Figure Drawing Fundamentals by Proko

Proko Figure Drawing Fundamentals is a self-paced online course by Stan Prokopenko that teaches you to draw the human figure step by step, from loose gesture to solid structure, proportion and shading. It has 57 video lessons, about 16 hours and 44 minutes in total, and 32 of them are free to watch. The full premium course costs $150 as a one-time purchase.

This is the course that made Proko's name, and much of the rest of the catalogue builds on it. Proko lists it as the recommended starting point before Anatomy of the Human Body, so if you plan to study anatomy on the site, this is usually where to begin.

What You Will Learn

The official course page groups the material into a clear sequence. You will work on:

• Gesture: capturing the movement and rhythm of a pose quickly
• The bean: a simple form for the torso that shows twist and bend
• Landmarks: the bony points that help you place forms accurately
• Mannequinisation: turning the body into simple, drawable shapes
• The robo bean: adding structure and perspective to the torso
• Proportions and measuring
• Shading the figure
• Building a steady practice habit

Who Is Proko Figure Drawing Fundamentals For?

Proko lists the course as suitable for all skill levels. It works well for beginners who already have some basic drawing practice and now want to draw people, and for illustrators, animators and comic artists whose figures look stiff or flat.

It is less suitable if you are looking for detailed muscle-by-muscle anatomy; that is covered in Anatomy of the Human Body. If you have never drawn before, Proko's Drawing Basics course covers lines, perspective and value first.

Note that the course includes nude models, and the premium videos are uncensored.

Course Structure

The lessons are grouped into these sections:

• Gesture (including step-by-step demos, quick-sketch examples and a critique)
• The Bean
• Structure
• Landmarks
• Robo Bean
• Mannequinisation
• Balance
• Exaggeration
• Proportions
• Measuring
• Shading
• Figure Drawing Demo
• Closing Thoughts

Many sections end with assignment examples and video critiques of student work. One gesture critique runs to an hour and features Stan Prokopenko alongside Marshall Vandruff, who teaches Proko's perspective course.

Price and Access

The full course costs $150 as a single payment. Proko states it is not a subscription and that buyers keep access to the videos permanently. Split payments are offered at checkout, and adding other Proko courses to the cart gives a small bundle discount.

The free version gives you a good portion of the teaching, around five hours. The premium version has longer lessons with more examples, and adds assignments with demonstrations, critique videos, high-resolution diagrams, downloadable transcripts and 720p video downloads. A free model pack is also available. 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 is the founder of Proko and teaches drawing, painting and anatomy. He also teaches Drawing Basics, Portrait Drawing Fundamentals and Anatomy of the Human Body on the platform, so the terms and methods used here carry straight through to those courses.

Things to Consider

• Time: The video runs to under 17 hours, but the course is built around drawing practice. Plan for many more hours of drawing alongside the lessons.
• Reference: You will need photos of models or access to a life drawing class to complete the assignments.
• Materials: Any drawing tools work; the course is not tied to particular software.
• Free first: Watch the 32 free lessons before buying to check the teaching style suits you.
• Feedback: You can post your assignments in the Proko community. Critique videos show common mistakes, but personal feedback is not guaranteed.
• What next: Anatomy of the Human Body and Portrait Drawing Fundamentals are the natural follow-ups.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with Proko?

Start Figure Drawing Fundamentals

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

Looking for more ways to learn? Browse all courses and learning resources on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 16, 2026