crew[ENDED] BC1-1801 - January Class Homepage - Getting Started with 3D Modeling & Blender
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #5 (Feb 1, 2018): The class is officially closed! Thanks to all who participated. Be sure to check page 43 for the closing "statement" and commendations.
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #4 (Jan 30, 2018): The timing worked out where this week's homework stretch is 10 days instead of the usual 7. So you've got extra time to complete the assignment! I'll look for submission through tomorrow, the 31st, and then I'll do a final post to close out the class.
BTW week 4's live event is archived if you missed it.
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #3 (Jan 15, 2018): Week 2 is done - We're halfway through the class! Today WEEK 3 begins where the focus is digital sculpting. This is a far more artistic method of shaping 3D models, so if you struggled in week 2, week 3 should be refreshing.
- Only 1 course to watch this week: Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting
- Live Event tomorrow at 2pm EST
- Please submit homework anytime between Jan 15 - Jan 21 with "BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission" at the top of your post.
Keep up the awesome work, Class! So much creativity and hard work being contributed from everyone 🤘
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #2 (Jan 8, 2018): Week one is accomplished! Today WEEK 2 begins. We're moving forward from basic viewport interaction and into mesh modeling; into Edit Mode and the modifier stack.
- Reminder that you have 2 courses to watch this week: Mesh Modeling Fundamentals and Modeling with Modifiers.
- Live Event tomorrow at 2pm EST
- Please submit homework anytime between Jan 8 - Jan 14 with "BC1-1801 Week 2 Homework Submission" at the top of your post.
As always, don't hesitate to ask questions in this thread!
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #1 (Jan 2, 2018): The class has officially started! Today we held the first live event to kick things off. The recording will be published by tomorrow at the latest is now available in "Past Events".
That means it's now up to you to watch the Blender Basics Course and submit your homework to this thread. Please add a big, bold title to your homework submission reply so I can easily tell. Like this:
"BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission"Also don't hesitate to ask questions along the way. I'll be checking this thread daily to answer questions, give advice, check homework.
This thread is for CG Cookie Citizens that are participating in the "Getting Started with 3D Modeling and Blender" class! Its purpose is to serve as central communication for all participating Citizens (excluding Hobby plan Citizens) to ask me and each other questions and to post homework. As the instructor of the class, I will be monitoring this thread on a daily basis (especially Mon-Thurs) throughout the month of January to review homework and answer questions.
This thread is intended only for Citizens who are participating in the class. Free members are welcome to observe the thread but please respect that communication is reserved for Citizens.
SYLLABUS
Welcome to the CGCookie Class: Getting Started with 3D Modeling & Blender! This is the first "Class" format where Citizen members are invited to focus together on a particular topic/skill together for a month. Participation is this:
- RSVP and attend the Live Events
- Watch the courses outlined below
- Ask questions
- Submit homework
- Generally be active in this thread
It will take place from January 2nd through January 31st and the topic is for beginners that want to get into 3D modeling. The class is based on pre-recorded courses that students are expected to watch each week along with weekly Live Events.
WEEK 1: First time with Blender...overwhelmed yet? (Jan 1-6)
Download the latest official version of Blender and watch the Blender Basics course. The goal this week is to simply get familiar with the application. We’ve all been there: Opening Blender (or any 3D package), gazing at all the crazy UI, trying to orbit in the viewport, crying...Ok, maybe you were stronger than me and didn’t cry. But the reality is 3D software is daunting. There’s SO MUCH to digest especially when you’re a beginner.
This first week we’re going to overview Blender and 3D from an absolutely beginner perspective. What is Blender for? What can it do? Wait, this isn’t a juicing seminar?
During the Live Event we're also going to open the floor, ask me anything (AMA) style, so I can answer all your questions about getting started with Blender.
HOMEWORK: Create a scene out of primitive shapes. It can be anything from a landscape to a spaceship to a character. Just get comfortable with creating and positioning mesh objects. Here's an example:
Take a screenshot of your scene and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 1-6*.
WEEK 2: Pushing & Pulling Verts (Jan 7-13)
Enter the world of mesh modeling! The oldest form of building objects in 3D, in the computer. We’ll discuss the technical art of “pushing and pulling verts” as modelers often call it. First, watch the Mesh Modeling Fundamentals and Modeling with Modifiers courses to be introduced to this wild, geometric world.
Practice makes perfect here and during this week's Live Event we’ll be mesh-modeling a few objects to demonstrate tools and workflow available with Blender. It’s ideal if you practice along with me!
HOMEWORK: Model either 1, 2, or 3 unique objects using mesh-modeling techniques. They can be as simple or as complex as you like, but they can't be primitives. I want to see that you've used mesh tools to significantly customize your shapes. For example, you could model a hammer, a cell phone, a keyboard, a game controller, a picture frame, a coffee cup - choose something fun!
Take a screenshot of your shaded model + wireframe-over shaded (as pictured above) and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 7-14*.
WEEK 3: Digital Clay (Jan 14-20)
Digital sculpting is the more artistically intuitive method of 3D modeling. If pushing and pulling verts felt like the hard way of doing things, sculpting will be a welcomed alternative! Watch the Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting course this week.
During the Live Event, we'll discuss the pros and cons of digital sculpting as well as how it compares to mesh modeling. Again, practice makes perfect with any craft, and we will also practice sculpting. Be sure to have your pen and tablet ready!
HOMEWORK: *Submit during the week of Jan 15-21*
- Do the Melvin sculpting exercise (post a link to your submission in a reply to this thread)
- Sculpt 3 primitives as demo'd in the week 3 Live Event: cube from a sphere, sphere from a cube, cone from a sphere (post screenshots)
- Sculpt 1-3 additional objects of your choice (post screenshots)
WEEK 4: Next Steps & Homework Awards (Jan 21-31)
There’s still much more to learn about modeling with Blender. Remember, it’s a craft. Time + practice is the only way to develop your modeling skills.
This week your challenge is to dive into the Modeling in Blender Learning Flow. While the class gives you a boost, the Flow takes you further into intermediate and advanced modeling techniques/workflows. Test the waters and see how far you can go this week.
During the Live Event we'll discuss the journey of becoming a skilled modeler as well as the potential for turning it into a career. Finally, I’m going to sift through homework submissions to commend my favorites and offer critiques!
HOMEWORK: Model and/or sculpt something challenging this week! Try tackling a character or a complex vehicle, etc. Show me what you've learned; what you're capable of!
Take a screenshot of your shaded model and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 21-31*.
Start the new year strong together. See you in January! ❄️
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Michael Cameron (darxval)It is super hard to not be able to mesh with the vertices, after a few scenes not going the way I wanted I decided to just go simple. and now posting I notice things modeled here are skewed. but 11 pm here and I need some sleep. So here is my lighthouse on an island.
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Nonsense!! What's this about things being askew. If I tilt my ead just a tad to the left everything is fine. lol. Darxval, it tells a story, it looks nice. You've found the materials to add to the scene and had fun scaling stuff. I dare say that railing on top of the lighthouse was tremendously putzy and time consuming.
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crew
I agree with Scott - what's this about being askew? I really like the perspective of the shot! Makes me feel like I'm in a low-altitude helicopter ride, and I like that feeling. Great job with this scene: A+
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission
On this scene the hardest was to create the headkercief from primitives, that is several toruses on each other. The leafs of the palm are stretched cones.
Regarding my experience in Blender - in theory having around 3 years experience as watched a lot of tutorials, but in practice rarely doing anything. Maybe this class will help to inspirate, you guys are very creative
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Love the story here and kudos on the headkerchief!
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Ditto what LJ said - love the story. The details on the raft drew me in. I know you said the headkerchief was the hardest, but the ingenuity of the ropes around the logs caught my eye.
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crew
I quickly noticed the headkerchief as well - Very clever approach. Awesome scene overall. I feel like this must have been a solid 3-hour-tour of work ;) A+
And thanks for sharing about your experience level. Always a help for me to know about a member's context.
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I like how the raft is aground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle. The bleached monkey skull half buried in the sand is an ill omen. "Like Robinson Crusoe, It's primitive as can be."
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission
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Great color palette. The wood texture is great.
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Ha ha. This brings back memories.
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Exactly so simply, great idea and colours
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crew
Could you have picked a better object to be all primitives? Nice job! It's a perfect little xylophone. A+
Are you new to Blender/3D?
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This rings a bell :D Great job!
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Thanks for the feedback. I am a beginner, but have done some very basic modeling and rendering with blender before for some personal projects.
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Kent please find the headcount of the class, that seems already 27 on the first week!
Hopefully you are proud, also some keywords to remember to the homeworks easier :)
1) Nuha Mahdi - "chicken" -> A+;
2) Grant Reid - "interior" -> A+;
3) Tony Smith - "bridge to island" -> A+;
4) Nathan Garduno - "UFO" -> A++;
5) Grady Pruitt - "horses" -> "passed with flying colors";
6) motsu - "steps" -> A+;
7) Yannis Sayeh - "car on the road" -> A+;
8) rcdavis4 - "pool" -> A+;
9) jellevandepitte - "skyscraper" -> A+;
10) Paul Haynes - "house in the forrest" -> A+;
11) Matthew Ullrey - "Sir Polygon and the monstrous beast" -> A++;
12) tanya gendreau - "big fish" -> A++;
13) Tom Hulme - "rocket" -> A+;
14) Andreia Schemid - "pair in the nature" > A+;
15) Alice Hart - "rabbit" -> A+;
16) Kaj Suominen - "motorcycle" -> "pretty awesome";
17) deadly_cicada - "winter forrest scene" -> "very cool";
18) nico_animation - "Disney's castle" -> A++;
19) Tomaz Jonatan Leonardis - "pool in the house" -> A+;
20) James Cooper - "houseboat" -> A;
21) Anne CH Postma - "snowman" -> "looking good";
22) LJ Simpson - "A Grand Day Out" -> A;
23) Oleksandr Serbin - "lake in the night" -> A+;
24) Scott McClellan - "Gandalf" -> A++;
25) darxval - "lighthouse" -> A+;
26) Zsolt Cseh - "shipwrecked" -> A+;
27) Thore - "instrument" -> A+;Shoot the statistician if someone is missed, but it should be complete (hopefully someones will post yet to reach the 30 :-) )
UPDATE at 01.07 22:00 CET - having the 30 in the class and maybe someone drops the homework yet in the last minutes :-)
28) Katerina Novakova - "isometric room" -> A+++;
29) Alexis Mayfield - "camp fire" -> A+;
30) John Sanderson - "windmill" -> A+;UPDATE at 01.07 22:30 CET - the class headcount is 31, Kent also your grades are added so you can remember easier to your favourite :-)
31) Matt Dickun - "monkey";UPDATE at 01.08 07:00 CET - that is fun the class has 34 members with their homework submitted!
32) jmac05 - "castle in the night" -> A+;
33) sparkes983 - "Mario" -> A+;
34) Matthew Gayton - "alien robot" -> A+UPDATE at 01.08 22:00 CET - 3 more homeworks so 37 students in the class :-)
35) abuttigieg - "Modo robot" -> A;
36) Panos Karouzakis - "whale" -> A;
37) monaloren - "frog"UPDATE at 01.08 23:00 CET - students tracker created in Excel for the 4 weeks to find concrete homeworks easier in column Page (it also follows the grades, where that is empty there did not find in Kent's answer)
UPDATE at 01.13 08:00 CET
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crew
THANK YOU for counting the submissions! I was going back and forth in my head about whether or not to do that. With each new submission the more I wish I had a list. Our future class system will definitely need to do this automatically. And I think by the time of me responding here, we're up to 29!
Which means I couldn't be happier with the participation this first week. It's so much fun to see submissions rolling in, you guys commenting back and forth, helping each other out. Pretty awesome stuff! Thank you all for participating 🙇
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Kent you are welcome, yes and in the meantime even 30 in the class!
Accordingly the post is edited adding the homeworks and who knows maybe still someone joins to the week 1 :-)
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Kent just a short proposal to the future class system - that might could also track your grades, it is both fun and valuable feedback with motivation for the next lessons
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crew
Check out that speadsheet! Brilliant. Any chance you can convert that to a Google Sheet to share with me
csehz ? -
Kent yes sure, I just wrote to you in CG Cookie with the link to that converted Google Sheet
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HOMEWORK SUBMISSION, BC1-1801, Week I
Ahh, I'm probably late with my first submission, yay me. :-) (I somehow assumed the deadline was until the next live session. Oh well, I'll post it here anyway).
Because I have been using Blender for about 9 months now, I decided to push myself and create the most complex scene I could without ever going to Edit mode. And to only use Plane, Cube, IcoSphere, Cylinder, and Torus objects. Quite happy with the result - it was nice to look back at my low-poly beginnings.
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Just wow! This obviously took a ton of time and putzy time at that: the parquet flooring; the picture on the wall; the detail in the furniture (although that pillow doesn't look at all comfortable to sleep with. lol). Very homey looking.
Now if only the computer screen would've had this picture on it's screen. In all seriousness, fantastic work.
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crew
I'll use Scott's phrase: Just WOW! I mean..this is one of my favorite submissions, if not the favorite. Splendid application of primitive only modeling. 👍👍 A+++
What kind of experience do you have with Blender/3D,
shiennar? -
That floor is awesome
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This is awesome Katerina! Reminds me of the early "Sim" games.
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission
It's looking pretty dark but this was challenging to not use edit mode to modify my objects. This took me about 45min to complete :)
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45 minutes?!? Well now, you're no slouch. I love the flames and how it gives just enough light to show off the rest of the details in the scene: trees, logs, rocks. I take it the white floaties are fireflies. Really like it.
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crew
That fire looks so nice when I see 11° on my thermometer. The flames' shape is well done! A+ overall. Good work.
Are you new to Blender/3D?
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No, I’ve been using Blender for a little while. I actually created an animation called Matter of Time with Blender that was selected to show at a small film fest last summer! It’s in my gallery if you wanna check it out.
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HOMEWORK SUBMISSION, BC1-1801, Week I
Can't make the livestreams due to work, but excited about the potential of classes and wanted to participate. I am a post-beginner, but still have a whole lot to learn. I was impressed by everyone's creativity in their homework submissions.
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crew
Nice one pprocyonlotor. I love the stone path! And the blurry frostiness of the windmill. Very good primitive scene. A+ Though I think I spot some smoothness in those clouds.... 🧐
And thanks for sharing where you're coming from with Blender/3D!
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lol. Kent beat me to it - the stone path - love it. Nice touch.
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Ha! Your monocle serves you well. I don't guess I caught/remembered that smooth shading was off limits. Thanks for the feedback!
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Great atmosphere there, yes the stone path is so cool
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission
I did a simple model for this initial exercise using only primitive shapes. My plan is to use this same model for the following exercises, and refine it as the lessons get more advanced. By the end I should have a nice looking character.
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Ha! Suzanne finally makes an appearance. Finally, that monley is off our back. hehehe
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crew
I like the intentional approach to connect each week's homework, aaz93. The blockout looks like the lovechild of suzanne and the tin man 😜 A+ job
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Space monkey? :D
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HOMEWORK SUBMISSION, BC1-1801, Week I
I've been on and off with Blender for many years, so I thought I would try out this new way of training. Looking forward to this journey! Here's my attempt at the first hw assignment.
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crew
A+ on your homework, jjmac05. I'm really glad you're participating in the class!
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Thanks Kent, thanks for creating this training format!!! Looking forward to learning more!!!
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BC1-1801 Homework.
Hey guys,
Last minute submission for Week 1. A Mario inspired landscape. Made me realise my perspective of objects is a little off. Also, there was some serious lighting on that world. Ha
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Hey Guys,
A last minute submission for week 1. A Mario inspired landscape !
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Great! Now I won't get that infernal song out of my head. lol.
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That is so good idea for using primitives! Exactly, scenes from old video games
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crew
Straight to my heart. I've been playing a lot of Mario Odyssey in recent months. A+ job ssparkes983!
Do you have prior experience with 3D/Blender or are you brand new?
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission
As usual all I could visualize was something that would take more time that I had to complete the assignment. Oh well, this was still a very enjoyable project. :-)
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crew
It's a skosh dark but I can still tell enough that you've accomplished the homework. Nice job, A+
mathias67. And I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it - glad you're part in the class! -
Like the metalic look of the robot and the dais looks like obsidian - reflective.
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Thank you both!
->Kent: Yeah, my work does tend to be rather dark, both in tone and content. I'll try and brighten things up for the class! :-)
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That is great 3 homeworks arrived yet so the class has already 34 members! (plus those who did not do homework yet :D )
Kent the summary can be found on page 8 and of course updated :-)
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crew
Honestly, that would be a huge help if you would keep your list updated. I so appreciate you starting it in the first place!
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Hi Guys,
I'm Andrew and been predominately a Modo Indie user for the last 4 years, but had been getting very disgruntled with the lack of updates coming to the Modo Indie customers. I've been meaning to brush up on Blender and transition across, but have been putting it off. This class is the prefect motivational kick I needed to get started. Thanks Kent.
Here is my very crude (and slightly embarrassing when compared to all the great work being posted here) homework assignment:
I can do better, I promise :) Was strapped for time for this one as I just got back from vacation.
Some of my Modo work can be seen on my website: http://www.buttigieg.org/portfolio.html and Instagram http://www.buttigieg.org/portfolio.html
Cheers,
Andrew
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crew
Hey hey, WOAH
abuttigieg. This is not the place to be embarassed. You did *exactly* what I asked for the homework which has to mean you're comfortable navigating the viewport and manipulating object transforms. That's an A for the week - nice job!
And I'm really digging your modo toy models. I hope this class helps with your transition! -
Eeeeek!! It's Primitivious Prime - Blenderbot
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I've had a look at your portfolio and the story book,
abuttigieg, and they are all very cute. I'm sure that with such a strong background in Modo, you'll be able to master Blender in no time. :-)
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crew
UPDATE: Week 1 is donesky! "Class announcement" at the top of the topic description. Here's to WEEK 2 🍻
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission
Took me about 15 minutes , Did not had the time to do more because of other projects deadlines getting close . I think i can do more , i have 2 years experience on writing programs with C and java , i also started recently learning python . I have 2 weeks experience on blender . That's all .
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crew
Thanks for sneaking in your submission ppanagiotis156! If you're able to do this in 15 minutes, you must know how to navigate the viewport and move objects around: Grade A work.
And thanks for sharing about your background with Blender and coding. Happy to have you in the class 👍
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BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission (Part 2)
Right ... This is the final part of my submission for week one. I love what everyone did with the restrictions for this assignment 😀
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crew
Hey good job with part 2! I liked the snowman by itself, but the rest of the scene is quite lovely. Good stuff 👍
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The snowman returneth. Very cute
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BC1-1801 Week1 Homework Submission
Hello,
this is my first post forc cgcookie and I hope everything is right
I am late but I want to learn und say thank you for this class
And I promise to improve my english too.
Here ist my little primitive frog. it was a lot of fun to do thisMona
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Mona that looks great, like the green an pink together, the colours of the heart chakra :-)
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Time's fun when you're having flies :D
If you're hoppy and you know it, clap your hands...:D Cute.
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Love it. Cute
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crew
Welcome mmonaloren! Your post is great, homework is great, English is great - everything great :) I love the personality of the frog and pink lillypads: A+ work
I'm glad you're part of the class!
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I have just found out about these live streams lessons is it possible to still complete the first lesson and submit homework
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Troy yes sure, in theory we are on the 2nd week but just post your homework for the 1st one and I will add you to the list of students, the most important is the learning with fun.
Art is on the first place not these formal things :-)
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crew
Sure ttroybrown1993 - Shouldn't be too hard to catch up! The next stream is tomorrow FYI
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