Learn Blender in 100 Days: A Practical Guide for Beginners

Embarking on the journey to Learn Blender, the powerful open-source 3D software, can seem like a daunting task. Many aspiring 3D artists and designers hear the call: “Learn Blender!” or see ambitious challenges like “100 Days of Blender.” It sounds exciting, but where do you even begin? For years, I’ve dipped my toes into Blender, experiencing that familiar cycle of initial enthusiasm followed by long breaks, each break blurring the commands and workflows I’d started to grasp. The interface itself has evolved significantly in recent years, adding another layer to the learning curve.

Why Choose to Learn Blender?

For the past seven years, my go-to for 3D modeling has been Fusion 360, complemented by KeyShot for rendering for over a decade. These are industry-standard tools, but the desire to expand my creative toolkit and skillset has led me to Blender. My motivations for diving deep into learning Blender now are multifaceted:

Lifelong Learning: Staying sharp and continuously learning new skills is a priority as I get older. The 3D world is constantly evolving, and embracing new software keeps my skills relevant and expands creative possibilities.
Organic Modeling Capabilities: While Fusion 360 excels in precision and engineering-focused designs, Blender is renowned for its ability to create soft, organic shapes. I’m eager to model more fluid and natural forms, pushing beyond the limitations of CAD-centric software.
Advanced Animation Tools: KeyShot is fantastic for rendering, but Blender’s animation capabilities are far more extensive and complex. I aim to create richer, more dynamic animations that go beyond KeyShot’s features, opening up new storytelling avenues in my visual work.

The timing feels right to fully commit to learning Blender. Its development over the last few years has been remarkable, and the sheer volume of online tutorials and the vibrant community surrounding it create an ideal learning environment. Frankly, with all these resources and Blender’s growing industry presence, there’s no compelling reason not to learn it.

My 100-Day Blender Learning Strategy

To finally solidify my Blender skills, I’m dedicating myself to using the software every single day for 100 days. To maintain accountability and share my progress, I’m documenting my learning journey with daily videos posted as Instagram Reels. This public commitment is a powerful motivator to stay consistent.

To rapidly refresh my memory of shortcuts and commands and to learn new techniques effectively, I’m relying heavily on tutorials. My approach focuses on repetition to build muscle memory, identifying patterns in Blender’s workflows, and understanding the underlying logic of the tools. At this initial stage, the primary objective isn’t to produce stunning artwork, but to engage in focused and consistent learning.

The 100-Day Format: Structure and Milestones

Daily Commitment: Each day, I dedicate a minimum of one hour specifically to learning Blender. I use Clockify to accurately track my study time and a GoPro to record each session. These daily recordings serve as proof of my commitment, which I then share as daily videos on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. This public accountability significantly reinforces my discipline.

Ten-Day Mini-Projects: Every ten days, I challenge myself with a self-directed project. The crucial aspect here is to create something from start to finish without following any tutorials. These mini-projects are designed to be practical applications of the skills I’ve acquired in the preceding days. They are invaluable for solidifying knowledge and fostering independent problem-solving. After each ten-day block, I plan to update this article, sharing my progress and insights from the previous days.

100-Day Project Summary: Upon completing the 100-day challenge, I will create a comprehensive YouTube video. This video will summarize the entire project, highlighting key learnings and providing guidance for anyone else interested in learning Blender. This final deliverable aims to contribute back to the Blender community and help others navigate their learning paths.

Watch Instead of Read: For those who prefer visual learning, a video overview of this 100-day Blender challenge is also available, offering a dynamic alternative to reading.

Days 1-10: Foundations and First Creations

It’s important to clarify that Day 1 of this challenge wasn’t my absolute first encounter with Blender. I’ve experimented with it intermittently over the years. However, this marks the beginning of a structured, consistent 100-day learning commitment. While I had a basic, high-level understanding of Blender’s interface and concepts, I was far from proficient.

Choosing the Right Tutorials for Learning Blender

A frequently asked question in response to my daily reels is, “Which tutorials are you following?” The core of my structured learning comes from courses purchased at cgfasttrack.com.

My journey with CG Fast Track began with a free beginner course on YouTube by Robby Branham, the founder of CG Fast Track. Robby’s extensive professional background as a technical artist, director, and supervisor for numerous prominent brands and agencies, coupled with his teaching experience, made him a compelling instructor. His proficiency extends beyond Blender to include Nuke, Houdini, Maya, and other leading 3D applications. After experiencing his teaching style and researching his professional credentials on LinkedIn, I felt confident that he was the ideal guide for my Blender journey.

I opted for paid courses for a specific reason: comprehensiveness. When learning from a single instructor across multiple courses, there’s a reduced risk of missing crucial skills compared to piecing together free tutorials from various sources. Paid courses typically follow a structured curriculum, ensuring a progressive and complete learning experience.

Days 1-9: Initial Results and Practice

During the first nine days, I invested a total of 12 hours and 21 minutes in learning Blender. The images below showcase some of my initial creations in Blender during this period. These early projects focused on mastering basic modeling tools and understanding Blender’s fundamental workflows.

Day 10: First Mini-Project – Zipper Model

As planned, Day 10 marked my first self-directed mini-project. The objective was to apply the skills learned in the first nine days to create a model without relying on tutorials. I chose to model a zipper. This project took 3 hours and 53 minutes, longer than anticipated. A significant portion of this time was dedicated to refining the topology of the zipper mechanism to ensure clean edge flow and proper subdivision—a crucial aspect of good 3D modeling practice. The results are shown below.

Day 10 – Zipper Model Showcase

A viewport spin showcasing the zipper model created in Blender.

It’s important to note that the image above was rendered in KeyShot, not Blender. At this stage, my focus is on integrating Blender into my existing workflow, leveraging its strengths alongside tools I already use effectively. This means exploring how Blender can complement KeyShot and Fusion 360, rather than immediately replacing them.

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Days 11-20: Expanding Skills with More Complex Projects

Days 11-19 were dedicated to further expanding my Blender skillset. I spent a total of 12 hours and 49 minutes learning during this period. I completed the battle axe project from the course I was following and began a new course focused on rigging—a crucial aspect of animation and character setup in Blender. Below are images showcasing the results of my work during these days.

Day 20: Mini-Project – Mountain Bike Pedal

For my Day 20 mini-project, I challenged myself to model another object independently. This time, I chose a Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11 Titanium mountain bike pedal. Having these pedals at home allowed me to take precise measurements, ensuring accuracy in my model. I also configured Blender to use millimeters as the unit of measure, a more familiar setting for someone accustomed to traditional CAD software. This project took 4 hours and 16 minutes to complete.

Topology presented some challenges during this project, as expected. However, I successfully created decent-looking threads and effectively utilized mirror modifiers to maintain efficiency and symmetry—essential techniques for optimizing 3D models.

Days 21-30: Animation and Car Modeling Introduction

During days 21-29, I dedicated 10 hours and 48 minutes to learning Blender. I completed the Lamp Rigging course and rendered a short animation, demonstrating my initial foray into Blender animation.

Animated Lamp Showcase

A short animation of the rigged lamp created in Blender.

Following the rigging course, I started a compositing course. Unfortunately, I encountered unresolved issues and decided to discontinue that project, as compositing wasn’t my immediate priority. This led to a couple of unproductive days.

On Day 25, I began modeling a car, continuing with tutorials from CGFastTrack. This is a more extensive, 11-hour course, and it will be interesting to see the total time it takes me to complete. After five days, I had only finished part 1 of the five-part course, indicating the project’s complexity. Hopefully, I can accelerate my pace. The image below shows my progress by Day 29.

Day 30: Mini-Project – Plastic Buckle

For my Day 30 mini-project, I chose to model a plastic buckle. This project took 3 hours and 46 minutes, proving more challenging than initially anticipated. It seems increased complexity is becoming the norm for these mini-projects. My focus was on creating high-quality topology, especially since I planned to render the buckle with a cloudy plastic material. This required clean topology even on the ‘inside’ and ‘backside’ of the model, as material properties would highlight any imperfections.

The final rendering was done in KeyShot, prioritizing speed and familiarity for rendering and materials. My primary focus remained on honing modeling skills within Blender.

Days 31-40: Car Modeling Progress and Hard Surface Practice

During days 31-39, I invested 12 hours and 54 minutes in learning Blender, primarily continuing the car modeling exercise. This extensive project is consuming a significant amount of time, but progress is steady. I nearly completed the wheels, a particularly enjoyable part of the process. There’s something inherently satisfying about modeling tires and rims.

Day 40: Mini-Project – Rigid Buckle and Animation

For my Day 40 mini-project, I chose to model a more rigid, hardbody object. While this type of object might be more efficiently modeled in CAD software, my goal was to enhance my polygonal modeling skills in Blender. I selected a deceptively simple buckle structure. This project surprisingly took 5 hours and 51 minutes, significantly longer than expected.

Once the model was complete, I imported it into KeyShot for texturing, lighting, and animation. Adding sound effects, specifically clicks for the buckle engagement, was a fun addition to the animation.

Day 40 Animation Teaser: A short animation created for Day 40, showcasing the rigid buckle modeled in Blender and animated in KeyShot.

Days 41-50: Tesla Model Progress and Complex Geometry

During days 41-49, I spent 12 hours and 37 minutes learning Blender, continuing my work on the Tesla car model. I completed the wheels, including brake calipers and rotors, and moved on to finalizing the body panels. This involved applying modifiers to maintain mesh shape and implementing actual bevels instead of edge creasing, refining the model’s details and realism. Excitement is building as this project nears completion!

Day 50: Mini-Project – SmallRig Super Clamp

For my Day 50 mini-project, I chose to model a SmallRig Super Clamp. This proved to be significantly more challenging than expected, primarily due to the intersecting holes and threads. Maintaining clean topology became difficult, requiring compromises to finish the model within a reasonable timeframe.

This project highlighted the type of object best suited for CAD or solid modeling software. Attempting to model such intricate, geometrically precise forms with traditional polygon modeling in Blender is inefficient and cumbersome. Despite the challenges and imperfections, I’m proud to have completed it. It was a valuable learning experience in pushing my limits and testing my patience. Modeling this clamp took 7 hours and 51 minutes in total.

Due to time constraints, I rendered the finished model in KeyShot for materials and lighting, prioritizing a quick turnaround.

SmallRig Super Clamp Turntable Animation: A turntable animation of the Super Clamp model, created for the Day 50 mini-project and rendered in KeyShot.

Days 51-60: Tesla Roadster and Organic Surfacing

During days 51-59, I dedicated 16 hours and 45 minutes to learning Blender, finally completing the Tesla Roadster model. On Day 59, I began applying basic materials to the car, preparing for more realistic material creation and rendering in Cycles, Blender’s powerful render engine. Modeling the finer details of the car was particularly enjoyable, as these details bring the model to life and enhance its believability. Below is a collection of progress screenshots from this period.

Day 60: Mini-Project – Pocket Knife

For my Day 60 mini-project, I chose to model a pocket knife—specifically a Kershaw Ken Onion Scallion. I wanted to model something with more organic curves and new surfacing challenges, and this knife fit the criteria perfectly. This modeling project took 8 hours and 28 minutes, longer than initially estimated, but the complexity of the form justified the time.

As with previous projects, I rendered the knife in KeyShot. My comfort level with Blender’s modeling tools was growing, but I still felt more efficient and confident with KeyShot for texturing and lighting, ensuring the model was presented effectively. I’m pleased with the final results.

Kershaw Ken Onion Scallion Model: A showcase of the pocket knife model, highlighting it was modeled in Blender and rendered in KeyShot.

Days 61-70: Cycles Rendering and Tesla Roadster Completion

During days 61-69, I dedicated 13 hours and 26 minutes to learning Blender. This period marked the completion of the Tesla Roadster car model. Creating detailed shaders for each material on the car provided a deep dive into Cycles. Cycles differs significantly from KeyShot, and learning about its node-based material system and various approaches to material creation was engaging. Lighting in Cycles also presented a new learning curve. The culmination was creating several studio renderings of the finished car, a very satisfying outcome. The entire car project, including video tutorial time, took 54 hours and 30 minutes. The tutorial source is the paid courses at CGFastTrack.com.

Day 70: Mini-Project – Knife Animation in Blender Cycles

For my Day 70 mini-project, I focused on shading and animating the Kershaw pocket knife directly in Blender. This project took 3 hours and 38 minutes. Up to this point, I had been transferring models from Blender to KeyShot for materials, rendering, and animation.

Now, with increased confidence in Blender modeling, I wanted to explore more realistic material creation and animation using Blender’s Cycles render engine.

While the knife animation’s materials aren’t highly advanced, figuring out how to implement labels in Cycles took considerable time, as they behave differently than KeyShot labels. Lighting was kept simple, using a basic studio HDRI.

Blender’s animation capabilities are far more extensive than KeyShot’s, which is a significant motivator for learning. In the animation, the knife’s locking mechanism visibly bends, a detail not achievable in KeyShot. The rigging created for the knife and camera animation in Blender was also surprisingly intuitive and easy to manipulate.

While there’s room for improvement, I’m very optimistic about Blender’s animation potential.

Pocket Knife Animation in Blender Cycles

Animation of the Kershaw pocket knife, created and rendered entirely in Blender Cycles.

Days 71-80: Compositing, Procedural Shaders, and Box Rigging

During days 71-80, I spent 10 hours and 34 minutes learning Blender. This ten-day period included completing a short Blender compositing course, a folding box tutorial, and a concise course on creating procedural shader networks in Cycles.

The compositing course introduced me to Blender’s powerful compositor, a feature absent in KeyShot. I appreciate the efficiency of compositing nodes; once a look is established, new renders automatically receive the same post-processing treatment, significantly speeding up post-production for animations and stills.

The folding box tutorial served as a good review of bone usage, initially learned during the Pixar-style desk lamp rigging project weeks earlier. This box tutorial, created by Derek Elliott, inspired my next self-guided project, initiated on Day 80.

The procedural shader course involved creating three distinct materials using Cycles nodes. This type of learning requires repetition and practice. A valuable new technique learned was texture baking, which optimizes render times by pre-calculating textures, especially beneficial for animations and complex scenes.

Day 80: Mini-Project – Animated Lupe in a Box

For the Day 80 mini-project, I decided to animate a photographer’s loupe emerging from a folding cardboard box. The idea was to integrate the product with the folding box concept learned in the tutorial. Using a real loupe from my desk allowed for detailed observation and accurate modeling. I also deconstructed and scanned the actual box to create high-resolution textures for realistic materials.

This project became a significant challenge. Initially, I modeled a realistic box that proved too complex for proper UV unwrapping and animation. After a couple of days, I scrapped it and restarted, adopting a more methodical approach. I maintained a low-poly mesh as long as possible and focused on rigging and materials before adding final mesh details.

I’m very satisfied with the outcome of this project, and the learning process was invaluable. From modeling and UV unwrapping to rigging, materials, and animation, it encompassed many of the skills I’ve been developing throughout this 100-day challenge.

This project spanned four days, with a fifth day dedicated to creating a hero still image and additional props. The final results are below.

Day 83 Animation Teaser: A short animation clip created for Day 83, showcasing the animated loupe project.

Final Looping Animation: ‘Loop de Lupe’

Looping animation of the photographer’s loupe project, titled ‘Loop de Lupe’.

Days 86-100: Animated Dog Collar – Final Project

During days 86-100, I dedicated 28 hours and 58 minutes to learning Blender. For these final 15 days, I deviated from my typical format to focus on my concluding self-guided project: an animated dog collar.

Unfortunately, I didn’t fully complete the project by Day 100, reaching approximately 90% completion. I spent about five days on research and development (R&D) because I lacked a clear animation strategy for this object. This R&D phase involved experimenting and problem-solving to determine a viable animation approach before investing time in detailed modeling.

I consulted Derek Elliott for advice, and his guidance proved invaluable in pointing me in the right direction.

While an animated dog collar isn’t visually stunning, it presented numerous valuable challenges:

Hard surface plastic items: Modeling buckles, D-rings, and slides.
Soft materials: Replicating fabric and nylon webbing.
Animating soft and hard materials: Animating both the plastic buckle and flexible nylon webbing.
UV unwrapping: Ensuring correct texture application on the nylon webbing.
Rigging: Building a rig to shape the collar as desired.
Parenting: Preventing hard components from bending with the collar strap.
Materials: Creating realistic stitching and anisotropic nylon webbing materials.

As evident, this project required integrating a range of new skills.

Completed Animation Showcase:

Below is the completed dog collar animation, finalized in the week following Day 100. I collaborated with sound designer Dominic Walter-Battista, who created an exceptional audio track to enhance the animation. You can find Dominic on his Behance profile. I also thank Derek Elliott for his troubleshooting assistance with the strap animation. Explore Derek’s product visualization tutorials on his YouTube channel.

Dog Collar CGI Animation

Final animation of the dog collar, created entirely in Blender.

Key Learnings from 100 Days of Blender

What are the key takeaways from this 100-day Blender journey? What can you learn from my experiences? Here are ten significant insights:

Start with Clear Goals: Define your learning objectives and desired outcomes. Develop a curriculum that directly supports these goals. A structured approach is crucial for effective learning.
Learning Blender Takes Time: Mastering Blender is not a quick process. Consistent effort over time is essential. Embrace the learning curve and be patient with your progress.
Instructor Expertise Matters: The skills and teaching ability of your instructor significantly impact your learning experience. Choose instructors with proven expertise and a teaching style that resonates with you.
Sequential Courses are Superior: Following a structured, sequential course is more effective than relying on a collection of random tutorials. Courses provide a logical learning progression and ensure comprehensive skill development.
Daily Practice is Powerful: Dedicate time each day to learning. Consistency is key to reinforcing knowledge and building muscle memory in Blender. Even short daily sessions are more effective than sporadic long sessions.
Accountability is a Motivator: Find methods to keep yourself accountable. Publicly sharing your progress, as I did with daily videos, can significantly boost motivation and commitment.
Prioritize Learning Early: Make learning Blender the first task of your day. This ensures it gets done and sets a productive tone for the rest of the day.
Mini-Projects Combat Tutorial Lock-in: Self-directed mini-projects are vital to avoid becoming stuck in “tutorial jail.” They force you to apply learned skills independently and develop problem-solving abilities.
Learn in Public for Support: Share your learning journey publicly. The encouragement and support from the community can be invaluable, especially on days when motivation wanes.
R&D Before Detail Work: For projects requiring new, unfamiliar techniques, allocate time for research and development. Prove a solution conceptually before investing time in detailed execution.

Next Steps in My Blender Journey

Having achieved a comfortable proficiency in Blender, my plan is to continue using it regularly. This ongoing practice will solidify muscle memory and allow me to explore areas of the software I haven’t yet delved into. My focus has primarily been on modeling, materials, rendering, and basic keyframe animation and rigging.

However, I haven’t yet explored physics simulations, importing and exporting animations and CAD data—areas frequently requested by others. And of course, Geometry Nodes, Blender’s incredibly powerful and recently added feature, remains largely untapped. There’s much more to discover and learn, and I’m excited to continue this exploration.

About Will Gibbons: Will Gibbons is an industrial designer turned rendering specialist. He has trained and collaborated with leading brands and now focuses on creating high-quality product visualization content online.