Blender Skills Workshops

The workshops at a glance

Each workshop is a complete course of 2-hour sessions with its own outcomes, finished piece and certificate. Select any workshop to see who it is for and what each session covers.

00Start hereBeginner

Introduction to Blender

One 2-hour session: find your way around and make your first render.

1 session · 2 hours View details 01In-depth startBeginner

Blender Essentials

Three sessions that build a solid foundation in modelling, materials and rendering.

3 sessions · 6 hours View details

Then choose any workshop, in any order

02Beginner to intermediate

3D Modelling

Build products, props and characters with clean, usable geometry.

6 sessions · 12 hours View details 03Beginner to intermediate

Materials, Lighting and Rendering

Make models look real or beautifully stylised, then light and render them.

6 sessions · 12 hours View details 04Intermediate

Animation and Rigging

Learn how movement works, build character controls and animate a walk cycle.

8 sessions · 16 hours View details 05Beginner to intermediate

2D Animation with Grease Pencil

Draw and animate in 2D inside Blender, then stage your drawings in 3D.

5 sessions · 10 hours View details 06Intermediate

Procedural Design with Geometry Nodes

Build with rules: forests, cities and patterns you can change with a slider.

5 sessions · 10 hours View details 07Intermediate

Simulation and Visual Effects

Make things fall, crash, flow, burn and blow in the wind.

5 sessions · 10 hours View details 08Intermediate

Python Scripting for Blender

Use simple Python to automate tasks and build your own tools.

5 sessions · 10 hours View details 09Intermediate

Finishing and Real-time Delivery

Polish images and video, and take 3D work into games, the web, AR and VR.

5 sessions · 10 hours View details

Teaching hours by workshop · 98 hours in total

2h 6h 12h 12h 16h 10h 10h 10h 10h 10h

How it works

The programme is modular. Nobody has to commit to a long course: participants choose the workshop that matches what they need, and the network can schedule each workshop independently as demand requires.

How to start

New to Blender? Start with the Introduction. One 2-hour session gives you enough to follow any workshop.
Want a stronger foundation? Blender Essentials covers the same ground in depth over three 2-hour sessions.
Already know the basics? Go straight to any workshop. Check yourself against the list opposite.
Every workshop stands alone. Take one, or build your own route through several, in any order.

Ready for any workshop if you can

Move around the 3D viewport confidently
Select, move, rotate and scale objects
Add objects and apply a modifier
Give an object a simple material
Render an image and save your file

Who it is for

The workshops are written so a complete newcomer can follow every session, while the content matches the tools and workflows used in professional studios.

Newcomers and career changers
No experience needed. Start with the 2-hour Introduction, or Blender Essentials for more depth, then choose the workshop that matches your interest. Blender is free, so you can keep practising at home after the workshop ends.
Creative professionals and freelancers
Add 3D to the work you already do. Illustrators, designers, architects, photographers and animators can go straight to the one workshop that fits their practice.
Studios and companies
Upskill staff on one specific skill without committing them to a long course. Blender has no licence fees, which makes it practical to roll out across a team.
Schools, colleges and educators
Teachers can learn to teach 3D with software that is free for every classroom and student. The scripting workshop doubles as a creative route into coding.

Example routes

Some participants will want more than one workshop. These combinations suit common goals; any other combination works too.

Goal	Workshops	Hours
Try Blender first	Introduction to Blender	2
3D artist and product visualisation	Blender Essentials3D ModellingMaterials, Lighting and Rendering	30
2D artist into 3D	Introduction to Blender2D Animation with Grease PencilAnimation and Rigging	28
Effects and motion design	Introduction to BlenderProcedural Design with Geometry NodesSimulation and Visual Effects	22
Technical artist	Introduction to BlenderProcedural Design with Geometry NodesPython Scripting for Blender	22
Games, web and XR	Blender Essentials3D ModellingMaterials, Lighting and RenderingFinishing and Real-time Delivery	40

Inside a 2-hour session

Every session follows the same shape, so participants know what to expect. More than half of each session is hands-on practice rather than watching.

Time	Block	What happens
0:00–0:10	Check-in and recap	Questions and a quick look at take-home work
0:10–0:45	Live demonstration	The instructor builds while explaining
0:45–0:50	Break	Screen rest
0:50–1:40	Guided practice	Participants build along, with help in the chat or breakout rooms
1:40–2:00	Share and next steps	Show results, set a short take-home challenge

Around every session

A starter file is shared before each session, so everyone begins from the same point.
Every session is recorded and shared with the group for catching up and revision.
A shared help channel stays open between sessions for questions.
One Blender version is fixed per workshop, so menus and tools match on every screen.

For the network

A summary of how the workshops are delivered, assessed and recorded, for the Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet.

Item	Detail
Delivery	Live online, instructor-led, in English
Session length	2 hours, one or two sessions a week
Workshop length	1 to 8 sessions (2 to 16 hours), shown on each workshop
Class size	Up to 15 participants per cohort
Entry	Introduction to Blender or Blender Essentials, or equivalent basic knowledge confirmed by a short self-check at registration
Learning outcomes	Stated for every session and every workshop
Assessment	Practical: weekly take-home challenges and one finished piece per workshop
Completion	Certificate of completion from 4E Virtual Design for at least 80% attendance and the finished piece submitted; attendance only for the 2-hour Introduction
Accreditation	Non-accredited; no QQI award
Records for the network	Attendance for every session, before-and-after skills self-assessment, end-of-workshop feedback survey
Software	Blender, free and open source; one long-term support (LTS) version is fixed for each workshop
Scheduling	Each workshop runs on its own, in any order, and can be repeated as demand requires

What participants need

Blender is free and runs on most modern computers. Simulation and rendering benefit from a more powerful machine; requirements specific to a workshop are listed in its details.

Item	Detail
Computer	Windows, macOS or Linux, ideally from the last five years
Minimum	64-bit quad-core processor, 8 GB memory, graphics card with 2 GB video memory
Recommended	16 GB memory or more and a dedicated graphics card, especially for rendering and simulation
Mouse and tablet	A three-button mouse with scroll wheel; a graphics tablet for sculpting and Grease Pencil
Connection	Stable broadband, a microphone, and ideally a second screen to watch and work at the same time
Software	Blender, free to download. We confirm the version before each workshop

Questions

Do I need any experience?

Not for the Introduction or Blender Essentials. For every other workshop you need a basic understanding of Blender: take one of those first, or check yourself against the 'ready' list on this page.

Should I take the Introduction or Essentials?

The Introduction is a single 2-hour session and enough to follow any workshop. Essentials is three sessions and gives a much stronger foundation. Take either, or the Introduction first and Essentials later.

Do I have to take the workshops in order?

No. Every workshop stands on its own. The Introduction or Essentials is recommended first; after that, pick any workshop in any order.

Is Blender really free?

Yes. Blender is free and open source for any use, including commercial work. There are no licence or subscription costs for participants, employers or schools.

What if I miss a session?

Every session is recorded and shared with the group along with the starter files, so you can catch up before the next one.

Will I get a certificate?

Yes. You get a certificate of completion for each workshop when you attend at least 80% of sessions and submit your finished piece. The workshops are not accredited.

Can a studio or school arrange its own group?

Workshops can be scheduled for a specific group through the network, subject to numbers.

How much work is there between sessions?

Each session ends with a short optional challenge, usually 30 to 60 minutes, so you can practise the skill while it is fresh.

Workshop details

Workshop 00Start here

Introduction to Blender

Beginner1 × 2-hour session2 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

A single, hands-on 2-hour taster. Starting from Blender's default scene, you learn to move around in 3D, shape a simple object, give it colour and light, and save a finished picture. No experience needed.

For industry professionals

A compact orientation to the interface, navigation, transforms, basic edit-mode modelling, the modifier stack, a first material and an EEVEE render. Enough shared vocabulary to join any workshop in the programme, and a quick way to judge whether Blender suits a team.

The session, block by block

Time	Block	What happens
0:00–0:10	Welcome and setup check	Blender installed, preferences set, default startup scene open
0:10–0:25	What Blender can do	Short tour of modelling, animation, Grease Pencil, simulation and scripting
0:25–0:45	Interface and navigation	Workspaces, moving around the viewport, selecting, move, rotate and scale
0:45–1:20	Guided build	Turn the default cube into a simple prop: extrude, loop cut, bevel, Subdivision Surface modifier
1:20–1:35	Material and light	One material, one lighting setup
1:35–1:45	Render and save	An EEVEE render, good file-saving habits
1:45–2:00	Showcase and next steps	Share renders, choose a next workshop with the instructor's help

Who it is for

Anyone curious about 3D, with no experience
People deciding which workshop to take
Managers and teachers evaluating Blender for a team or classroom

You leave with

A rendered image of the prop you built, the saved Blender file, and a clear idea of which workshop to take next.

Before you start

None. Install Blender beforehand; simple instructions are sent in advance.

Tools and techniques

Viewport navigationMove, rotate, scaleExtrudeLoop cutBevelSubdivision SurfaceEEVEE

Workshop 01In-depth start

Blender Essentials

Beginner3 × 2-hour sessions6 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

The in-depth way to start. Over three 2-hour sessions you learn to move confidently in 3D, build objects properly, organise your work and turn it into a polished, finished picture. No experience needed, and a good next step after the Introduction.

For industry professionals

Establishes solid working habits: navigation and scene organisation, edit-mode modelling, the non-destructive modifier stack, materials, lighting, cameras, EEVEE rendering and file management. A thorough on-ramp for anyone switching from Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D or SketchUp.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Interface and navigation	Workspaces, moving around the viewport, selecting, move, rotate and scale, adding objects, saving files	Find their way around and arrange a simple scene
2	Building objects	Edit mode: extrude, inset, loop cut, bevel; Subdivision, Mirror and Array modifiers	Model a simple prop from basic shapes
3	Material, light and render	A first material, lights and camera, rendering with EEVEE, file organisation, where to go next	Light, render and save a finished image

Who it is for

Complete beginners who want a solid foundation
Introduction participants who want to go further
Professionals moving to Blender from other 3D software

You leave with

A rendered image of a prop you built yourself, the saved Blender file, and a completed self-check showing you are ready for any other workshop.

Before you start

None. Take it instead of the Introduction, or after it. Session 1 starts from the beginning and moves on quickly.

Tools and techniques

Viewport navigationObject and Edit modeModifiersPrincipled BSDFEEVEEOutliner

Workshop 02

3D Modelling

Beginner to intermediate6 × 2-hour sessions12 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Learn how 3D objects are built, from mechanical products and furniture to characters and creatures, the same way they are built for games, film and product design.

For industry professionals

Clean quad topology and edge flow, hard-surface technique with bevels, booleans and non-destructive modifier stacks, and a sculpt-to-retopology workflow that produces assets ready for texturing, rigging and real-time engines.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Topology and edge flow	Quads, edge loops and poles; why clean geometry matters	Model clean, quad-based shapes
2	Hard surface I	Modelling from reference images, bevels and supporting edges	Model a mechanical object from a reference
3	Hard surface II	Booleans, modifier stacks, non-destructive workflow	Build complex shapes that stay editable
4	Sculpting I	Sculpt brushes, dynamic topology, remeshing	Sculpt an organic form from a simple base
5	Sculpting II	Multiresolution, surface detail, sculpting a bust or creature	Add fine detail to a sculpt
6	Retopology and clean-up	Retopology tools, Shrinkwrap, normals, preparing an asset for use	Turn a sculpt into a clean, lightweight model

Who it is for

Product, furniture and industrial designers
Architects and interior designers
Illustrators and concept artists moving into 3D
Game and film asset artists

You leave with

A hard-surface prop and a sculpted, retopologised organic model, both production-ready.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Equipment

A graphics tablet helps for sculpting but is not required.

Tools and techniques

Edit mode toolsBevelBooleanMirrorSubdivision SurfaceSculpt modeMultiresolutionRemeshRetopology

Workshop 03

Materials, Lighting and Rendering

Beginner to intermediate6 × 2-hour sessions12 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Give 3D models their surfaces, colours and textures, light them the way a photographer would, and produce high-quality images ready for a portfolio, a client or a website.

For industry professionals

UV layout, node-based PBR shading, procedural materials, texture painting and baking, lighting and camera craft, and Cycles and EEVEE render settings with correct colour management. Texture output transfers to game engines and other renderers.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	UV unwrapping	Seams, unwrapping methods, packing	Unwrap a model with clean, low-distortion UVs
2	Shader nodes and PBR	Principled BSDF, image textures, PBR texture maps	Build realistic materials in the shader editor
3	Procedural materials	Noise, masks, mixing, reusable node groups	Create materials without image textures
4	Texture painting and baking	Painting in Blender, baking normal and ambient occlusion maps	Paint textures and bake detail onto a model
5	Lighting and cameras	Three-point lighting, HDRIs, area lights, focal length, depth of field	Light and frame a scene with intent
6	Rendering	Cycles and EEVEE, sampling, denoising, colour management, output formats	Render a polished, portfolio-ready still

Who it is for

Product and architectural visualisers
Photographers and lighting professionals
Marketing, retail and e-commerce teams
Game and film artists

You leave with

A fully textured, lit and rendered asset, presented as a portfolio image.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Equipment

A dedicated graphics card makes rendering much faster.

Tools and techniques

UV EditorShader EditorPrincipled BSDFPBR mapsTexture PaintBakingHDRI lightingCyclesEEVEEAgX colour

Workshop 04

Animation and Rigging

Intermediate8 × 2-hour sessions16 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Bring things to life. Learn how movement works on screen, then build the 'skeleton' and controls that let you pose and animate a character. Ready-made characters are provided, so no modelling is needed.

For industry professionals

Keyframing and graph-editor polish grounded in the principles of animation, then armatures, weight painting, IK/FK, constraints, drivers, shape keys and Rigify, finishing with a walk cycle and non-linear animation (NLA).

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Keyframes and timing	Timeline, dope sheet, keying, timing	Animate objects with clear timing
2	Graph editor and spacing	Curves and easing, principles of animation, the bouncing ball	Polish motion with the graph editor
3	Camera and object animation	Follow paths, constraints for animation, camera moves	Animate a short camera move
4	Armatures and weight painting	Bones, parenting, skinning a mesh	Build and skin a basic rig
5	Control rigs	IK and FK, constraints, custom controls	Build an animator-friendly control rig
6	Drivers, shape keys and Rigify	Facial shapes, drivers, generating a full rig	Add expressions and generate a complete rig
7	Character animation	Posing, the walk cycle	Animate a character walk cycle
8	Finishing a shot	Reusing actions, the NLA editor, rendering a preview	Combine actions into a finished short shot

Who it is for

2D animators moving into 3D
Motion designers
Game developers
Character artists and riggers starting out

You leave with

A rigged character and a rendered short animated shot that includes a walk cycle.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Tools and techniques

Dope SheetGraph EditorArmaturesWeight PaintIK / FKConstraintsDriversShape KeysRigifyNLA Editor

Workshop 05

2D Animation with Grease Pencil

Beginner to intermediate5 × 2-hour sessions10 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Draw and animate by hand inside Blender, then place your drawings in a 3D world with real cameras and lighting. Made for illustrators and 2D animators.

For industry professionals

Grease Pencil frame-by-frame drawing, layers, materials, modifiers and effects, 2D-in-3D staging with cameras and parallax, and the hybrid 2D/3D workflows now used in feature and series production.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Drawing tools and layers	Brushes, strokes and fills, materials, layers	Draw clean, editable artwork
2	Frame-by-frame animation	Onion skinning, timing, keyframes	Animate a short hand-drawn sequence
3	2D in 3D	Drawing in 3D space, cameras, depth and parallax	Stage drawings in a 3D scene with a moving camera
4	Modifiers, effects and lighting	Line and colour modifiers, visual effects, lighting drawings	Add a stylised finish to drawings
5	Mixed 2D and 3D scene	Combining drawings with 3D models, rendering	Render a short mixed 2D/3D shot

Who it is for

Illustrators and comic artists
2D animators and storyboard artists
Art and animation teachers
Designers wanting a hand-drawn look

You leave with

A short animated sequence that mixes hand-drawn and 3D elements.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Equipment

A graphics tablet is strongly recommended.

Tools and techniques

Grease PencilDraw modeLayersOnion skinningModifiersEffects2D in 3D staging

Workshop 06

Procedural Design with Geometry Nodes

Intermediate5 × 2-hour sessions10 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Build with rules instead of by hand. Create things like forests, cities and patterns that change instantly when you move a slider.

For industry professionals

Node-based procedural modelling: attributes and fields, instancing, scattering, curve tools and reusable node-group assets for environment art, motion design and design variation.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Fundamentals	The node editor, how data flows, transforms	Build a first procedural object
2	Attributes and fields	Reading and writing attributes, fields, selections	Drive shapes with attributes and fields
3	Instancing and scattering	Distributing points, instancing, natural variation	Scatter objects naturally across a surface
4	Curves and procedural modelling	Curve tools, profiles, generating structures	Generate procedural structures from curves
5	Node groups and tools	Exposed inputs, node-group assets, sharing tools	Package a reusable, artist-friendly tool

Who it is for

Environment and motion designers
Architects and designers exploring parametric design
Technical artists
Game developers

You leave with

A reusable procedural environment generator with simple controls anyone can adjust.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Tools and techniques

Geometry NodesAttributesFieldsInstancingPoint distributionCurvesNode groupsAsset Browser

Workshop 07

Simulation and Visual Effects

Intermediate5 × 2-hour sessions10 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Make things fall, crash, flow, burn and blow in the wind. Learn to create realistic physical effects for animation, film and product shots.

For industry professionals

Rigid and soft bodies, cloth, Mantaflow liquids and gas, particles, hair and simulation zones, with caching and baking workflows and render-ready settings.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Rigid bodies and caching	Collisions, constraints, breaking objects, baking	Set up and bake collisions and destruction
2	Cloth and soft bodies	Fabric, pinning, collisions, soft objects	Simulate fabric and soft objects
3	Liquids	Mantaflow liquid domains, flows, meshing	Simulate and render a liquid pour or splash
4	Smoke and fire	Gas simulation, volumes, shading fire	Create and render smoke and fire
5	Particles, hair and simulation zones	Particle systems, hair curves, simulation nodes	Direct particle and procedural simulations

Who it is for

VFX and motion artists
Product visualisers who need cloth or liquids
Film and game cinematics teams
Anyone curious about physics in 3D

You leave with

A short rendered effects shot combining at least two simulation types.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Equipment

Simulations are demanding: a dedicated graphics card and 16 GB of memory or more are recommended.

Tools and techniques

Rigid BodyClothSoft BodyMantaflowSmoke and fireParticlesHair curvesSimulation zonesBaking

Workshop 08

Python Scripting for Blender

Intermediate5 × 2-hour sessions10 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Teach Blender to do repetitive work for you. Learn simple Python code to automate tasks and build your own tools and buttons. No coding experience is needed.

For industry professionals

The bpy data API, automation and batch processing, operators, properties and UI panels, handlers, and packaging add-ons as Blender extensions for studio pipelines.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Python in Blender	The Python console and text editor, Python basics	Run and change simple scripts
2	The Blender data API	Objects, meshes and materials in code	Create and change a scene with code
3	Automation	Batch renaming, exporting and rendering	Automate a repetitive task
4	Operators, properties and panels	Custom operators, settings and interface panels	Build a custom tool with its own interface
5	Packaging an add-on	Add-on structure, handlers, packaging as an extension	Ship a working, installable add-on

Who it is for

Technical artists and pipeline staff
Developers working with 3D
Studios wanting custom in-house tools
Teachers combining coding and creativity

You leave with

An installable add-on that solves a real task in your own work.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Tools and techniques

PythonbpyOperatorsPropertiesUI panelsHandlersExtensions

Workshop 09

Finishing and Real-time Delivery

Intermediate5 × 2-hour sessions10 hoursLive online · up to 15

In plain terms

Finish and deliver your work: polish images and video, and get your 3D models working in games, on websites and in AR and VR.

For industry professionals

Compositor and render passes, the Video Sequence Editor, real-time optimisation (polygon budgets, baking, LODs), glTF/GLB and FBX export, Unity, Unreal and WebXR handoff, and file conventions for team work.

Session by session

#	Session	What is covered	By the end, participants can
1	Compositing and render passes	The compositor, render passes, colour grading	Finish renders with post-production
2	Video editing	The Video Sequence Editor, sound, output	Edit and output a short video
3	Optimising for real-time	Polygon budgets, baking, levels of detail (LODs)	Prepare a lightweight real-time asset
4	Export to engines and the web	glTF/GLB and FBX, Unity, Unreal and WebXR handoff	Deliver assets that open correctly in engines and browsers
5	Project delivery	Naming, file structure, collaboration, presenting work	Present a finished, delivery-ready project

Who it is for

Game and XR developers
Video editors and motion designers
Studios bringing Blender into an existing pipeline
Web and marketing teams using 3D

You leave with

A composited render or short edit, and an optimised asset working in a real-time or web viewer.

Before you start

The Introduction or Blender Essentials, or a basic understanding of Blender (see the 'ready' checklist).

Tools and techniques

CompositorRender passesVideo Sequence EditorBakingLODsglTF / GLBFBXUnityUnrealWebXR

The workshops at a glance

Introduction to Blender

Blender Essentials

3D Modelling

Materials, Lighting and Rendering

Animation and Rigging

2D Animation with Grease Pencil

Procedural Design with Geometry Nodes

Simulation and Visual Effects

Python Scripting for Blender

Finishing and Real-time Delivery

How it works

How to start

Ready for any workshop if you can

Who it is for

Newcomers and career changers

Creative professionals and freelancers

Studios and companies

Schools, colleges and educators

Example routes

Inside a 2-hour session

Around every session

For the network

What participants need

Questions

Workshop details

In plain terms

For industry professionals

The session, block by block

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques

In plain terms

For industry professionals

Session by session

Tools and techniques