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Animal Anatomy: Modeling a Fossa

From Skeleton to Final Creature Sculpt with Aritz Basauri

Description

Approaching realistic creature modeling can feel daunting. In this 5-hour workshop, Aritz Basauri breaks down the modeling of a Fossa from the inside out, from the creature-studying process through the complete build of a detailed sculpt, using Maya, ZBrush, SketchBook Pro, Advanced Skeleton, and Mari.


You’ll learn how to refine your creature-studying process and make educated decisions about your modeling workflow. The workshop is intentionally sectioned into chapters that make the entire process easy to follow, beginning with sketches and anatomical studies. From there, Aritz jumps into Maya, where he instructs how to use the references to create your own studies and blueprints. You’ll explore how to set up the correct proportions for your model and tackle the modeling of the skeleton geometry before moving on to the main muscle groups using ZBrush. This creates a solid foundation for the sculpting of the Fossa’s skin. This workshop also covers retopology, UVs, and final skin surface detailing techniques.


This video series is aimed at students and junior artists. The goal of this tutorial is to help artists explore ways to approach the modeling of an existing creature, aiming for believable results. From setting up the base model to building an entire creature from the skeleton to the skin, you’ll explore various methods and techniques that will serve as roadmaps for your future modeling projects.


Duration: 5h 33m

Format: HD 1920x1080

Aritz Basauri

Sr. Creature Artist at Fablefx

Aritz Basauri is a 3D Character and Creature Artist with over eight years of experience in the entertainment industry. A Fine Arts graduate with a deep passion for nature, he combines traditional skills in photography, illustration, and painting with digital artistry to create lifelike and imaginative characters.


Aritz is currently working at Fablefx, where his love of art and the natural world informs his work, striking a balance between technical precision and organic creativity. Throughout his career, he has contributed to diverse projects across film, games, and animation, collaborating with talented teams and studios to bring characters and creatures to life. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking with his two dogs, using time in nature to refresh his creativity and perspective.

  • Through my years working as a Creature Specialist, I've had the chance to witness Aritz's growth and influence in the CG creature world. Aritz is a truly inspiring artist whom I count as one of the top ten animal experts out there. His sense of anatomy is impeccable, as well as his design taste and dedication to his craft! He is one of the artists who will never cease to inspire me.

    - Gael Kerchenbaum
    Principle Character Artist at Studio Gobo

  • Aritz is one of the finest creature artists I’ve had the pleasure of working with. His deep knowledge and passion for the craft are evident in every asset he creates. From concept and modelling to groom, texturing, and look development, he consistently delivers work of the highest quality. His process for creating photorealistic animals is both inspiring and educational, and there is so much to learn from his thoughtful, detail-driven approach.

    - Johan Leuf
    CG Supervisor at Qvisten Animation