Building Lifelike Sculptures with LEGO
A course by Samuel HatmakerLEGO Artist
A course by Samuel Hatmaker, LEGO Artist
Learn to bring your design ideas to life by creating unique and versatile sculptures from start to finish using LEGO
"The best toys are those we build ourselves. They fire up our imaginations and allow us to truly be creative.” Toymaker Samuel Hatmaker has turned this philosophy into an art form, using LEGO bricks to create striking, large-scale sculptures that have been featured in exhibitions such as Art Basel in Miami and the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego. With his intricate masterpieces, he has garnered attention from audiences worldwide, proving that LEGO blocks are not just for kids.
In this online course, learn to build a lifelike 3D character with LEGO bricks. Put an artistic spin on this childhood classic by discovering techniques to create structurally solid and aesthetically captivating sculptures from start to finish.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 14 downloads
Defining the Idea
4 minutes, 41 seconds
Gathering Resources and Introducing LEGO
6 minutes, 5 seconds
Basic Shapes and Color
5 minutes, 36 seconds
The Head and Neck
16 minutes, 22 seconds
The Feather Fans
9 minutes, 54 seconds
The Body
13 minutes, 11 seconds
What's included in this course?
Samuel kicks off the course by sharing what sparked his interest in LEGO art and how his background as a toy designer led him to professional model making. Find out how he draws inspiration from other artists, nature, and music to create his eye-catching sculptures.
Start planning your model by gathering references to bring your idea to life. Learn to source supplies according to your budget and discover digital alternatives to building. Break down your project into manageable parts as you explore different shapes and colors and go over the essential terminology and techniques.
Then it’s time to build your LEGO model. Begin by learning to put together the peacock’s head and neck to evoke movement and personality. Find out how to assemble the feathers and the body, focusing on structural integrity, scale, and color. Discover ways to build the supporting structures and the legs. Bring everything together and make some final adjustments to wrap up your sculpture.
Photograph your finished project for social media and hear Samuel’s tips for showcasing your work at conventions, as well as tips on caring for your sculptures.
What is this course's project?
Build your own 3D character sculpture with LEGO bricks. Samuel makes a peacock, but you’re welcome to work on a project of your choice.
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to create their own LEGO model from scratch.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is required for this course.
As for materials, you need LEGO blocks and brick separators, as well as sketching supplies and other easy-to-find items that Samuel specifies throughout the course.
Reviews
- 9 months ago
Fun course! This course gave me some inspiration for my Lego journey.
- 1 year ago
Soy una persona de 64 años, me encantan los legos... ahora crearé diseños propios con mi nieto. Es un MAGNIFICO CURSO.
- 2 years ago
TOP
- 2 years ago
Was great!, pity there wasn't a partlist included
- 3 years ago
Muy bien explicado y motivador
In 2020, Samuel appeared as a contestant on the first season of LEGO Masters, and his art has been displayed in galleries all over the world, including the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego and Art Basel in Miami. As a prolific toymaker, he has also created toys for renowned brands such as Marvel, DC, Hello Kitty, Nickelodeon, Disney, Crayola, Mattel, Hasbro, and more.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Preparing for the Build
- Defining the Idea
- Gathering Resources and Introducing LEGO
- Basic Shapes and Color
- U3
Building the Model
- The Head and Neck
- The Feather Fans
- The Body
- The Legs
- The Final Assembly
- U4
Display and Maintenance
- Displaying Your Work at LEGO Conventions and on Social Media
- Altering, Dusting, and Repairing the Model
- FP
Final project
- Building Lifelike Sculptures with LEGO
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate LEGO builders who want to expand their skills and tackle more complex projects, including mosaics, portraits, and articulated models.
You’ll need a variety of LEGO bricks, plates, slopes, Technic elements, and ball joints. Access to digital planning tools like Stud.io is recommended. The course also covers sourcing affordable LEGO parts online.
You’ll learn advanced techniques for mosaic and toy design, organizing bricks efficiently, building structurally sound models, capturing motion, and sharing your creations online. The course also covers digital planning and sourcing parts.
Yes, the course explores strategies for designing and constructing life-size LEGO models, including structural engineering, scaling, and selecting appropriate parts for stability.
The course emphasizes iterative design, revision, and community feedback to help you refine techniques, solve structural challenges, and achieve more artistic and durable builds.
Yes, the course provides strategies for sorting LEGO pieces by size, shape, and color to streamline the building process and improve efficiency during model construction.
Yes, you’ll explore techniques for designing LEGO mosaics, pop art, and portraits, including color selection, shape breakdown, and capturing distinctive features.