If you've ever wished to explore the immersive world of 3D, whether for an exciting hobby or a potentially lucrative career, the open-source program Blender is your ticket to enter. However, the ride is not always smooth, especially if you're a novice. But fear not, because in this blog post, we're going to lay out a 3-step framework that'll make your Blender learning journey a whole lot easier. This blueprint is built on more than eight years of 3D experience and is designed to get you started and set you up for success in Blender.
Level 1: Get Started
Starting with Blender from scratch can be an uphill climb. At this stage, it’s vital to build a structure, set simple goals, and decide what you want to achieve within your first four weeks. The ultimate goal at this point is to create a complete scene with textures and an environment.
To reach this point, establish sub-goals like learning Blender's user interface and navigation, building a simple scene, and understanding the basics of modeling and lighting. Remember, the goal is to start simple and not to overwhelm yourself.
Level 2: Get Good
Once you've overcome the initial hurdle, the next level is about honing your skills and getting serious about learning Blender. At this stage, commit to creating one project per week for at least three months. This exercise will not only consolidate your knowledge but will also help you decide if 3D is a career you genuinely want to pursue.
These projects are about mastering the craft of 3D. Each week could focus on a different aspect, such as lighting, creating procedural textures, or understanding the texture workflow. The goal is to get one percent better with each project, slowly becoming proficient in the craft of 3D and Blender, and discovering what aspects of 3D creation you enjoy most.
Level 3: Get Serious
After getting a handle on Blender basics and creating a handful of projects, it's time to decide whether you're a hobbyist or looking to turn this into a business. If it's the latter, you need to focus on building a specific skill set that you know inside and out. Whether it's product animation, character design, or architectural visualization, decide on your niche and start creating high-quality portfolio works within this domain.
With a solid portfolio, it's time to start reaching out to potential clients or employers. Don't be discouraged by initial rejections. This part of the process requires resilience and perseverance. Aim to reach out to a hundred potential customers per month, assuming a 2% conversion rate. That means you'll likely land two clients.
Once you've landed your first clients, the next crucial step is networking. Leverage your existing connections to find new clients. Most of the time, your clients will know someone else who needs your services. This networking strategy will help you expand your client base and potentially lead to a steady stream of work.
