Blender Foundations
Everything You Need To Get Started In Blender. Covering important topics most tutorials gloss over.
Blender 4 Foundations
A Beginner’s Guide to 3D Creation with Confidence
Get started the right way with Blender 4 – no fluff, no overwhelm, just solid fundamentals.
Start Your 3D Journey with Confidence
Are you new to 3D and unsure where to begin? Blender 4 Foundations is the perfect entry point for absolute beginners. Built from the ground up for Blender 4, this course teaches you the core skills and concepts often skipped or rushed in other training — giving you a clear, solid base to build on.
You won’t be diving deep into every tiny feature or buried in menus. Instead, we’ll focus on big-picture workflows, good habits, and practical understanding. You'll learn box modelling, a fast and intuitive method for shaping models, with only light use of edit mode where it’s absolutely needed.
This is not just a "press-this-button" tutorial. It’s a course about why things work the way they do, and how to use Blender with purpose from day one.
What You’ll Learn
Section 1: Setting Up Blender
- Is your computer ready for Blender 4?
- Step-by-step installation for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Blender preferences explained clearly — not skipped
- How to revert Blender if things go wrong
Section 2: Getting Help
- Learn to navigate the Blender Manual properly
- Use our “Save Points” system to backtrack easily if things go wrong
- Get help the right way — and ask better questions
- Shift from passive watching to active learning
Section 3: A Look Around Blender
- Understand Blender’s interface and workspaces
- Use multi-monitor setups, screencast keys, and shortcuts efficiently
- Set up a clean, reliable default startup file
Section 4: Box Modelling in Blender
- Focus on object-level modelling: transforms, snapping, duplication, collections, and more
- Use modifiers (Array, Bevel, Mirror, Boolean) instead of jumping deep into edit mode
- Create fun beginner-friendly projects: barrels, rockets, staircases, mechs, and more
- Build scenes fast and clean with a big-picture mindset
Section 5: Basic Materials
- Learn about PBR materials and how to apply colour without overcomplicating it
- Use the Shading workspace effectively
- A sneak peek at textures without diving into complexity
Section 6: Lighting and Camera
- Understand basic and environmental lighting setups
- Learn how cameras work — focal length, perspective, and safe zones
- Set the stage for polished, clean renders
Section 7: Rendering
- What is rendering, and why does it matter?
- Learn to render with Eevee, Cycles, and Workbench
- Set up output settings for sharing your work
- Tackle real-world challenges to solidify your skills
Why This Course Stands Out
- True beginner focus – no experience needed
- Blender 4-first – everything tailored to the latest version
- Project-driven – learn by doing, not just watching
- Minimal edit mode – you’ll learn to model with confidence using object-level tools
- Strong fundamentals – we cover what others gloss over: naming, organisation, viewport control, and proper workflow habits
- Challenges included – fun, clear projects that help you practice what you’ve learned
Meet Your Instructor
Mike Bridges has been teaching Blender professionally since 2014 and has trained tens of thousands of students through Canopy Games and YouTube. Known for his clear explanations and structured teaching, Mike specialises in helping beginners build a strong foundation and understand the why, not just the how.
Start Creating Today
If you’re ready to break into 3D with clarity, confidence, and guidance that puts you first — this is your course.
No pressure. No confusion. Just the right tools at the right time.
Join Blender 4 Foundations today and take your first real step into 3D.
Your Instructor
Hi there, it is great to meet you!
I am a self-confessed technology geek and love teaching people new things.
It is a real shame that so many people carry such wonderfully capable devices yet do nothing but the basics on them. Computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones can do much more than most people know. I want to guide, reassure and educate people about using their technology to add to their lives.
I have been playing, yes playing, with technology for as long as I can remember and I still do that today! Admittedly, with other commitments, I have to watch what I spend as technology can burn a very deep hole and quickly.
I have always been inquisitive! even if it meant taking something apart to see how it worked. Of course, not knowing how to put it back together again. To this day I love learning new things and developing myself as a person.
Despite my tech background I remain firmly grounded and talk to people using everyday language, unnecessary techno-babble drives me bonkers. This allows me to chat with people with limited knowledge of a subject and help them understand more.
Course Curriculum
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StartInstalling Blender From blender.org WINDOWS (2:18)
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StartInstalling Blender - Linux (2:20)
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StartInstalling Blender - MacOS (3:16)
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StartStable, LTS and Daily Builds (5:29)
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StartBlender Preferences Overview (2:06)
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StartPrefs - Interface Changes (5:14)
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StartPrefs - Add-Ons & Extensions (3:30)
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StartPrefs - Themes (2:40)
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StartPrefs - Input Changes (2:24)
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StartPrefs - Navigation Changes (1:27)
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StartPrefs - System Changes (4:58)
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StartPrefs - Save & Load Settings Changes (3:30)
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StartPrefs - File Paths Changes (2:57)
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StartPrefs - Reverting Blender Back To Default (2:24)