90-day project roadmap — build a solid portfolio (4 portfolio-ready assets)
Goal: Create 4 portfolio pieces: one stylized character, one hard-surface prop, one game-ready environment prop set, and one rendered still.
Days 1–14 — Foundations & setup
- Install Blender and follow Blender Guru’s Donut tutorial to learn the interface and basic modeling techniques. (Watch the beginner donut playlist above.)
- Daily practice: 30–60 minutes of modeling exercises (primitive modelling, extrude, loop cuts).
Days 15–45 — Projects & workflows
- Project A (stylized character): Use Udemy/CG Cookie lessons on sculpting to model a stylized character; retopologize for animation.
- Project B (hard-surface prop): Model a weapon or gadget using Blender and learn hard-surface modeling techniques. UV unwrap and create PBR textures.
Days 46–75 — Optimization & pipeline
- Project C (game-ready assets): Create 4–6 optimized props, bake normal maps, and export to Unity/Unreal. Build a simple scene with these assets.
- Project D (rendered still): Light a scene, add materials, and create a portfolio render using Cycles or Eevee.
Days 76–90 — Polish & publish
- Render final images, create turntable animations, and write concise case studies: brief, tools used, challenges & solutions, and time spent.
- Publish on ArtStation, Sketchfab, and your personal site. Prepare screenshots for social sharing.