Anatomy of the Human Body [Proko, Stan Prokopenko]
- Publisher
- Proko
- Product Type
- Video Course
- Author
- Stan Prokopenko
- Language
- English
- Duration
- 66:59
- Release date
- Jan 1, 2016
- Skill level
- Project Files
- Yes
- Product Price
- $477
Course Description
Anatomy of the Human Body is a complete anatomy course by Stan Prokopenko, designed to help artists master the structure, mechanics, and function of the human figure.This course goes beyond surface-level figure drawing. Instead of simply copying reference or guessing where forms should go, students learn what is happening underneath the skin - from bones and joints to muscles, tendons, landmarks, body types, and movement. The goal is to build a deep understanding of anatomy so artists can draw figures with stronger structure, clearer proportions, and more believable motion.
Across more than 370 lessons and over 76 hours of content, students study the body in three major sections: the torso, the arms and hands, and the legs and feet. Each section breaks down the skeleton, muscles, forms, layering, function, and drawing application in a clear and practical way.
The course also includes interactive 3D models, eBooks, assignments, demonstrations, downloadable resources, and guided explanations to help students truly internalise anatomy rather than simply memorise names. By the end of the course, students will understand how to draw the human figure with confidence, structure, and artistic control.
What You’ll Learn
- How to understand the skeleton, joints, and anatomical landmarks
- How bones affect proportion, gesture, and movement
- How to track muscles using origins and insertions
- How to place muscles correctly on the body
- How to simplify anatomy into clear, planar forms
- How to make anatomical forms feel three-dimensional
- How muscle layering affects the visible surface of the body
- How to use cross-sections to understand complex anatomy
- How anatomy changes across different body types
- How to idealise the figure for stronger artistic results
- How muscles flex, stretch, and relax during movement
- How to draw the torso, arms, hands, legs, and feet with confidence
- How to move beyond copying reference and begin inventing figures from imagination
Course Structure
Part 1 - The Torso
Students begin with the core of the human figure. This section covers the spine, pelvis, rib cage, shoulder bones, pectorals, breasts, abs, obliques, lower back muscles, upper back muscles, neck muscles, and torso drawing.The torso is essential for understanding gesture, weight, balance, and the overall movement of the figure. Students learn how the rib cage and pelvis work together, how muscles wrap around the body, and how to simplify complex forms into something easier to draw.
Part 2 - The Arms and Hands
This section focuses on one of the most expressive and technically challenging parts of the body. Students study the arm bones, hand bones, deltoids, biceps, triceps, forearms, and hands.The lessons break down the mechanics of the shoulder, the twisting structure of the forearm, and the complex forms of the palm, knuckles, fingers, and joints. Students learn how to simplify the hands and arms into manageable forms while still keeping them natural, expressive, and anatomically believable.
Part 3 - The Legs and Feet
The final major section covers the lower body, including leg bones, foot bones, butt muscles, inner leg muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, lower legs, and feet.Students learn how the legs support the body, carry weight, create rhythm, and maintain balance. The course also breaks down the structure of the feet, including arches, ankles, toes, and weight distribution, helping students draw figures that feel grounded rather than stiff or floating.
Core Topics Covered
Skeleton
Students study the structure of the skeleton, including bones, joints, and landmarks. This creates a strong foundation for drawing proportion, balance, and motion.Tracking Muscles
Students learn how to identify muscle origins and insertions, making it easier to place muscles accurately and understand how they affect surface forms.Simple Forms
The course uses blocky, planar forms to simplify anatomy. This helps students understand perspective, shading, and three-dimensional structure.Layering
Students learn how muscles overlap, weave together, and influence the visible surface of the human body.Cross Sections
Cross-sections help students visualise how anatomical forms stack and interact beneath the skin.Variation and Body Types
The course explores how anatomy changes from person to person, helping artists draw different body types with accuracy and creative freedom.Idealisation
Students learn how to edit and improve what they see, removing distracting elements and strengthening the design of the figure.Function
The body is studied as a working machine. Students learn how muscles flex, stretch, relax, and support movement.Drawing Application
Most importantly, students learn how to actually apply anatomy to drawing, turning anatomical knowledge into stronger figure art.Requirements
This course is best suited for intermediate and advanced artists who already have some experience with figure drawing.Recommended preparation:
- Basic drawing fundamentals
- Some figure drawing experience
- A strong interest in anatomy
- Recommended course: Figure Drawing Fundamentals
Who This Course Is For
This course is ideal for artists who want to build a serious anatomy foundation for figure drawing, illustration, concept art, fine art, comics, animation, or character design.It is especially useful for:
- Figure drawing students
- Character artists
- Illustrators
- Concept artists
- Fine artists
- Comic artists
- Animators
- Self-taught artists building their own curriculum
- Anyone who wants to stop guessing anatomy and start drawing the figure with confidence
About the Instructor
The course is taught by Stan Prokopenko, the creator of Proko and one of the most well-known online art instructors for figure drawing, anatomy, and foundational art education.Stan is known for making complex anatomy easier to understand through clear explanations, memorable demonstrations, humour, assignments, and practical drawing examples. His teaching style helps students move from memorising anatomical terms to actually using anatomy in their artwork.
Final Result
By the end of the course, students will have a much stronger understanding of the human body, including the skeleton, muscles, landmarks, proportions, layering, movement, and body variation.Students will be able to draw the figure with more structure, accuracy, and confidence, whether working from reference or inventing poses from imagination. The final result is not just better anatomy knowledge, but a stronger ability to create believable, expressive, and well-constructed human figures.
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