MediaArtTutorials

Blender Tutorials

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👾 Character Modeling Session

Time: 1h30m

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🎯 Objective

Begin building your character in Blender using one of the two modeling approaches below:

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First, Review Your Sketch (2–3 min)

• Look at your creature drawing and shape breakdown.
• Ask yourself: Is my character more geometric or more organic/humanoid?
  • If it’s made of clear shapes (cubes, spheres, cylinders) → Go to Path 🅰️
  • If it looks more like a person or creature with limbs → Go to Path 🅱️

💡 Pro Tips

• Use Path A if your character is geometric or made of bold parts.
• Use Path B if your character has a body with limbs or curved shapes.
• Start low-poly — you can refine and add details later.
• Ask for help choosing a method or applying a modifier.

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🅰️ Path A: Geometric Modeling with Basic Shapes + Modifiers

Best for: Robots, abstract beings, simple creatures

Step 1: Review Your Sketch

• What’s the main body shape? Where do you want to start?

Step 2: Add Your First Shape

• Open Blender
• Delete the default cube if needed
• Add a base mesh: Shift + A → Mesh → (Sphere / Cube / Cylinder)
• Add more parts (head, arms, legs) using new shapes
• Combine shapes using tools and modifiers

Step 3: Use These Tools & Modifiers

🔧 Tools

Tool	Shortcut	Use for…
Add Object	Shift + A	Add basic shapes
Move / Rotate / Scale	G / R / S	Place and transform objects
Join Objects	Ctrl + J	Combine multiple meshes
Shade Smooth	Right-click	Soften surface shading
Snap Tool	Shift + Tab	Align objects easily
✨Join Objects	Ctrl + J	Combine multiple meshes
✨Shade Smooth	Right-click	Soften surface shading
✨Snap Tool	Right-click on mesh	Align shapes perfectly

🧰 Modifiers

Modifier	How to access	Use for…
Mirror	Modifiers Tab	Build symmetrical characters
Subdivision Surface	Modifiers Tab	Smooth rounded shapes
Array	Modifiers Tab	Repeats objects in rows
Boolean	Modifiers Tab	Combines or subtracts shapes
Solidify	Modifiers Tab	Gives flat shapes a thickness
✨Wireframe Modifier	Modifiers Tab	Start with a line “skeleton”

Tutorial

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🅱️ Path B: Fast Organic Modeling with the Skin Modifier

Best for: Humanoid or animal-like creatures with limbs

In this method, you’ll use a single vertex as a “skeleton” and grow your model using the Skin Modifier.

Tools You’ll Use + Explanations & Tutorials

Tool	Purpose
Add Vertex	Begin with a single point to create a skeleton-like base
Extrude (E)	Extend vertices to create connected limbs
Skin Modifier	Wraps a mesh around your skeleton automatically
Ctrl + A (Scale)	Adjust thickness of each limb or part
Mirror Modifier	Automatically mirror limbs and edits
Subdivision Surface	Smooths the mesh for a more organic look
Shade Smooth	Softens shading for visual polish

Tutorial

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💾 File Saving

• File → Save As
• Name it: YourName_Tuesday.blend
• Save to your USB or class folder

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📝 Reflection

What shape or pose defines your character?
→ Focus on that as your anchor during this first modeling session.

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