Beginning to learn a 3D modeling platform can be one of the more intimidating skill sets to start developing. It’s up there even with coding languages when it comes to just how intimidating it can be if you have never done anything like it before.
Fortunately, we have some tips for how you can learn Blender effectively and begin creating your own 3D models.
- Focus On A Single Aspect Of Blender At A Time
- Don’t Try To Learn Too Many Skills At Once
- Follow The 80/20 Rule To Learning
- Avoid Copying What You See On Youtube
- Create Multiple Variations Of 3D Models
- Use The Same Tools To Create Different Models
- The More You Create, The More You Improve
- Join Social Groups To Gain Critique For Your Work
The more of these steps you follow, the easier you will find learning the software and starting the journey to becoming a 3D artist.
Focus On A Single Aspect Of Blender
Blender is a multi-suite application that can be used to complete various tasks. In certain workflows, you can complete an entire project using only Blender without needing to use any other software applications.
While having such a substantial array of tools and features is one of Blender’s strong points, it can also be one of the key reasons why most new users don’t stick with Blender, as you feel you need to learn everything in one go.
However, you can simplify Blender by learning one aspect of the software at a time, only moving on when you feel comfortable enough to do so.
Most new users should start things off by learning how to navigate Blender’s user interface. An important first step will be to know how to use the workspace system to access your tools, how to change panels, and how to resize the various elements of the UI.
Then you would move on to navigation in the viewport, the fundamentals of selection, object mode, and so on.
Don’t Try To Learn Too Much At Once
Like the first point, you will want to avoid taking on too much information at once as it can quickly overwhelm you.
Even if you are focusing on a single aspect of Blender, like editing objects in edit mode, you don’t want to try and learn ten tools in one go.
Instead, focus on two or three tools at a time and experiment with the different ways that you can use those tools to edit your models.
As you become more confident with the tools, add a couple more and begin experimenting with those tools and how you can combine them with what you already know.
Follow The 80/20 Rule To Learning
To maximize your productivity, it is recommended that you follow the 80/20 rule, where 20% of the time spent can yield 80% of the results.
This productivity hack can be adjusted to learning new skills, as you should look to spend around 20% of your time watching videos and reading articles to learn new skills, and then using that 20% as the foundation for the other 80, where you spend practicing the skills learned with your projects.
Avoid Copying What You See On Youtube
One of the major mistakes that most new Blender artists will make is watching a Youtube video, pausing the video every minute, copying the instructor, and then repeating the process until the end.
The result is the student creating a replica of the demonstrated model by mimicking the YouTuber step by step.
This monkey see monkey do approach is ineffective when learning new skills as all you do is copy.
Attempt a project of a similar level by yourself, and it won’t be long until you are stuck and forced to give up because you did not give yourself the chance to learn from any mistakes you might make.
We suggest when watching a tutorial to focus on how an object is made rather than what it is, and when you finish watching the video, try and create a variation of the model seen in the video. Use the knowledge to create something for yourself, and you will learn much faster.
Create Multiple Variations Of 3D Models
You will notice that each tip seems to lead to the next. When learning to create objects, it is key to focus on variety.
If a 3D artist should be one thing, they should be creative. When practicing your 3D modeling skills, you should try to create specific objects using different tools and create variations of an object type.
For example, a simple exercise is to model a table and a chair. But there are many variations to both object types if you do a little research. Practice making variations of the same object; your confidence will build noticeably.
Use The Same Tools To Create Different Models
Beginners, in particular, can avoid the habit of always copying what the instructor creates by using a set of tools to create different objects.
For example, you can model a pencil by adding a cylinder, scaling it down on the Z plane, extruding out of the top, then scaling the top down.
Perform the same process with a cube, i.e., scale, extrude, scale, and you could end up modeling a low poly house. Give it a go, and you will see what we mean.
In other words, when you learn a tool, you need to use it multiple times for different models to understand how to use it.
The More You Create The More You Improve
Repetition is one of the key factors in development. The more you repeat a good habit, the more ingrained that habit will become. And the more you practice a skill, the more you will improve at that skill.
So if you want to improve at 3D modeling, you will want to create as many 3D models as possible to improve your skills.
Join Social Groups To Gain Critique Of Your Work
Finally, you may not always be able to spot your own errors. Someone else may be able to offer you suggestions that can improve your workflow and make your projects that much better.
There are many groups on social media where you can post your work for others to see and give them a chance to offer advice on your work to see what you can improve.
Thanks For Reading The Article
We appreciate you taking the time to read through the article, and we hope you find the information you were looking for. If you are interested in further developing your skills, you can try some of the articles we listed below.
