Learn to make awesome Character Art
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Create Your Own

Epic Game-Ready Character 

 

Learn to create unique 3D character models that get you noticed!

Enroll Now 👉
 


800+

Students

70+

Lessons

100+

Hours of Content

52+

Livestreams (PRO)

Improve as an Artist

Full Student Gallery

Create a Character

Follow along step-by-step to create your next Character model together as a class

Project Files

Download the actual source files from the demo project to learn from or use in your own

Feedback & discussions

Access a community of your peers and professional artists for feedback and inspiration

On Demand

 Learn at your own pace. With immediate on-demand access. No deadlines.

Meet Your Instructor

JHill

 Hey, I'm J and I'll be your instructor for this class.

 

I will teach you everything I know about creating character art for games and share as much information as I can about being an artist in the games industry.

 

I have been a professional 3D character artist for video games for over 15 years. I've worked on characters for games like APEX Legends, Titanfall 2, Evolve, and Back 4 Blood.

 

I also have a YouTube channel where I post videos and share information about character creation and CG art in general. I absolutely love digital characters and computer graphics. I see what I do on YouTube and now in this class as an extension of all the things that are important to me.

 

I strive to continually grow as an artist, a teacher, and a video creator. My goal is to make this class the absolute best it can be for aspiring character artists.

Latest on ArtStation

Skills You'll Learn

Plan Your Project
  • Choosing a strong concept
  • Building a Reference Board
  • Blocking out your character model
  • Setting up for Success
Create Your Character

  • Creating high poly models
  • Detailing the Skin
  • Modeling believable materials
  • Creating a Real-Time model
Present Your Work
  • Believable texturing
  • Lighting & Rendering in Unreal Engine
  • Customizing Materials
  • Creating a strong presentation

Class Features

Lesson Videos

70 lessons with commentary in 4k quality. Choosing the initial concept art to presenting the final model 

Bonus Videos

24 Q&A's videos from previous groups. 19 pre recorded guest speakers. 

Project Files

Downloadable References, Zbrush tool, Low Poly model, Substance Painter file, Unreal Project

Private Community

Access to our private class server with peers and professional character artists

Unreal Engine Project

downloadable project with master materials and a level ready to drag & drop your asset. Includes the class demo character

Closed Captions

English closed captions available on all lesson videos

 

What Students are saying 

See All Testimonials

 

800+ students

9 Module Formula To Make 
Your Best Character Yet!

Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to take nearly 900 artists through my Character Class.

 

Running three full cohorts in real time and watching people push their work further than they thought they could. It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.

 

But I noticed it couldn't work for everyone: Most people didn’t finish their project within that 8-week format. Not because they weren’t capable, but because life. Work, family, time zones, burnout. Not to mention, 8 weeks isn't actually that much time to make a character model.

 

The old structure served a few, but not the many. So I’ve taken everything I learned from those groups and updated the class. Same content. Better delivery. With support.

Character Class - ESSENTIAL

 The Essential Tier is for artists who want the full Character Class experience—at their own pace.


Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your skills, this tier gives you:

✅ All On-Demand Lessons: Over 50 step-by-step videos covering the complete AAA character workflow—from sculpting and topology to texturing, look dev, and final presentation. Learn on your schedule, revisit lessons anytime.


✅ Complete Pipeline, Complete Project: You won’t just learn isolated skills—you’ll build a fully realized, production-ready character using the same techniques J has used in his 15+ years of industry work.


✅ Community Access: Ask questions, share your work, and get feedback inside our private Discord. You’ll be learning alongside a diverse group of artists—from beginners to pros—all here to grow, support each other, and stay inspired.


✅ Lifetime Access: No deadlines. No pressure. Just everything you need to keep improving—whether it takes you 8 weeks or 8 months.

 The Essential Tier is for artists who are ready to stop piecing things together and start making real progress. One step at a time. One project at a time. At your own pace.

$395

Character Class - PRO

 The Pro Tier was designed for artists who want more than just videos—they want momentum, structure, and support while they learn.


With this updated version of Character Class, Pro members now get:

✅ Weekly Livestreams: Join J until JULY 2026 for casual, focused sessions. With the first 8 weeks (starting July 21st 2025) J will walk you through each stage of the pipeline. These aren’t polished lectures—they’re real-time walkthroughs, Q&As, and insights designed to keep you moving. 

✅ Stronger Community Access: Pro members are encouraged to engage in weekly check-ins and post their progress for feedback. You’ll be learning alongside a tighter group of serious artists, all moving through the process together.

The Pro Tier is built for people who want to stick with it. Who want accountability, clarity, and direction as they build their next (or first) great character.


It's still self-paced, but with a little added guidance when you need it.

$595

How The Class Works

 


Learn at Your Own Pace

 

This is the biggest change to Character Class and one I’m really excited about. After running multiple live cohorts and guiding hundreds of students through the process, I saw firsthand that life doesn’t always line up with an 8-week schedule.

 

Now, instead of racing against a timeline, you can go through the full course on your own terms.

 

That means no deadlines, no pressure, just focused, high-quality learning you can return to anytime. Whether you’re juggling a job, school, or just need more time to dig deep into certain topics, this version gives you the flexibility to actually finish strong.

  

And because it’s self-paced, I’ve structured every lesson to be clear, intentional, and easy to follow. You’ll still get access to all the project files, community support, and even weekly livestreams (if you’re a Pro member). But now, the learning fits your life. Not the other way around.

 

 

 

9️⃣ Focused Modules

The course is organized into 9 focused modules, each one tackling a key step of the character production workflow.
 

 

From selecting your concept and sculpting a strong blockout, through retopology, UVs, texturing, and rendering in Unreal Engine. Every stage is broken down into detailed, manageable lessons. 

 

Whether you’re early in your journey or sharpening your pipeline as a pro, this structure helps you move through the entire process with clarity and confidence, one step at a time.

 

This is the most flexible and thoughtful version of the course yet. Take your time. Make it count. 

🎨 Create a Game-Ready Character

 

Follow J through a full character pipeline: from choosing your concept to final presentation. Learn the techniques used in AAA studios to sculpt, retopo, texture, light, pose, and render a character ready for your portfolio.

You’ll finish with a complete, professional-quality piece and the skills to do it again.

     
📁 Downloadable Project Files

 

Every step of the way, you’ll have access to the same files J uses in the lessons.

That means example sculpts, UVs, Substance files, Unreal Engine project files, and more. So you can follow along and reverse-engineer real work as you go.

💬 Community Support

 

You don’t have to do this alone. Join a Discord full of supportive artists, get feedback, share progress, and learn alongside other students. Whether you’re stuck on topology or looking for inspiration, the community is there to help you keep going.

     

What’s New in the Pro Tier?


The Pro Tier was designed for artists who want more than just videos—they want momentum, structure, and support while they learn.

 

With this updated version of Character Class, Pro members now get:

 

Weekly Livestreams: Join J until JULY 2026 for casual, focused sessions. With the first 8 weeks (starting July 21st 2025) J will walk you through each stage of the pipeline. These aren’t polished lectures—they’re real-time walkthroughs, Q&As, and insights designed to keep you moving. 

 

Stronger Community Access: Pro members are encouraged to engage in weekly check-ins and post their progress for feedback. You’ll be learning alongside a tighter group of serious artists, all moving through the process together.

 

The Pro Tier is built for people who want to stick with it. Who want accountability, clarity, and direction as they build their next (or first) great character.

 

It's still self-paced, but with a little added guidance when you need it.

Get feedback & community support

Submit your projects and receive feedback from a professional

Stay motivated and inspired with a community of your peers

Get all your questions answered no matter what

 Class Schedule

Module 1

Tools & Techniques

An overview of the basic tools and techniques you'll need to start making awesome characters 

  • Software Overview
  • Modeling Techniques
  • Basemeshes

Module 2

Planning Your Project

Preparation for the Project. The overview and general strategy to get the most out of your Project and what to look for and know before you begin.

  • Choosing a concept
  • References
  • Blocking out

Module 3

High Poly Modeling

Creating the detailed detailed high poly models of the character and costume with Zbrush and Maya. 

  • Sculpting Leather
  • Sculpting Cloth
  • Metal Armor

Module 4

The Head

Deep dive into facial proportions and anatomy, guiding students in developing authentic faces in their 3D models. Proportions, utilizing references, and understanding age, gender, and ethnicity. 

  • References
  • Proportions of the Face & Head
  • Sculpting the Head

Module 5

The Real-Time Model

 creating the low poly real-time model. model preparation, retopology, low poly modeling, and UV mapping.

  • Retopology
  • Quad Draw
  • UV Mapping

Module 6

Texturing

Baking all the forms and details from the high poly source model and then adding textures and materials. Now the character starts to come to life. Basic texturing, materials, and ways to add story 

  • Baking
  • Texturing the Costume
  • Texturing the Face

Module 7

Hair for Games

Learn to create real-time hair with expert .

  • Demos
  • Example Files
  • Unreal Engine Breakdown 

 

Module 8

Rendering with Unreal Engine

 Assembling the character model and textures in Unreal Engine, creating materials, lighting, and rendering.

  • Exporting to Unreal
  • Materials in Unreal
  • The Eyes

Module 9

The Final Presentation

Putting it all together and showcasing the character to maximise impact.

     
  • Posing
  • Rendering with Path tracing
  • Posting on ArtStation

Not sure if this is for you? 

Let’s Talk About It

Industry Experts

Interviews from Industry Experts from Major Games & Studios

Glauco Longhi

Lead Character Artist @ Sony Santa Monica 

 

Frank Tzeng

Character Art Director @ Naughty Dog 

 

Jamir Blanco 

Character / Creature Artist @ Bizzard

 

Dan Crossland 

Character Art Director @ Ninja Theory

 

Renaud Galand

 Lead Character Artist on Overwatch

 

Vimal Kerketta

 Lead Facial & Creature Artist @ Dneg

 

Sefki Ibrahim

Character Artist @ Epic & ILM

 

Hazel Brown

 Lead Hair Artist for Games

 

Hanno Hagedorn

 Lead Character Artist on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

 

Marco Plouffe

Character Designer/Artist and Co-Founder at Keos Masons

 

Jared Chavez

Senior Character Artist @ Sony Santa Monica 

 

Patrick 4D

 3D Artist specializing in photorealism within the food and product space.

Justin Holt 

 Texture Art Director @ Epic Games

 

Chris Gillett

 Character Outsource Lead @ Epic Games

 

Colleen Larson 

Senior Character Artist @ Naughty Dog

 

Gary Huang 

 Character Art Director @ Respawn

 

Peter Zoppi

 Lead Character Artist @ Treyarch

 

Amanda Irani

Senior Character Artist @ Sony Santa Monica

 

Your Best Character.

Guaranteed.

30 Day Money-Back Promise

 

We want the investment in this course to be an absolute no-brainer for you. If you’re serious 😉

 

That means giving it a proper go. Dive into the lessons, explore the content, and see what you can get out of it. If within 30 days of your purchase you’re not 100% happy with the experience, just send us an email, and we’ll refund your full payment.

 

We’d love for you to make the most of the course, but if it’s not for you, that’s totally fine too.

 

What Students are saying 

See All Testimonials

Create your Best Character

Essential

  • All Videos 100+ hours of content
  • Project Files
  • Unreal Engine Project
  • J's Basemesh Kit
  • J's Skin packs
  • Access to Community Discord for access to JHill and our team of professionals
  • Lifetime Access

$395

All the Essentials

 

 

Best Value

Pro

$595

  • Access to weekly livestreams with JHill - Until July 2026
  • Free access to XGen for Characters Mini Course
  • Exclusive PRO Discord Channel
  • All Videos 100+ hours of content
  • Project Files
  • Unreal Engine Project
  • J's Basemesh Kit
  • J's Skin packs
  • Access to Community Discord for access to JHill and our team of professionals
  • Lifetime Access

Frequently Asked Questions

There's no such thing as a dumb question.

Join the class today!