Ricardo Sánchez 

Barbarian 
This character is based on a concept by one of my favorite artists, Cory Loftis, whose work has been a huge inspiration to me. I created the sculpt during Hannah Kang's CGMA course on stylized characters, where I focused on developing a stronger understanding of shape language and stylization in zbrush.

My main goal for this project was to create a fully handpainted character, combining influences from Loftis's dynamic designs with the visual styles of Arcane, from Riot Games and Fortiche, and World of Warcraft. Along with other games.

Catfolk Merchant
I’m excited to share this character created during the Advanced Stylized Character Art for Games Mentorship at CGMA with Weston Reid. I chose to interpret a concept by April Prime—something I’d been meaning to tackle for a while. For this project, I challenged myself to learn 3DCoat and explore how to blend traditional handpainted techniques with bolder, graphic elements. Weston’s insights helped me refine my artistic decision-making and better understand how to push stylization with intent. This was a valuable learning experience that deepened my approach to handpainted workflows, and I’m excited to keep exploring this direction in future characters.

Samwise Gamgee – Chanon Art Fanart
Hello there! This is my sculpted interpretation of Samwise Gamgee based on a concept by Chanon Art. I created the piece in ZBrush for 3D printing, with the goal of entering Costa Rica’s first miniature painting competition during Miniature Day, sponsored by Burro Singles. I wanted to challenge myself with a character-focused sculpt that could translate well into a physical miniature. It was a great opportunity to explore stylized anatomy and detail in the context of print. I’m proud to say the printed statue won an award at the event, and it was a rewarding experience both artistically and technically.

Creature Concept – Cole Eastburn Fan Art
Hello! This is my take on a creature concept by one of my favorite artists, Cole Eastburn. I started this project to sharpen my sculpting skills and explore a stylized pipeline. While my original vision shifted during the process, I was inspired by the sculpting and texturing styles seen in Airship Syndicate’s Wayfinder and Airborn Studios' Airborn short. I experimented with blending workflows from both, incorporating handpainted texturing with stylized sculpting techniques. Resources like 80 Level’s breakdowns on Airborn’s style were especially helpful, particularly for painting subtle normal details using Snap Art 4 filters and custom workflows in Substance Painter. This project was a great exercise in adapting techniques and building a cohesive style.