Anatomy of the Human Body by Proko

Proko Anatomy of the Human Body is a self-paced online course in artistic anatomy taught by Stan Prokopenko. It explains the skeleton and muscles of the torso, arms and legs and, more importantly, how to turn that knowledge into convincing drawings. With 371 lessons and close to 77 hours of video, it is Proko's largest anatomy course. Of those lessons, 115 are free. Each of the three parts costs $159, or $434.07 for the whole course as a one-time purchase.

Many anatomy books list muscles; this course is built around drawing them. Each body region is taught through bones, muscle tracking, simple forms, cross-sections and practical drawing assignments, so the anatomy becomes something you can use from imagination rather than a list to memorise.

What You Will Learn

According to the official course page, the core approach covers:

• The skeleton and how bones show on the surface
• Tracking muscles from origin to insertion
• Reducing complex anatomy to simple forms
• Layering muscles over one another
• Using cross-sections to understand volume
• Variation between body types, and idealisation
• How muscles function and move the body
• Applying it all in your own drawings

Who Is Proko Anatomy of the Human Body For?

Proko lists this course as intermediate to advanced. It suits artists who can already draw a figure with reasonable gesture and proportion and now want to make it believable. Illustrators, concept artists, comic artists and sculptors who draw muscular or moving figures will find it particularly useful.

It is not a beginner's course. Proko recommends taking Figure Drawing Fundamentals first. The course also contains nudity, and the premium videos are uncensored.

Course Structure

The course is sold in three parts:

• Torso (163 lessons): the basics and language of anatomy, types of joints, spine, pelvis, rib cage, shoulder bones, an introduction to muscles, pecs and breasts, abs, obliques, torso drawing, and the shoulder, back and neck muscles
• Arms (101 lessons): the shoulder, forearm and hands
• Legs (107 lessons): the upper leg, lower leg and feet

Each part mixes lectures, tracing assignments, demonstrations and critique lessons, some of which run to over an hour.

Price and Access

Each part costs $159. Buying all three together applies Proko's bundle discount, which brings the full course to $434.07 instead of $477. It is a one-time payment, not a subscription, and Proko says buyers keep access to the videos permanently.

The free lessons are generous: 115 of them across the three parts, enough to judge the teaching before buying. Premium adds extended and exclusive lessons, assignments with demonstrations, critique videos, interactive 3D models, PDF ebooks, 720p video downloads, and English and Chinese captions. Refund requests go to Proko support within 30 days and may be reviewed if more than a quarter of the content has been downloaded.

About the Instructor

Stan Prokopenko founded Proko and teaches drawing, painting and anatomy. He also teaches Drawing Basics, Figure Drawing Fundamentals and Portrait Drawing Fundamentals on the platform, and this anatomy course is designed to follow on from those.

Things to Consider

• Time: With nearly 77 hours of video, expect to spend many months on it. Buying one part at a time is a sensible way to pace yourself.
• Prerequisites: Comfortable figure drawing, ideally Figure Drawing Fundamentals first.
• Scope: Proko notes that the purchase covers the human anatomy lessons only; future videos on other subjects are not included.
• Materials: Any drawing tools will do. Many assignments involve tracing over photos, so a tablet or tracing paper helps.
• Feedback: Assignments can be posted in the Proko community; critique videos cover common mistakes but personal feedback is not promised.
• Head and face: The head is not one of the three parts. Portrait Drawing Fundamentals or Head Drawing and Construction cover it.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with Proko?

Start Anatomy of the Human Body

For the full syllabus and pricing, visit the official Proko website.

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Last verified: October 16, 2026