Sculpting the Planes of the Torso

In this tutorial, we will be taking an in-depth look at sculpting the torso.

The human torso can be a mysterious land of hills and valleys, where shapes and proportions differ wildly from person to person. This variation causes large amounts of confusion on an already complex topic. Giving rise to many working without a plan and falling into the same pitfalls again and again.

Well, that's no way to work, so in this tutorial, I will be demystifying the torso by breaking it down into its primary forms. I will take you step by step through 10 different stages until we have our finished figure.

Anatomical features will be noted during this tutorial, but it's important to note that this is not an anatomy lesson. Instead, we will be aiming for something simplified as we break down the primary forms and create the planes of the torso.

Additionally, we will be creating a more athletic build to give us volume and definition. We will start with a male torso, and then look at ways the female torso can differ. Finally, we will wrap up by looking at how you can begin taking your planar torso to the next level through combining, re-meshing, and smoothing.

Covered in this In-Depth Tutorial

• Learn how to sculpt the planes of the torso, information that will be transferable to all your work moving forward.
• Learn how to sculpt the ribs, hips, chest, back, and sides of the body.
• Learn how to transition from hard planar shapes into softer, more organic forms.
• Learn particular rhythms of the body to make it appear more masculine or feminine.
• Learn how to create simple forms that represent larger groups of muscles.

Files Included:

• Step-by-step, real-time video tutorial going through the stages of creating the planes of the torso.
• Reference file, shown above, including the 10 stages of developing the planes of the torso (ZTL & OBJ)

FAQ

1. Is this tutorial beginner-friendly?

Yes, however, this tutorial will be more beneficial to an intermediate-level sculptor who is familiar with the user interface of ZBrush.

2. Where can I get your brushes, etc?

Follygon's Brushes

ModMesh: Heads + ModMesh: Bodies

Sculpting The Planes of the Head | In-Depth Tutorial

Sculpting a Stylized Female Head in ZBrush

3. What software is used in this Tutorial?

This tutorial uses ZBrush to instruct, however, the information and ideas here will be transferable to any 3D software and even traditional real-world mediums.

4. How long is the video tutorial?

1 Hour and 34 Minutes