CG Cookie Member Feature: Lewis Thorpe

When life throws you curveballs, sometimes you find strength in the most unexpected places.

For Lewis, Blender became more than just a 3D software—it became a lifeline. His journey with Blender is one of rediscovery, perseverance, and creative growth.

From stumbling through beginner tutorials to launching a freelance business, Lewis's story is a testament to the power of art as a healing tool.

If you've ever wondered how a creative outlet can help you through tough times, this is a read for you. 

Can you tell us a bit about your journey with Blender and how it has evolved over the past 8 years?

My first experience with Blender was before the big UI update, I can’t remember exactly what version. I was on an old laptop that could hardly run it but I remember the excitement of importing minecraft models into blender and animating them (badly) for the first time, that was my first real experience with Blender. I dabbled with Blender for a few years, never really making any progress past the Andrew Price donut tutorials.

This all changed in 2019 - 2020 when I took a games design class in high school and had to use Blender to create assets for coursework.

This is where I learned the real capabilities of Blender in a modeling context.

My course was cut short by COVID, and I stopped using Blender as I lost interest due to COVID. At this time I was really low mentally and after dropping out of college due to a mental health crisis I came back to Blender as a way to try find something to do and feel useful.

From there I have never looked back, i have been seriously using blender from 2020-2021 ish.

You mentioned that Blender became a creative outlet during challenging times. How did working with Blender help you manage to get through them,

Blender (and traditional art) has been a lifeline for me, without these creative outlets that help me express my feelings in a productive way I don’t think I would be here today. It gave me purpose in a time where I felt useless, and from there, it has given me confidence not just in my art abilities but in all facets of my life.

Can you describe a moment when Blender, or a particular project, had a significant positive impact on you?

I think a major turning point for me was doing the Andrew Price chair modeling tutorial.

I was so proud of myself for making something that looked so realistic, and that was a challenge. In a way it proved to myself that I could do challenging things and that transferred to my outlook in other ways of my life.

What was it about CG Cookie that made you realize there was so much more you could do with Blender than you initially thought?

I remember taking the Blender Basics course and being amazed at everything I didn’t know a Blender could do, especially physics and Grease Pencil.

This made me refocus myself, I changed from a modeling focus to a more generalist approach. My new goal was to become an experienced user in all topics. I’m proud to say that CG Cookie has been an extreme help in that regard, and I would now consider myself to be an experienced user in all fields of Blender (well, excluding simulation nodes, lol)

How did the fundamental courses at CG Cookie change your approach to learning and using Blender?

The fundamentals introduced me to a concise delivery system for the knowledge I required and served as a jumping-off point for further research and learning.

The Blender fundamentals sparked my curiosity in a few topics, which I have explored at a more advanced level.

The fundamentals really are the best way of dipping your toes into the Bender and seeing what you enjoy.

You mentioned that CG Cookie sparked your passion for animation—what was it about Wayne’s courses that resonated with you?

Wayne’s courses are by far some of my favorites on the whole site. He delivers them in a way that is fun and entertaining while still being informative. I think the real thing that stuck out to me though is the way he and everyone else on CG Cookie does feedback, they treat you like peers and make you feel good about your work even when critiquing it.

I think the real turning point for me was when I perfected my first bouncing ball exercise, I felt so accomplished and it really sparked my passion for animation. The act of animating is relaxing to me and is just like a giant puzzle.

Can you share an example of a skill or technique you learned through CG Cookie that you’ve since applied to your work?

Over the last year, I have learned many skills through CG Cookie. However, the ones I find most useful in my client's work are the fundamentals of lighting.

Lighting can make or break a scene, so spectacular lighting can make all the difference.

Starting your own business in the 3D art industry is a big step. How did the skills and confidence you gained from CG Cookie contribute to that decision?

CG Cookie made me see myself as an artist who could actually do art (if that makes sense).

In the past, I had never considered doing art as a career; however, CG Cookie has completely changed that.

Having a job that I enjoy and am good at has been the best thing to happen to me, and I have CG Cookie to thank for that. Without CG Cookie, I would not be confident to do what I do.

What are some of the CG Cookie pieces you’re most proud of, and what do they represent to you in your personal journey?

In this interview are some of my favorite pieces I have created in CG Cookie and have represented milestones in terms of knowledge.

I love creating a piece of art at the end of a course to consolidate my knowledge, which are some of my favorites. These pieces in particular, have gotten me freelance work. 🙂

How has your approach to your art and projects changed since you began learning with CG Cookie?

I think my approach is a lot less disorganized now. I approach my projects in a methodical manner, which works really well for me. Before starting with CG Cookie, I was really disorganized, and the nature of the courses has really reinforced a good way of working in me.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for your business and your journey in the 3D art world?

My main goal for my business is to expand into a freelance game art company. I have a long way to go to achieve that goal, but I can say I would be a lot further from it if it weren’t for CGC.

As for personal goals, I want to get better at animation and geometry nodes, these areas really make my brain tick :)

What advice would you give to others using Blender as a creative outlet during challenging times?

My biggest piece of advice would be to give it a go and don’t be afraid of failure. Every day is not going to be great, but there will be days when things go your way and you create something amazing.

Always remember to take it a day at a time, be that with your CG cookie learning or just life in general

Check out Lewis's site