VisDev Creation in Blender with Kelsey Roland

9-week, beginner-level Blender class for intermediate+ 2D artists

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Kelsey Roland

My name is Kelsey Roland and I am a Visual Development Artist currently residing in Los Angeles. I have worked at some amazing studios like Dreamworks Animation, Marvel Animation Studios, etc. 

I graduated with my BFA in Visual Development in 2019 and have continued learning more about Vis Dev and 3d programs like Blender and ZBrush ever since. As your instructor my goal is to help introduce you to the world of Blender and how to incorporate 3D into your workflow as 2D artists. I have collected various ways to work and train thanks to my years as an athlete, a student, and a working professional. 

This course is going to be a lot of fun and hopefully challenging as we are able to grow together on the path of 3D and Visual Development. 

Looking forward to meet you all and have a blast with you in class! 

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Class Schedule

Length of Course: 9 weeks

Days: Sundays starting May 4, 2025; skip May 25 & July 6, last class on July 13, 2025

Time: 9am – 1pm Pacific Time

Tuition: US$900

Class Size: 15 students

Format:

• Class meets once a week on Zoom; Zoom class is recorded
• Homework to be uploaded to Google Drive folder
• Students have access to class recordings and other class materials for 12 months after class ends
• Bonus Discord activities: 1) Mid-week Office Hours to receive feedback on homework WIPs – schedule TBD; participation optional but highly recommended; 2) Work Sessions to hang out and work on homework together with classmates

Class Summary

In this 9-wk course, Kelsey teaches how to approach animation Visual Development assignments with a 3D workflow using Blender. Kelsey will cover Blender basics and guide students to model props, vehicles, characters, and environments.

• Week 1. Blender Basics
• Week 2. Interior Design (Modeling)
• Week 3. Interior Design (Color, Texture, Lighting)
• Week 4. Character Modeling
• Week 5. Vehicle Design
• Week 6. Exterior Design + Vegetation
• Week 7. Final Keyframe Part 1
• Week 8. Final Keyframe Part 2
• Wee 9. Final Presentation and Critiques

There will be some Week 0 Assignments (incl. Blender installation and basic practices) to be completed before the first class, with details shared 3-4 weeks before the start date.

Expected Results

By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of various 3D workflows in order to assist the animation production pipeline for VisDev and concept art. Students are expected to finish a combination of 3D models containing props, environments, vehicles, and characters (based on their own 2D designs). Please know that the 3D knowledge shared in this class is most helpful for VisDev artists in animation, and might not be technical enough for those who want to become 3D modelers.

Prospective Students

Any intermediate-level 2D artists who are looking to learn 3D to help strengthen their Visual Development portfolio, and preparing to use 3D for work in the animation industry. The topics covered in class are most suitable for the US animation production pipeline, but can also be applied to other design fields to some extent.

Prerequisites

This is a beginner-level Blender class for intermediate+ 2D artists. In order to have a productive learning experience for all, prospective students need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Must have intermediate-level or above knowledge of perspective, drawing, design and painting
• Must have experience and access to Adobe Photoshop or a similar digital painting program
• Must complete the Week 0 Assignment to install and practice Blender basics before the first class (details to be shared with registered students)
• Must have a computer that can run the latest version of Blender; Recommended specs can be found here: Blender Requirements
• Must have a 3-button mouse, a computer with microphone (camera optional)
• Would be great if you can have a 2nd monitor so you can follow along with Kelsey’s in-class demos more easily
• Must be able to access Google Drive to upload homework
• Should be comfortable using Discord to view/upload files and participate in text and/or voice discussions
• Must be dedicated and do homework as required
• Please know that this is a critique-heavy course. Each weekly lesson will be adding on to the previous weeks so it is very important to make sure that you are able to finish all of your homework on time in order to receive in class critiques