Close-up of Michael Jordan in 3D wearing a red sports jersey with a dark background

likeness & Facial anatomy course

Learn how to create high-end, photoreal digital faces by mastering facial anatomy, likeness, and professional production workflows used in the industry.

Course overview

Skill level
Intermediate
Software used
Software 1 Software 3 Software 4 Software 5 Software 6
Number of lessons
14 Modules - 68 Lessons
Duration
12h (Lifetime)
Teacher
Marlon R. Nunez
Course format
Pre-recorded (Access anytime)

course by

Program Overview

  • Create any likeness starting from a sphere
  • Proven, repeatable likeness methodology
  • Step-by-step process — no eyeballing, no guessing
  • Deep understanding of facial anatomy for artists
  • Learn to analyze and “read” portraits with precision
  • Full Marmoset LookDev breakdown
  • Present your character using modern ray tracing workflows
Xanthe Sinclaire - ArtHeroes Alumni
Rachid Jatib - ArtHeroes Alumni
Juan Puerta - ArtHeroes Alumni
Brad Myers - ArtHeroes Alumni
Cristian Martin - ArtHeroes Alumni
Hugo Sena - ArtHeroes Alumni
Kam Yu - ArtHeroes Alumni
Levi Whittier - ArtHeroes Alumni
Josh Wallace - ArtHeroes Alumni

Course schedule

Module 0 - Plan and Prepare

  • Lesson 1: Software Introduction
  • Lesson 2: References tips & tricks
  • Lesson 3: ZBrush spotlight, cam view and UI
  • Lesson 4: Understanding FoV and cams

Module 1 - Skull and Head

  • Lesson 1: Skull Anatomy and landmarks
  • Lesson 2: Male VS Female Skull differences
  • Lesson 3: Skull differences between ethnic groups.
  • Lesson 4: Analyzing MJ skull and face
  • Lesson 5: Skulpting the basic head shape

Module 2 - Neck and shoulders

  • Lesson 1: Neck area anatomy
  • Lesson 2: Sculpting the neck
  • Lesson 3: Polishing and adding the ears

Module 3 - Nose

  • Lesson 1: Nose anatomy and landmarks
  • Lesson 2: The nose in different ethnic groups
  • Lesson 3: Sculpting the nose

Module 4 - Eyes area

  • Lesson 1: Eye anatomy: eyelids and tarsal plates
  • Lesson 2: Lacrimal and epicanthic fold
  • Lesson 3: Upper face fat
  • Lesson 4: Eye anatomy
  • Lesson 5: Sculpting the eye area

Module 5 - Mouth and jaw area

  • Lesson 1: Mouth anatomy
  • Lesson 2: Lower face muscles and landmarks
  • Lesson 3: Lower face fat
  • Lesson 4: Sculpting the mouth

Module 6 - Ears and wrapping up the basemesh

  • Lesson 1: Ears anatomy and landmarks
  • Lesson 2: Sculpting the ears
  • Lesson 3: Wrapping up the head basemesh with ZWrap
  • Lesson 4: Conclusions

Module 7 - Tracing with the Spotlight

  • Lesson 1: Using spotlight: front view
  • Lesson 2: Using spotlight: profile view
  • Lesson 3: Spotlight: adjusting the front view
  • Lesson 4: Conclusions

Module 8 - Polishing the sculpt

  • Lesson 1: Polishing
  • Lesson 2: Polishing tips
  • Lesson 3: Conclusions

Module 9 - Porosity with XYZ maps

  • Lesson 1: Multichannel XYZ displacement maps: preparation
  • Lesson 2: Multichannel XYZ displacement maps: projection
  • Lesson 3: Neck porosity
  • Lesson 4: Tileables

Module 10 - Detail pass and Albedo map

  • Lesson 1: Custom alphas
  • Lesson 2: Detail pass
  • Lesson 3: Scan store albedo and ZWrap texture transfer
  • Lesson 4: Blending the texture in photoshop
  • Lesson 5: Polypaint inside ZBrush

Module 11 - Hair and fibermesh

  • Lesson 1: Fibermesh basics
  • Lesson 2: Combing brushes
  • Lesson 3: Creating the eyebrows
  • Lesson 4: Creating the eyelashes
  • Lesson 5: Creating the moustache

Module 12 - BPR Rendering and Compositing in Photoshop

  • Lesson 1: Posing and face expression
  • Lesson 2: BPR settings
  • Lesson 3: ZBrush BPR render and composition
  • Lesson 4: Presentation and conclusions

Final project

  • Lesson 1: Marmoset set-up
  • Lesson 2: Textures and shaders explained
  • Lesson 3: Caruncle and tearline
  • Lesson 4: LookDev Breakdown

Bonuses: Presentation and tips

  • Creating a T-shirt in Marvelous designer
  • Tweaking the UVs with Rizom
  • Creating T-shirt textures with Substance Painter
  • Combing long hair with fibermesh

Learn the Facial Anatomy That Actually Matters

Understand the essential anatomy every character artist needs — from skull structure and landmarks to muscles and surface forms. Learn how anatomy shapes likeness, expression, and realism, so you can sculpt faces with confidence, accuracy, and intention — not guesswork.

Build Likeness From a Sphere Using Anatomy

Start your portrait from a simple sphere and gradually build complexity using anatomy as your guide. Apply the landmarks, proportions, and structural knowledge you’ve learned to block in forms correctly, establish likeness early, and refine with confidence

Advanced Texturing with Map Projection & Porosity

Learn advanced skin texturing techniques using TexturingXYZ maps. Project high-resolution scan data, refine skin detail, and control porosity and micro-surface breakup to achieve realistic, believable skin for close-up renders and production-ready characters.

Professional LookDev in Marmoset

Learn a complete LookDev workflow inside Marmoset Toolbag. Set up realistic lighting, skin shaders, and cameras, and use modern ray tracing features to present your character with studio-quality renders ready for portfolio and production.

Bonus: Clothing Creation in Marvelous Designer / Rizom / Substance Painter

Learn how to create realistic clothing using Marvelous Designer. Build garments from patterns, simulate natural folds, and prepare clean clothing assets ready for sculpting, rendering, and final presentation.
Marlon R. Nunez

Marlon R. Nunez

creative director @digito

Learn from an industry expert

With over 16 years of experience in the industry, our instructor brings real-world expertise and passion to every lesson. Get ready to learn from the best and take your skills to the next level.
Close-up of Michael Jordan in 3D wearing a red sports jersey with a dark background
Black and white 3D portrait in Zbrush of a person with an afro hairstyle, wearing a harness.

Select the perfect plan for your needs

Choose your plan

Popular

PRO

$ 249
One time payment
  • Full access to the complete course
  • Download all course files and materials
  • Access to the private Discord community
  • Learn at your own pace
  • LIFETIME access!
Get started

MENTORSHIP

$ 997
One time payment
  • All what is included in PRO plan
  • 6 live Q&A mentorship sessions with Marlon Nunez over 8 weeks
  • Direct feedback on your projects and questions
  • Download all course files and materials
  • Priority support and exclusive resources
Get started

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions below

  • The bulk of the program is offered as pre-recorded HD-quality videos. In addition to pre-recorded content, you will have access to live Q&A sessions, forum feedback, and small group peer-to-peer feedback.

  • Yes. You will get an invoice as soon as you complete the checkout, and if you need a business invoice for reimbursement, email us and we'll be happy to provide this too

  • We estimate about 3-4 hours of work per week during 12 weeks.
    If you're a beginner artist, plan extra time to master your sculpting skills

  • The program is beginner-friendly because we all start with a sphere. You need to know ZBrush fundamentals, to be successful, but we don't have any further requirements.

  • You can pick any human face, better if it's a recognizable celebrity. No limitations here.

  • ZBrush is the main tool. We use Marmoset and Marvelous Designer for presentation and a couple of other plugins that you will get access to as a student.

  • This course is designed to be fully self-paced, so you can learn and progress at your own speed, on your own schedule.

    If you’d like feedback or have questions along the way, you can always join our Discord community, where you can share your work, get guidance, and connect with other students.

  • You can always access the course anytime. Is life time access

  • Yes, all arthereos courses are LIFETIME

What our students say

Real reviews from real students

Great instruction, good pacing, discounts, extra bonus classes, tool tips, community I learned quite a few tips that will help me in my future work!
Kam Yu
US
I drastically increased my skills in the time and the structure was fantastic for someone who is working long hours already. The sculpting side of things was a 10/10.
Christopher Beese
US
It improves your skills in a relatively short period and teaches you a lot. It was very comprehensive and there is a lot to learn.
Roy Livne
Israel
Amazing course with great support from the community. I learned so much and can already apply it to my work.
Carlos Rodriguez
Spain
Professional and comprehensive. The course exceeded my expectations and I feel much more confident in my abilities now.
Anna Kowalski
Poland
Outstanding quality and value. The instructors are experts in their field and make complex topics accessible to everyone.
Michael Chen
Singapore

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Close-up of Michael Jordan in 3D wearing a red sports jersey with a dark background

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