I have also been working my way through learning Blender. 2 years back, when I was writing a 3D game, I learnt Blender in the context of importing models, setting textures, material, exporting to the quake .md5 format.
Blender has a steep learning curve. Along the way I learnt some very basic modeling to build objects joining default shapes like Lego!!!
That was Round 1 of learning and that gave me an insight into what I needed. I enjoyed it enough to want to learn further, with a 'different' full time day job.
Now, I am working my way through cg-masters video tutorials (warning: these are $$ not free), but worth the money. The order in which I work through these are:
1. Master It. Vol 1 & 2 fundamentals.
2. Character Creation Vol 1, 2, 3.
3. Environment Modeling & Texturing OR Environment & Animation
All of the above at: http://www.cgmasters.net/training-dvds/
Now I would recommend: Blender MasterClass from NoStarch. I would recommend purchasing a paper copy of this book.
I have also been making notes of what I am learning through the cg-masters videos: https://bitbucket.org/dmsurti/learn-blender, snail like progress here, and no progress since Mar this year.
This was about books and videos. Don't forget the hardware. PLEASE buy a keyboard with a num-pad, I have the Logitech Solar which has this as also a great 3 button mouse, the Logitech Anywhere Mx. I have worked without this setup and it is a pain to work without these, in Blender.
This has been the way it has worked out for me. I hope it helps you figure your way out. It is a hard grind, but totally worth it, especially to keep the right brain happy and not starving, as we mostly do. And just like you I am doing this only for fun and not to change careers. Just trying to do the only right brain activity well.
Blender has a steep learning curve. Along the way I learnt some very basic modeling to build objects joining default shapes like Lego!!! That was Round 1 of learning and that gave me an insight into what I needed. I enjoyed it enough to want to learn further, with a 'different' full time day job.
Now, I am working my way through cg-masters video tutorials (warning: these are $$ not free), but worth the money. The order in which I work through these are: 1. Master It. Vol 1 & 2 fundamentals. 2. Character Creation Vol 1, 2, 3. 3. Environment Modeling & Texturing OR Environment & Animation All of the above at: http://www.cgmasters.net/training-dvds/
For character animation much recommended (again $$): 1. Animation Fundamentals from https://cgcookie.com/course/blender-animation-fundamentals/, I have the DVD of this, now it is only online I think.
Books I have referred to: 1. The first book I worked my way through: Blender Foundations (Roland Heiss) : http://www.amazon.com/Blender-Foundations-Essential-Guide-Le... 2. Browsed through: Beginning Blender and Tradigital Blender.
Now I would recommend: Blender MasterClass from NoStarch. I would recommend purchasing a paper copy of this book.
I have also been making notes of what I am learning through the cg-masters videos: https://bitbucket.org/dmsurti/learn-blender, snail like progress here, and no progress since Mar this year.
This was about books and videos. Don't forget the hardware. PLEASE buy a keyboard with a num-pad, I have the Logitech Solar which has this as also a great 3 button mouse, the Logitech Anywhere Mx. I have worked without this setup and it is a pain to work without these, in Blender.
This has been the way it has worked out for me. I hope it helps you figure your way out. It is a hard grind, but totally worth it, especially to keep the right brain happy and not starving, as we mostly do. And just like you I am doing this only for fun and not to change careers. Just trying to do the only right brain activity well.