CORE | Fundamentals of 3D Mesh Modeling in Blender

Instructor:
Jonathan Lampel

Welcome to the Mesh Modeling Fundamentals, the first course in the Blender CORE Fundamentals series.Β 

This course has taken a few different forms and has evolved a lot over the last 10 years and has successfully taught thousands of people how to 3D model. Like the name implies, we’re going to talk about the foundational, most important tools and concepts that you’ll need throughout your modeling journey, whether you’re going into games, animation, visual effects, industrial design, architecture, or any field of computer graphics.

By the end of this course, you should be able to model basic objects with ease and have a good idea of how to approach more complex ones. If you’re an intermediate or advanced modeler already, you can expect to fill in the gaps in your education, learn good habits, and improve the overall quality of your models.Β 

Get Caught Up

Are you brand new to Blender?

These courses should help you get up to speed in no time.

Blender Course Overview

Chapter 1

Intro to modeling

Learn all about the tools and concepts that are essential for all types of modeling workflows, including advanced selection, mesh operators, and good topology.Β 

Chapter 2

Hard Surface Modeling

Whether your models need to be low poly or high, we'll talk about how the crisp shapes of hard surface modeling can be achieved with modifiers, n-gons, and altered normals.Β 

Chapter 3

Subdivision Surface Modeling

Smooth, highly detailed shapes that melt into each other are incredibly satisfying, and you'll learn all about the foundational rules of topology that will help you create them.Β 

We love modeling with Blender

Don't just follow along, think along with us.

Watch the Course

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Awarded upon completion:
100xp +
Course Curriculum
9 Reviews
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    Noritaka ·

    The course was easy to understand. The most pleasant learning experience for me was the ability to improve the overall unity of the scene by creating a scale that matches the actual objects. Thank you very much!

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    Dwayne Savage(dillenbata3) ·

    This was very detailed. This is also the first time that I've had someone explain the quad junctions. I've seen the diagrams, but never really understood them until now. Thanks for all your hard work.Β 

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    Eric Szabo(Eric) ·

    Jonathan is clear in his direction, and easy to follow. The pacing is just right. Very strong on the fundamentals, and the projects were level-appropriate and fun!

    This course is a must for learning, and locking in those crucial 3D Fundamentals!

    5/5!

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    Alexander Cumbo(umaibouzu) ·

    I had been learning blender for a couple weeks before starting the course, and I feel like it really filled in the gaps and helped consolidate my knowledge on modeling! The final project was fun and very challenging. It was my first time making an entire scene without following along with a tutorial, but I'm very happy with the result. The course was easy to follow and a great experience. Highly recommend!Β 

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    Arnulfo Torres(arnietorvall) ·

    This was a very comprehensive, beginner friendly course. Blender can have a very steep learning curve and definitely be intimidating for newcomers, but everything in this course was introduced at a very beginner friendly pace, in a very comprehensive manner, but without overwhelming for the viewer. I have always liked that most CGCookie courses are broken down into 5-to-15-minute videos, making it very easy to jump from one video to the next without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information presented in them. Definitely one of the best introductory courses, and even as an intermediate user myself, I learned a few new things along the way, as well as remembered a few things I had forgotten.Β 

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    rob rees(TheVik1ng) ·

    seeing as im completely new to all of this! this course has given me so much already, Although it is a hell of a lot to learn, it is very instructional and very well put out. I often shut off on bits where its a lot of talking but thats just myself, I usually learn better by following a full project from start to finish, why I loved the sci fi crate and the hard drive sections the best. Overall though no complaints and can see how much work has been put into it by all the course leaders

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    John-Michael Allison(jmallisononline) ·

    Another great course from Jonathan and the team at CGC, and a great introduction into the CORE fundamentals. Having previously completed earlier modelling courses from CGC I found this to be a great refresher, and it covered all the bases! Jonathan walks through the major principles of modelling at a great, easy-to-follow pace, and it helped reaffirm some things I already knew, whilst learning many new tricks and tips along the way. The bar has been set, and I'm eager to see what the rest of CORE holds. Thanks Jonathan and CGC!

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    Paul (Drennyn) ·

    More excellent content from Jonathan and CG Cookie. After completing this course I'm finally starting to feel like I may actually be able to do this. Each exercise helped develop my confidence further and reinforce that muscle memory. For the last exercise, which seemed a bit daunting at first, I took Jonathan's advice to take it one item at a time, and was pleasantly surprised how much more I was able to do than I had first assumed.

    Great to see content like this being updated for the latest Blender! I always learn something new here.

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    Lewis Thorpe(DripInspector) ·
    I came into this course as someone who has done the fundamentals before, I still picked up some tips and tricks that I can add into my modelling workflow to make me a more proficient and confident modeller.Β 

    The instructor is easy to understand and entertaining to listen to, I would 100% recommend this course to beginner modellers but also to advanced modelers who want a refresher.Β