Learn to 3d Model

Why Blender?

Despite being a free tool, Blender is considered industry standard and rivals the power and features of it's infinately more expensive commercial competitiors like Maya and 3DSMax.

It's an all in one package that allows users to model, texture, rig, animate, sculpt, light and render. As a result, it's hard to learn but worth the effort!

You'll have to learn to walk before you can run. Take it slow and stick to the learning. Before youknow it, you'll be an expert, able to make any idea into a 3d masterpiece.

Important Software Notes!

Blender is evolving and is currently on version 3.6. Most tutorials above version 2.8+ look the same and should function the same but be aware that there has been significant changes and sometimes you'll need to look around to find a solution to your problems.

Task #1: Complete a Tutorial

Sadly, Blender is NOT simple. It's unlike any tool you;ve probably seen before and you'll quickly get frustrated if you try to get started without any expert advice. Trust me, you're going to want to learn from an expert, at least at the beginning.

Choose ONE of the following tutorials and complete the "learning reflection" afterwards to hand in to your teacher.

Grant Abbitt: Blender 3 Complete Beginner Guide

Brilliant beginner tutorial series. Shorter that Ryan King's series but more in-depth that Imphenzia's one.

Grant will go through all the skills you need to make the scene you see in the thumbnail. Again, highly recommended.

Imphenzia: Learn Low Poly Modelling

Highly recommended single video by Imphenzia teaching you the techniques he uses for his fast 3d modelling challenges. You can see some of the models he makes in the image above.

Still beginner friendly and much shorter than some of the others.

But you'll need to practice a lot as you follow along.

Ryan King Art: Complete Beginners Platform Game Series

Comprehensive beginner friendly youtube playlist by Ryan King Art. This one cover's everything and is aimed at complete beginners and slowly covers all you'll need to make great low poly art for games and renders.

Warning- this is a long video series.

Blender Guru: Blender Tutorial for Complete Beginners (Donut Tutorial)

Blender Guru's "Donut Tutorials" is a renowned series of instructional videos created by Andrew Price, aims at teaching beginners how to use Blender. The series is well-loved for its approachable and engaging format, breaking down complex 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering concepts into easy-to-follow steps.

Task #2: Complete a learning reflection.

Fill out a learning reflection as a learning checkpoint. Have you learned enough? Are you happy to start creating? Do you need to go and do another tutorial?

Learning Reflection

Practice Makes Perfect!

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Oscar Wilde

To help get some practice, you're task is to copy someone elses low-poly model(s)! This will involve 3 steps over several lessons-

1. Get Inspiration. Find a static low-poly model to copy.

2. Copy- Make your own verrsion of the model.

3. Repeat- Fill out another learning reflection and then, if you have time, repeat.

Task #3: Get Inspiration

Find a 3d asset pack or simple asset that you'd like to copy. Start small and DON'T CHOOSE CHARACTERS!!

Kenney Assets

Sketchfab

Imphenzia 10 Minute Models

itch.io free assets

Task #4: Copy

Don't worry if it's not great. It's OK to struggle to begin with and it's OK to get it wrong. Every model you make will get better and every time to start again, it'll get easier. Give it your best shot and then move on.

Teacher notes

Check in with your students regularlyand look over the learning reflections. You can decide how long to continue learning. It takes 30+ hours to get comfortable in Blender so keep challenging your students to make more models. As soon as they've handed in a modelling learning reflection they should be starting another model as practice.

Modelling Learning Reflection

make a copy of the document to the left. Complete it and submit it to your teacher for checking.

Then, if there is time, move on to another model. Before you know it, you'll have mastered Blender and you'll have the start of a cool modelling portfolio.

Task #5 ......And Repeat.......

Practie makes perfect. Your NEXT model will be much better and you'll avoid some of the mistakes you made before.

Copy another model and then fill out a learning reflection. Get as many models done before your teacher tells you it's time to move on to design.

Have fun!!!! Make LOTS of cool stuff!

Next: Design

Now it's time to move on to Design!

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