Learning something like Blender can be a real challenge. Sometimes that is exciting and sometimes it can be a real bear! So what keeps you going?
We are embarking on a campaign to help you commit to yourself and make a habit of learning by setting a goal that is challenging yet achievable. (Read more about daily practice, why it is important and how to make it stick).
One big bolster to those tough times is our community. We encourage you to set a goal for yourself and share it with the rest of us here. We are all in this together!
Here are some ideas of potential goals to get the wheels spinning:
So, what are you setting out to achieve and what helps you keep going?
I know this may sound silly or self absorbed but I found the refrigerator effect has been something that keeps me wanting to improve and learn more.
That's a big thing I love about CG Cookie is the dashboard with My Projects displaying your work like a refrigerator for a child's work from school. IDK, to me it inspires me as I see improvements and things that need to improve all right there in one glance. It brings back memories of the work of things like how I did something I am having trouble remembering how I did it before and it jogs my memory to many other things. The collage of past work all in one place has been a real benefit to me. I have other work scattered in my hard drives that I have forgotten about because it's out of sight out of mind. I guess I am using My Projects incorrectly but that is a major thing that keeps me motivated. Silly me, lol.
Importantly, I should add, is that the works of others as to what is possible is also very inspiring, I love all the works I am seeing in one place on a regular basis. So many creative works, from beginner to very skilled people is very motivating. Another reason I love My Projects.
Since opening Blender for the first time last september, I feel like I finally found what I like to do for real, being 29 y.o. now... that feels like a lot to me, now I'm just happy to be here :)
So I just want to keep improving and one day make a career with it
Sometimes I can feel a bit down and like I am not learning fast enough, but that only means I've been sitting in the computer for too long and I just need a little break, maybe a lot of you know what I mean hahah
See you around!
That's really motivating! Setting a goal and sharing it with other community members can bring tremendous satisfaction and additional motivation for learning. No matter how challenging the obstacles may be, remember that you're not alone. Together, we can overcome all difficulties!
cgtin that is so true! I've been trying completing a task, then getting up and walking around for a minute or two, then hopping into the next one. It's like a short congratulations for completing a thing then rebooting for the next.
One of the things I struggle with a bit, and I see a lot of newbies struggle with, is "what do I want to do in 3D?".
As an amateur I dived into "a bit of everything", and that may have slowed me down a little on everything. I still kind of want to go that route - I have a rough idea for a show I want to do and I'm working towards that. . . but I'm going to have to change some of my practices, probably. I don't know that it's really practical for me to do everything myself. (One could say I want to create an animated short, and this statement might still be relevant.)
Think a "simplified", maybe somewhat forgiving style like the 3D Star Wars cartoons. Still really tough, but not Pixar or Final Fantasy quality. I'm definitely not going for realistic renders or VFX.
Not so much at CGCookie, but at other Discord channels that run pretty regular contests one of the things that blew my mind a bit is how many people are creating scenes very quickly. . . but not always with a lot of their own assets. They're focusing more on lighting/texturing and/or the animation itself.
One of the things I want to get better at is deciding what I need to spend my time doing, and when it makes a lot more sense to go out and kit bash or grab something that's already made.
I do enjoy modeling, but I need to get better about realistically getting to a finished product.
(I'll admit, I'm a much better concepts guy than finished product guy, even among the CGCookie community. My lighting, materials, and texturing is so-so at best.)
Edit:
Also, with a lot of my own work I'm not necessarily working off of concept art. I'm pretty decent at getting the overall shape of things, but sometimes I have difficulty getting from there to the "all the details are in" bit.
The big question is, "What do I want to make?" One of the techniques I use for learning software development is to first follow along with the tutorial, and then I follow the tutorial again, but this time I make something new as I watch. This gives me the chance to apply what I am learning with the tutorial providing a helping hand.
I'm a big fan of flight simulators, but of course there is a lot that goes into making them. The scope of the project can be intimidating. So, I decided to just try making switches and dials. These smaller components require all the same methods, but they are bite size chunks that can really build confidence.
I've been going with blender and cgcookie for the last 2 years. I initially registered years earlier, but had a hard time sticking to a routine, and didn't get very far with things.
The thing that worked for me (and I hear this from others) was establishing a daily routine. Every evening I spend a few hours making something with blender, or watching some videos (usually from cgcookie) on the subject. I've managed to keep this routine going for the last 2 years without missing a day (except maybe 4-5 days that I was out of town; I brought a sketchpad to work on drawing instead).
I like sculpting and drawing a little more than traditional 3d modelling, so I'm trying to work through Kent realistic character course, and then through Human. I'm also eager to see what you guys have planned for future grease pencil courses.
jammingammon that daily practice you have achieved gives me a ton of hope. Thanks for sharing and good on you for finding your rhythm!
It sounds like you are on an amazing path that should keep you busy for a while. Paul is working through updating some fundamentals courses, but we look forward to seeing another grease pencil course from him soon as well and have even played with the idea of live drawing classes. I wonder if that is something we could do as a community and virtually get together to draw from the same inspo image.
amberkelly drawing classes would be cool. It's hard to coordinate the live stuff with timezones, work schedules, etc., but it would be neat if it worked out.
what keeps me going....?
Articles like these take me back to where I left off.... and other things.
At first I feel guilty when I open an old .blend file and realize I haven't seen it in a long time.
I observed my behavior and had to admit that I actually let myself be distracted from my hobby, which I really love, by pointless activities.
All this just to not finish what is causing me trouble.... Dodging, fleeing, looking for excuses.... then remorse.
Getting motivated for something you're actually passionate about has already raised the question of where I took a wrong turn.... isn't that a paradox?
But that's how I function and that's why I always have to be motivated by something that motivates me to keep going.
I see my biggest advantage in the fact that I know how I function and I can steer against it. I don't always succeed, but I know how to recognize the dilemma. . .
I'm working on making time every day for things you love and that it becomes a habit, like the coffee I take every morning and that I need to do what I love ;-)
May the Force be with us and strengthen us in our deeds ;-))
When i see that im advancing/ learning. When i get frustrated ill try things i tried to make starting out and realize im having an easier time doing it . Imagining all the things i can potentially 3d print really motivates me and seeing myself progress makes me realize that i am getting closer to my goal. Setting a habit/ routine really helped, ive read that world famous book on habits, and when i started my goal was to only do 5 minutes per day. then it grew to 1 video per day. now i get so excited /pumped that i just go till my brain is tired.
My goal is to practice 4x/week until otherwise noted
My reward will be ONE FREE DAY (do anything I want) per week
My reward is that something has been completed and I can say that I have created something that someone else might enjoy.
I haven't finished a lot yet.... but I am coming ;-))
Mon but est de devnir un Ui/Ux designer dans l'univers des jeux videos. La 3d est indispensable pour moi et je pense que a récompense sera le savoir que je pourrai partager avec d'autres personnes.
amberkelly I just found this place this month. I haven't started any courses yet. I'll be sure I check out PANELS