CG Cookie

CG Cookie is a top-tier platform for learning Blender, offering over 200+ courses that cater to a range of skill levels, from beginners to advanced artists. Known for its expert-led training programs, CG Cookie provides a structured pathway for mastering Blender, covering everything from foundational skills to specialized techniques in modeling, animation, texturing, and more.

Through its CORE Fundamentals Series, Blender Basics, and flagship courses like HUMAN: Realistic Portrait Creation, CG Cookie ensures artists gain hands-on, practical experience, empowering them to create professional-grade 3D models, animations, and visual effects.

Why Choose CG Cookie for Blender Training?

Choosing CG Cookie means access to a variety of Blender courses, each tailored to a specific aspect of 3D creation. Here’s what sets CG Cookie apart:

• All-in-One Subscription: Over 200 Blender courses are available under a single subscription, covering beginner to advanced skills.
• Expert Instructors: Courses are led by seasoned professionals like Jonathan Lampel, Kent Trammell, and Wayne Dixon, each of whom has real-world experience and a passion for teaching.
• Comprehensive Content: CG Cookie’s courses provide high-quality content, from Blender basics to advanced techniques in texturing, animation, and physics.
• Hands-On Learning: With project-based exercises, students can apply new skills immediately in real-world scenarios, helping to solidify their learning.
• Supportive Community: Students benefit from instructor feedback and an active community of learners, making the platform ideal for collaborative learning and growth.

Blender Courses

CORE Fundamentals Series: Master the Essentials of Blender

The CORE Fundamentals Series consists of nine foundational courses designed to cover every critical aspect of Blender. These courses are ideal for anyone wanting a thorough grounding in Blender, with a curriculum that progresses from basic skills to complex techniques.

1. Mesh Modeling – Jonathan Lampel

The Mesh Modeling course by Jonathan Lampel introduces essential tools and concepts for creating 3D shapes. Students learn about selection tools, mesh operators, and topology principles, forming a solid base for complex modeling projects across games, animation, and visual effects.

2. Digital Sculpting – Kent Trammell

In Digital Sculpting, Kent Trammell teaches how to shape organic forms with Blender’s sculpting tools. The course covers brush types and sculpt mode functionalities, focusing on character and creature design. It’s ideal for artists aiming to master Blender’s sculpting capabilities for detailed modeling.

3. Lighting – Jesse Kaizen

Lighting is crucial to bringing 3D models to life, and Jesse Kaizen’s course explores Blender’s Cycles and EEVEE engines. Students learn lighting techniques for depth and mood, mastering real-world setups to make scenes look compelling and realistic.

4. Materials & Shading – Ewa Wierbik-Ziąbka

Ewa Wierbik-Ziąbka’s Materials & Shading course delves into Blender’s shader editor, teaching students how to create realistic textures. Topics include shader properties, textures, and light interactions, making it a core course for artists who want to enhance the realism of their models.

5. Texturing – Ewa Wierbik-Ziąbka

Also taught by Ewa, Texturing explores UV mapping and texture painting. This course shows how to add realistic details to 3D models, from skin textures to environmental elements, elevating the visual quality and authenticity of each project.

6. Animation – Phil Osterbauer

Phil Osterbauer’s Animation course introduces Blender’s animation tools and principles, including keyframes and f-curves. Students learn the basics of timing, easing, and character movement, making it ideal for anyone interested in bringing 3D models to life.

7. Rigging – Wayne Dixon

In Rigging, Wayne Dixon covers the mechanics of preparing models for animation. This course covers armatures, bone constraints, and weight painting, providing essential skills for character animation and motion in Blender.

8. Physics – Kenny Phases

Physics by Kenny Phases introduces Blender’s simulation tools, including rigid bodies, soft bodies, and fluid simulations. This course is excellent for artists looking to incorporate realistic physics interactions in animations or visual effects.

9. Compositing – Sean Kennedy

Sean Kennedy’s Compositing course shows how to polish renders with post-production techniques. Students learn color correction, layer blending, and effects to create high-quality final images. This course is a must-have for artists looking to present their work professionally.

Blender Basics: An Introduction to Blender 4.x

The Blender Basics course is CG Cookie’s entry-level program, perfect for beginners who want to build foundational skills in 3D design, modeling, and animation. Led by Jonathan Lampel, this course covers essential topics, from navigation and object manipulation to rendering and simple animation.

Key Topics Covered in Blender Basics

• Navigating the Interface: Learn the layout and how to customize the Blender workspace.
• Object Manipulation: Basics of moving, rotating, scaling, and duplicating objects.
• Modeling Basics: Core modeling skills using basic shapes and geometry principles.
• Materials and Textures: Intro to colors, textures, and shading for model enhancement.
• Rendering: Basic rendering concepts in Blender’s Cycles and EEVEE engines.
• Animation: Keyframe basics for simple motion and animations.

This beginner-friendly course equips students with the tools to confidently navigate Blender and lays the groundwork for more advanced 3D design projects.

HUMAN: Realistic Portrait Creation with Blender

The HUMAN: Realistic Portrait Creation course, taught by Kent Trammell, is a specialized, in-depth program for artists looking to achieve photorealism in character portraits. Spanning over 28 hours, the course covers everything from initial sculpting to final rendering, focusing on lifelike human facial features, textures, and lighting.

Key Topics Covered in the HUMAN Course

• Sculpting the Human Head: Techniques for creating lifelike facial structures with accurate anatomy.
• Skin Texturing: Use of detail maps and painting for realistic skin textures, pores, and imperfections.
• Advanced Shading for Skin: Complex shaders using subsurface scattering for realistic light absorption.
• Hair Creation: Hair particle systems for realistic grooming and styling.
• Portrait Lighting: Lighting setups tailored to human portraits for optimal realism.
• Compositing: Post-processing techniques for color correction and final touches.

This advanced course is perfect for artists aiming to add lifelike characters to their portfolios, making it one of CG Cookie’s flagship programs.

Additional Blender Courses Worth Exploring

Beyond the fundamentals, CG Cookie offers specialized courses that delve into niche areas of Blender, allowing students to broaden their skills:

TURNAROUND | Creating a 2D Character Modeling Sheet

Design 2D character sheets essential for 3D modeling and animation.

SPIDER | Animate a Spider Walk Cycle

Learn efficient animation techniques through a practical spider walk cycle project.

BALL | How to Rig the Ultimate Ball

A rigging basics course, perfect for beginners learning animation.

PRINTLAB - Guide to 3D Printing

Master 3D printing workflows with Blender, suitable for Prusa printer users.

CONCEPT - Character Concept Art with Grease Pencil

Combining 2D and 3D art for character concept art.

Intro to Motion Graphics

Covering motion graphics principles, effects, and rendering techniques.

Bug Bots: Hard Surface Creature Creation

Hard surface modeling by creating robotic, insect-like creatures.

DRAW! Grease Pencil Introduction

Focuses on 2D drawing and animation with Blender’s Grease Pencil tool.

PARTICLES: Intro to Simulation Nodes

Basics of particle systems and simulation nodes for dynamic effects.

These courses allow Blender users to explore unique creative applications and deepen their understanding of Blender’s full capabilities.

Meet the CG Cookie Instructors

• Jonathan Lampel: 3D expert specializing in modeling, shading, and dynamics; creator of tools like Retopoflow.
• Kent Trammell: A 14-year industry veteran in character sculpting and texturing; known for the HUMAN course.
• Jesse Kaizen: Former Art Director and Blender YouTube instructor, passionate about teaching modeling and lighting.
• Ewa Wierbik-Ziąbka: Senior 3D artist specializing in realistic texturing and cozy scene creation.
• Phil Osterbauer: Experienced animator with a decade in Blender, dedicated to teaching animation fundamentals.
• Wayne Dixon: Animation and rigging instructor with a background in TV and YouTube content.
• Kenny Phases: Blender physics specialist and 3D artist, focused on teaching simulation nodes and dynamics.
• Sean Kennedy: Visual effects veteran with 25+ years, known for his work on Life of Pi and Stranger Things.

Pricing and Membership Plans

CG Cookie offers flexible membership options, this membership will give you access to all the 200+ courses:

• Premium Annual Plan: $229.99/year – (Pre-pay and save 45$)
• Monthly Plan: $22.99/month

Both plans allow unlimited access to the course library, instructor feedback, and community support, making it an excellent investment for dedicated learners.

Start Your Blender Journey with CG Cookie

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced artist, CG Cookie’s extensive course offerings provide the skills, guidance, and community support needed to excel in 3D design and animation. With detailed tutorials, expert instructors, and a structured curriculum, CG Cookie is your go-to resource for mastering Blender.

Explore the CG Cookie course library and start bringing your creative visions to life