These courses should help you get up to speed in no time.
Learn all about the tools and concepts that are essential for all types of modeling workflows, including advanced selection, mesh operators, and good topology.
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.
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.
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Hello there! I'm a design student from Germany, who created her first 3D project in Maya since it was part of the curriculumn. But due to the program's complexity (and over-the-moon-price) I decided to start over with 3D in Blender.
I first watched CG Cookie's "Blender Basics" course, then followed the "PRESS START" course, where we build a 3D console together with Jonathan, who also created this course. Thanks to these two courses, I decided to get a monthly subscription and try it out and I'm not exaggerating when I say this Fundamentals course (along with the other two free courses) is everything you need to start modeling and, most importantly, to feel confident in Blender.
The course is very well explained and not hard to understand at all. As someone who is usually scared to start with new programs, I've gotten the hang of the program quickly, followed each exercise, and later repeated them on my own. At no point did I feel like Jonathan was going too fast or forgetting that he were teaching beginners. The final exercise was a nice, relaxed way to inspire independent modeling and creativity instead of just following instructions.
I will definitely continue with the other CORE Fundamentals courses and can wholeheartedly recomment it to anyone who wants to start and feel safe with Blender! FIVE STARS!!
Amazing!
I just completed the "CORE | Fundamentals of 3D Mesh Modeling in Blender" course, and I couldn't be happier with the results. This is, hands down, the best starting point for anyone serious about learning Blender.
Jonathan Lampel is an outstanding instructor. His explanations are incredibly clear and concise, making complex topics like topology, modifiers, and efficient mesh editing completely accessible. He doesn't just show you what to do; he explains the why behind every tool and technique, which is crucial for building a strong foundation.
I learned so many things—from foundational navigation and selection tools to powerful modeling workflows. Every lesson felt perfectly paced, and the practical exercises solidify the knowledge immediately. I now feel fully equipped and confident to tackle my own 3D projects.
If you are looking for a comprehensive, high-quality, and deeply rewarding course to learn 3D mesh modeling in Blender, look no further. Five stars—highly, highly recommended!
I really enjoyed this course due to Lampel's excellent approach at simplifying topics, such as quad junctions and topology. It made my learning experience much smoother.
Thoroughly enjoyed going through this course. I got carried away with the final project til it seemed to have a life of its own and demanded more and more models.
We love to see students getting carried away! Thanks for the review, Matthew ❤️
This course is absolutely amazing! I learned so many tools, and that’s what makes it truly stand out for me. It doesn’t just teach you how to create a specific object or project—it actually shows you the tools and provides practical examples of how to use them. By watching this course, you’re not just learning to model one type of thing; you’re gaining skills and techniques that you can apply across your entire workflow ^^
As someone who went into this course with zero prior 3D knowledge except CG Cookie's Blender Basics and Press Start courses, this was a fantastic next step toward increased competency and knowledge in Blender.
Jonathan, as in the prior two courses mentioned above, is fantastic at guiding you step-by-step through multi-step modeling processes, and I credit that heavily to him always pausing for a sec to call out the inputs when he does something. By always calling out what key/input-combination he's hitting or what menu he's going to and what dropdown selection he's clicking (IE saying 'Hit I to inset' instead of just 'Inset this face'), even after he's done it multiple times, it ensures you can follow along at his pace instead of getting left behind if you forgot an input. Not to mention constantly repeating the input out loud helps commit it to memory for the long-term.
Never once did I feel like I was being left behind by a teacher going at their normal work-pace and forgetting they're supposed to be teaching a beginner, which was my experience with a prior teacher outside the CGCookie ecosystem. Not to mention, the final exercise was a great, low-pressure way to encourage independent modeling/creativity instead of strictly adhering to guided modeling.
The best part of this course for me is that they not only explain the tools but also why they operate the way they do and what's really going on "under the hood". So before, whenever I ran into a shading problem I'd have to search on youtube for a fix, and even if the fix worked I didnt understand why so I had trouble applying it to other projects. But now I feel like I can troubleshoot those issues on my own or at least I know where to start. Also the hotkeys and menus. The amount of time i could've saved just from knowing the select menu existed is crazy to think about.
I took the original version of this course when I was just starting on Blender and it made me fall in love with both Blender and the CG Cookie style of teaching. Now I'm a couple of years further in my journey but thought I'd come back to revisit some basics on hard surface modeling to go in hand with my new hobby on 3D Printing. I'm so glad I did!!
I can recommend this course for both beginners and "comfortable with Blender" users alike! Jonathan packed this course with tips and concepts that are more advanced without ever making it complex. So easy to understand and follow along. Definitely worth taking!