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.
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:
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.
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*.
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*.
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*
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*.
I too love the dino theme. You've accomplished the meta-shapes quite well 
swikni! And these are not the easiest shapes to hit. Good stuff. If you wanted to add finer details in the future, these shapes would be apt to accept them.
Excellent work: Grade A stuff for the final week! 👏
Yeah, adding details could be pretty good next step/challenge to focus on :)
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submisson
An old wooden hay wagon
I need a lot of time to find out how axels an drawbars work ;)
This is what I was able to finished in 3 days.
There is still a lot of work e.g. some sculpting for the wood to make it look old and add a few details and to bake normal maps.
I want to upload the wagon to a virtuell world, so some work is still needed because there are some requirements e.g. for materials, geometry and LOD.
So I definitely keep on working on it.
Thank you so much for this class. I have learnet a lot and the combination with additonal live-streams is very helpful.
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submission
I would like just join to the schoolmates who completed the "Grand Slam" in BC1-1801, meaning posting homeworks in all the four weeks in January (John Sanderson and monaloren at this moment, hopefully others comes in yet)
That was an intensive month but this course reached at me which any method was not able so far in learning Blender - stepping out from the "Tutorial Zone".
As mentioned somewhere before, for more than 3 years watching Blender tutorials from different sources, loving the program and got a lot of information, but that was in 90% just inactivity.
Here in BC1-1801 on the first week realized that okay, I can place mesh primitives beside each other, it can be harder than someone would think, but were able to do. Then if someone can place and resize mesh primitives, also can go to Edit mode, that is just one step further, moving there left and right vertices and applying modifiers, by that finished the next homework. The third week was really hard, jumping into the scuplting, some two years ago did already the Melvin exercise but now at Christmas time again, plus which one I posted that was already a third version. But again just a proof to myself, being able to sculpt and even an own scene from nothing. Then on this fourth week searched for some reference 2D images in Google which never before, started to sculpt by myself and although slightly modified the concept, step by step built up the confidence, that no need to keep and lead my hand anymore, the creativity woke up.
If next at anytime would feel the block and just loving but not doing anything in Blender, then would like just think again - can I position mesh primitives beside each other? Yes. Then can I go to Edit mode with extruding moving vertices and apply modifiers? Yes. Can I grab a mesh in scuplt mode and build something into an empty space? Yes. Then so already creating!
Regarding the actual homework, to tell the truth started from these simple reference images and you can see finally a slightly different character came out, did not have chance to watch the Wrangler tutorial, the hair could be done probably as he has the beard. Attaching also the link to the model version on https://skfb.ly/6wnun
Kent just also would like to especially thank you for the inspiration this month, I thought that actually having absolutely no time for hobby like Blender beside of a 10 months old little girl, but this idea of a class on CG Cookie mobilized the required energy :-)
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submission:
Before all of the Christmas decorations get put away for another year.... Here are some reference shots and a final render of a handmade wooden train ornament from Germany. I would love to add some yarn hair to the drivers and the red string on top, but that will be for another day.
I had a great time in this class. Getting to know Kent and some of the CG Cookie community a little better and completing these assignments have been two major benefits from participating in the live stream.
Hope to see you all in THX 1138... er I mean BC2-1803. ;-)
Unwrapping that train must have been fun :) The texture is also fine and of course lighting and platform are excellent too.
Thanks Jere, getting the seams cut and rotating the UV islands so the texture matched on the train was tricky, but fun. A lot of other CG Cookie tutorials went into getting the final result. ^_^ Thanks CGC!
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submission
The Hard Surface Modeling tutorial was quite a challenge for me. When I´ve learned how to model in Blender, back in the day, there weren't so many modeling tools and modifiers. The challenge for me was not to rush into poly modeling but understand how those new tools work, why it was used in the tutorial and then keep using them, repeatedly. After 12 hours I got this nice airplane! ;)
Thanks for this class otherwise I wouldn't have gone so far... and now I need a pilot... :D
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submission
I tried to sculpt a character ( i was suppose to make something very challenging)
During this week i think i've overestimate my abilities to create an "Alien-like" creature with the short amout of time i had.
However it helped me to see were my weaknesses are and most importantly... find something i'd love to create...
i would like to say a HUGE thanks to Kent, all the instructors of CG cookie, all the community, and you, who are reading this message ^^.
This month was the best of my formation since i started blender 5 month ago.
These classes gave me 3 things:
-Knowledge i didn't have
-Self-confidence in myself (I never thought I'd be able to sculpt melvin, or the sword i made)
-A goal to achieve
Now, i want to increase my sculpt abilities but also... Create characters !
This head (badly sculpt i know ^^') is only the beginning of a project for me.
Cya in march ! ;)
PS: Sorry for my bad english ^^'
Thanks so much for sharing about your experience this month csehz . In many ways you've confirmed my best aspirations for the class format. I'm quite inspired to keep going with these and to keep pushing them forward, making them better.
It's awesome to see your month of homework collected together - the Grand Slam! You've done a lot of work! And culminating into your loveable bear sculpt - really great stuff, Zsolt. I also like that you started with the bear art work but you ended up with something unique. Isn't that a great thing about creativity? You've earned an A this week for sure.
You've been a pleasure to have as a student his month. I hope to see you in another class!
Love this idea of the handmade Christmas ornament. Your model looks like a super-authentic representation of the actual thing. Great job! Adding the yarn would be a tricky but rewarding challenge. Don't forget the red string on top if you add the yarn :)
It's an easy A this final week and with the textures: A+
You've been an awesome student this month, Matthew. I expect your A-game for March! 😎
Your plane looks fantastic! I never would have guessed it took 12 hrs to work your way through the course and model. Really great job ninivekha - An A for certain. Way to end the month strong!
Thanks for participating each week this month. You've been a pleasure to have in the class. And if a pilot is what you need, we have just the course and upcoming class for you!
This alien creature is crazy! I'm curious how you did all those tentacles. Did you snake-hook brush them out individually? Mask each spot and pull them out together? Another approach?
"... it helped me to see were my weaknesses are and most importantly... find something i'd love to create..."
That's a big victory. Way to go. And for what it's worth, I think your creature is very interesting. It's clear to me that you challenged yourself and learned something. That's earns an A for the homework.
Finally, thanks for the feedback on the class. It's so exciting for me to hear what this month has done for you. I can't wait to do more of them. You've been an excellent student galledark. Thanks for participating each week!
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submission
Three views of the same model. Getting better but it still takes me way too long to get things the way I want them. The rest of my weekend is full so I must submit now or not at all. The class has been fun. Looking forward to March.
P.S. I don't consider this "done". Just out of time.
I'm beginning to become of the opinion that wood is almost one of those textures that is almost better to do procedurally because it never seems to wrap properly with an image texture. Still, this looks really good at least as far as the modeling. Great job!
The light is almost a little too bright on this one to see well.. the clipping is almost making it hard to see. Still looks like a great sculpt. If this is a human character, the anatomy might be a little off. The legs, in particular, feel too long to me. Although it's aimed at drawing, one book I have is "Figure It Out: Human Proportions by Christopher Hart. It does a great job of breaking down how different parts of the body should be in relation to other parts of the body.
Very cool model :) My dream is that one day I sculpt a detailed Alien
How much do you have experience in humans? I think your model looks very nice and even if it's not yet "done" it is very close to it. Too bad you had to submit it (or her) while still in progress but I believe you can easily make the finishing tweaks if you have made it this far already.
BC1-1801 Week 4 Homework Submission:
It snowed last week in my town. So(?) I got sick.
Well, I haven't been built a snowman for a long time.
