Splines and Deformers 2
- Generators and Volume Constructor
- Search for References and Inspiration
- Character Drawing
- U3
Adding Volume to The Character
- The Face, the Soul of Our Character 1
- The Face, the Soul of Our Character 2
- Creation of the Character's Body 1
- Creation of the Character's Body 2
- Creation of the Character's Body 3
- Creation of the Mascot
- Body Preparation
- A Place to Live 1
- A Place to Live 2
- U4
Lights, Camera and Color
- Lighting and Cameras 1
- Lighting and Cameras 2
- Color and Texture 1
- Color and Texture 2
- Color and Texture 3
- Render and Export
- Retouching the Render and Presentation
- FP
Final project
- 3D Character Design and Illustration
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn to create 3D characters and sets, master tools like Cinema 4D and Illustrator, work with splines, modeling, lighting, and composition, plus how to share your art on social media and get feedback from the community.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those with basic design or illustration knowledge who want to deepen their skills in 3D modeling and composition.
You’ll need access to Cinema 4D, Illustrator, and a computer capable of 3D modeling. A graphics tablet is recommended for sketching, and internet access is needed to share your work on social media.
The course teaches you how to prepare renders and optimize images for platforms like Instagram, along with strategies to showcase your portfolio and get feedback from creative communities.
You’ll learn how to design, model, and compose 3D sets for theater and musicals, using professional techniques in composition, lighting, and scene organization.
Yes, the course covers sketching, modeling, and conceptual techniques to create expressive, original, and visually striking characters inspired by artists like Jamie Hewlett.
You’ll learn to use splines, extrusion, deformers, boolean operations, cloners, symmetry, volume generators, and advanced mesh editing to model characters and sets.