10 Online Blender Courses to Master 3D Modeling from Scratch

Build exciting characters and worlds in this 3D modeling and animation program, with tips from expert teachers

Blender is one of the most widely-used programs for 3D animation. You can use it to sculpt, model, light, render, and animate 3D characters and spaces. From visualizing a dreamlike realm to stylizing a cute character, your imagination truly is the only limit. It’s also open-source and free.

If you’re excited to dive into the world of 3D art, read on to learn more about Blender and discover seven Domestika courses taught by experts in animation, graphic design, 3D design, and digital art.

What is Blender?

Blender is a public project, owned by its contributors, and comprises several areas. Sculpting, modeling, and UV-unwrapping tools help you to create characters and spaces from scratch. Rigging and animating allows you to bring a creation to life. The Cycles Render Engine helps you render your project with realistic textures, lighting, and more. Finally, the interface is customizable and, once you’re experienced, you can bend the “rules” to make just about whatever you want.

Having been developed and revived over and over since 1994, the Blender software has been key to iconic film and animation projects. Spider-Man 2 was the first professional project to successfully use Blender for previsualization, which complemented traditional storyboarding. More recently, it has been used in Captain America films and to create visualizations for NASA’s Mars probes.

So, what will you use it for? Start dreaming and learning with the seven courses below.

Getting started with Blender

1. Blender for Beginners, course by Carlos Sifuentes Haro

Starting out with any new software can be daunting. If you want to create professional audiovisual content in 2D and 3D, you’ll need to follow a well-executed study plan, with an experienced teacher who will keep you motivated. We’ve got you covered!

In this seven-part Domestika Basics course on Blender for Beginners, you will learn everything you need to know about Blender’s basic tools. Digital artist and CG generalist Carlos Sifuentes (@c17vfx) shares top tips on composition, animation, and image and video editing.

You will begin your journey by discovering the main features of the program, how to install it, and how to navigate its interface. Then, you will explore optional add-ons. You will continue examining the different objects that can be created, using tools such as the Remesh modifier and the Dyntopo sculpting method. By the end of the course, you will be able to work on composition, color treatment, effects, and editing still images and video.

2. Introduction to 3D Design and Modeling with Blender, course by Luis Arizaga

If you want to learn how to inject life and volume into designs on paper, don't miss this course created by 3D character artist, Luis Arizaga (@arizaga). Luis directed the short film Holymonks as well as collaborating on Alike, which won a Goya award. In this course, he will show you how to use Blender to model, light, render, and animate your creations.

This introduction to 3D Design and Modeling focuses on creating and manipulating basic objects, and designing base structures to bring new characters to life. You will also learn how to use modeling and sculpting tools and use node systems to create materials and lights, among many other things. Most importantly, you will get to grips with what Blender has to offer and how to get the most out of working in it.

Model and Create Characters in Blender

3. 3D Character Creation in Blender, course by Mohamed Chahin

“When it comes to telling a good story, it’s all in the characters!” says 3D designer Mohamed Chahin (@mchahin). His goal is to evoke a feeling in the viewer as well as create beautiful visuals. His captivating 3D creations have seen him produce work for several companies including Adobe and Virgin Voyages. With a passion for animated series and a firm belief that everybody is a storyteller, Mohamed wanted to work in an industry that created visuals for fun, magical stories.

In his course on 3D character creation in Blender, you’ll learn how to design an original 3D character from pencil sketch to a model that is full of life.

You’ll understand the creation process, from coming up with the ideas for your protagonist to exploring the features in Blender to make it a reality. Discover how to model, add detail, and work with light and color. Mohammed describes his style as “organic, plasticky, and cute”—so this is a great place to start if you’re making stylized, low-poly, or characters for children’s media.

4. Kawaii Character Creation in 3D with Blender, course by Yasmin Islas Domínguez

Kawaii is a magical, color-filled style that, despite having originated in Japan, has slowly been adapted to different contexts and places. Discover the keys to Kawaii and bring your characters to life alongside animator Yasmin Islas, better known on social media as Yasmini (@yasmini), who specializes in 3D modeling and character design with pastel tones. Among her client list are names like Giphy and Adult Swim.

In this course on kawaii 3D character creation, Yasmini teaches you the modeling process for a Kawaii character in Blender, no matter your level. She guides you through everything step-by-step, from the concept phase to the rendering of your final piece. After explaining the different parts of the interface and how to navigate them, Yasmini shows you how to add and manipulate 3D objects. When you’re done modeling, she even shares fun render effects and camera animation techniques to really bring out your character's 3D nature and personality.

5. Professional Modeling of 3D Cartoon Characters, course by Juan Solís García

Juan Solis (@solisworks) is a character modeler who has worked for Disney Animation, Dreamworks, Ilion Animation Studios, and Blur Studios. Having contributed to projects such as Frozen, TrollHunters, Spider-Man, and League of Legends, and created countless 3D characters over his 20 year career, he realized that the process involved in 3D character modeling for a production is very different from a personal project. That’s why he teaches this specialist course on professional-level modeling of cartoon characters.

Throughout the course, you will learn how to create the models in response to an art department’s needs and perfect them for a large-scale animation project. In cases like this, it’s important not to lose any of the personality and charm of 2D sketches as you work in 3D. You also need to set up your models so they are usable by others. You will use multiple tools as your create your characters, including Blender and ZBrush.

Create fantastical spaces in Blender

6. Low Poly Set Modeling for Video Games, course by Daniel Gutiérrez

Low poly, or polygonal style artwork, has been a trend in the world of gaming and 3D art for a while now. This style, which clearly displays the facets and shapes used to create each object, gives a whimsical and nostalgic feel to artwork.

Our expert for this subject is Daniel Gutiérrez (@danielgutierrez), an art director who has worked with Xbox, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Through his work on video games, he has discovered that building immersive worlds means inviting the player to live unique experiences, paying attention to both the global vision of space and the smallest details.

In this course on low poly set modeling, Daniel will show you how to design a scene in a low-poly style, 3D model it, and texturize it in Blender. Then, you will discover how to import it into Unity, one of the most famous video game development platforms in the world, ready to bring it to life with characters and story when you’re ready!

7. Interior ArchViz: Create Surreal 3D Designs with Blender, course by Camille Boldt

On the other hand, perhaps you want to create a hyper-real, futuristic look to your work with highly detailed and textured spaces. Architectural visualization has the ability to create believable compositions, yet when coupled with elements of surrealism, it leads to designs that could only exist in dreams. Designer Camille Boldt (@camilleboldt) has created some breath-taking ArchViz compositions using Blender, with an ethereal style uniting realism and minimalism. He has collaborated with brands focused on fashion, cosmetics, and technology.

In this course on interior ArchViz with Blender, Camille gives you a complete walkthrough of Blender to create striking compositions of interior spaces. Discover how to create captivating visualizations from scratch and transport your viewers to new dimensions, from a space-age living room to an outdoor oasis.

8. Creative 3D Animation in Blender, course by Paulo Filipe Souza

In 3D animation, the lookdev, also known as visual development, is when the magic happens. It's the moment the project finally comes together in all its glory of light, shadow, and unique textures. 3D artist and art director Paulo Filipe Souza (@pfsouza), who has worked with renowned organizations and agencies such as Africa DDB, Wunderman Thompson, and W/McCann, understands that throughout this process, every detail counts.

In this course, Creative 3D Animation in Blender, learn to create a 3D animation and tell stories with a professional lookdev in Blender. With Paulo as your guide, explore the main tools this software has to offer and produce one-of-a-kind 3D visuals.

9. Bring humour to your 3D animations in Blender, course by Leanne Rule

Dive into the world of Blender and 3D animation as you embark on a whimsical journey with Leanne Rule (@leannerule), a seasoned illustrator and animator whose work spans prestigious brands like Nike, The New Yorker, and Buzzfeed.

In this dynamic online course, Bring humour to your 3D animations in Blender, Leanne unveils her distinctive approach to crafting humorous and endearing characters, set within a delightfully quirky virtual realm. With Leanne as your mentor, you'll learn the essentials of character design and animation in Blender, exploring the nuances of form, motion, and narrative to breathe life into your creations.

From character modeling and texturing to rigging and scene setup, unlock the secrets of bringing your characters to vivid, comedic existence. Leanne's expert guidance will lead you through each step, offering invaluable insights and practical techniques to ignite your creativity and elevate your animations to new heights.

10. Animating 3D Cartoon Characters in Blender, course by Ulises Cervantes

Master the art of infusing vitality into cartoon-style characters through their dynamic poses, expressive gestures, and animated actions utilizing engaging and effective methodologies.

Within the realm of animation, acting stands as a paramount tool, serving as a conduit for unveiling character's innermost thoughts and sentiments through their behavioral cues.
Join us in Animating 3D Cartoon Characters in Blender course, you'll learn the intricacies of embellishing actions and expressions to craft fictional personas and scenes that retain an essence of credibility.

Led by acclaimed animator and 3D artist Ulises Cervantes (@ulises_cervantes), delve into the realm of bringing cartoon-style characters to life within Blender, all while adhering to the foundational principles of acting. Ulises will impart his expertise, guiding you through an enjoyable and pragmatic approach to animation, empowering you to captivate audiences with the dynamic movements and gestures of your animated characters.

If these courses have you imagining alternate worlds in your head already, you can discover even more inspiration with our full list of Blender courses. Or, bring creations to life with our animation courses.

English version by @eloiseedgington and @lauren_duplessis.

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