Pixel Peeps

In this episode of Pixel Peeps, I sit down with veteran sculptor and character artist Rishikesh Nandalaskar to break down his incredible painterly Wolverine “Sculpketch.”
With more than 20 years of experience working at studios like Rhythm & Hues, Framestore, and Sideshow Collectibles, Rishikesh shares the workflow he’s developed to create expressive “3D paintings” that blur the line between digital sculpting and concept art.
We dive into his ZBrush-only workflow, painting directly on the model, creating expressive brush strokes, rendering entirely inside ZBrush, and why personal projects continue to be one of the fastest ways to grow as an artist. Along the way, we also discuss trusting the creative process, time management, and how quick sculpt sketches have influenced his professional career.
You can see more of Rishikesh’s work here:
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/9892Va
If you’d like to learn his workflow yourself, check out his Wolverine Sculpketch ZBrush Tutorial:
https://www.artstation.com/a/52218122
Use code SCULPKETCH_J_40 for 40% off.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!

In this episode of Pixel Peeps, I sit down with senior character artist Anna Smirnova to break down her incredible Samurai character project—a piece she originally created while taking Character Class.
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qJoywP
We dive deep into her workflow, from blockout and design decisions to Marvelous Designer, ZBrush, hair cards, Unreal Engine lighting, and the artistic choices that elevated the project into something truly special.
Anna shares how she balanced stylization and realism, solved difficult design problems, and why iteration and experimentation became some of the biggest lessons she carried forward.
If you’re interested in character art, presentation, texturing, or building portfolio projects that stand out, there’s a lot to learn from this conversation.
Topics covered:
• Choosing the right concept
• Designing missing elements from the concept art
• ZBrush and Marvelous Designer workflow
• Micropoly techniques for repetitive details
• Hair cards and FiberShop textures
• Face sculpting and VFace textures
• UDIMs and Substance Painter workflow
• Lighting and presentation in Unreal Engine
• Creating cinematic renders
• Iteration, experimentation, and career advice

In this episode of Pixel Peeps, I talk with Omid Moradi about the relentless work it takes to stand out as a character artist today.

We cover portfolio building, artistic identity, online visibility, taking risks to grow faster, and the mindset required to build a long-term creative career in the game industry.

A conversation about discipline, momentum, and the years of effort behind artistic breakthroughs.

Use code JHILL20 for 20% off Gnomon Workshop http://bit.ly/3IAnkE0

🔗 Omid's Work here
🔗 Character Class

In this episode of Pixel Peeps, I sit down with character artist and art director Claudiu Tanasie to break down his striking painterly 3D style.

We take a deep dive into his piece Broken Faith, exploring how he blends sculptural brushwork, stylized textures, and experimental rendering techniques to create characters that feel like living illustrations. Claudiu shares insights into his workflow—from simplifying scan data and sculpting expressive forms, to building complex hair systems with XGen and pushing Arnold far beyond its typical use.

We also talk about the bigger picture: developing a personal style, why great work often looks effortless (but isn’t), and how personal projects can shape your career more than client work ever could.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out as an artist—or how to make 3D feel more like painting—this one’s for you.

Rodrigo Paulicchi shares how he created this awesome stylized 3D character with Zbrush and Blender. View the finished work here - https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lGWn45

► My Game Character Class - http://www.characterclass.com

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