Are you looking for some inspiration to dive into Blender?

We’ve handpicked a selection of nine independent artists who are using Blender in unique ways – some you might not have even thought of – to create super-stylized illustrations and animations.

Many of these artists also share tutorials (some free, some paid) so you can learn their techniques to help develop your own style.

We hope this list not only sparks your creativity but also opens your eyes to the full potential of Blender. 

Enjoy exploring these creative artists and let their work inspire your next project.

First Of All, Why Do Independent Artists Like Blender?

Blender is often the go-to CG animation software for independent artists over other comprehensive software like Maya and Cinema 4D mainly because it’s free.

Because of this, Blender has attracted a large and active community that shares free tutorials, plugins, and resources for other artists to use. This means it’s easy to pick up and become self-taught – something many independent artists prefer.

If you’re on the independent artist path, consider trying out Blender before jumping into other paid options.

Now without further ado, let’s jump into the list.

1. Lars Grevsmühl is Creating Detailed Pixel Art in Blender

Lars Grevsmühl, also known as Mezaka, co-founded the indie game studio Irox Games in Munich, Germany. Since 2021, he has been using Blender to convert 3D objects into 2D pixel art and animations. He shares his expertise through numerous tutorials on his YouTube channel, including guides on creating character sprites for Unity by animating in Blender first.

2. Dedouze Andry is Creating Stylized 2D Art in Blender

Dedouze Andry, a self-taught illustrator and animator from Paris, France, has become notable in recent years for his pink and blue-stylized 2D animations and illustrations which he creates in Blender using tools like Grease Pencil. He has worked with dozens of brands like Uniqlo, Adult Swim, Procreate, and MTV. He also posts tutorials on his process quite frequently on his YouTube page

3. Crisppyboat is Making Ooey Gooey Gummy Art in Blender

Crisppyboat is a 3D animator and illustrator who uses Blender to create their unique claymation-esque style of art. They have become a sought-after illustrator for album art, magazine illustrations, and even concept art for the upcoming Cartoon Network preschool series Heyo BMO.

4. Lee Griffin is Creating Low-Poly N64-esque Art in Blender

Lee Griffin is a 26-year-old Blender hobbyist who has gained millions of views for his low-poly N64-esque animations on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. He also shares some behind-the-scenes of his process on YouTube and was featured in an episode of the Animation Industry Podcast.

5. Harry Bhalerao is Creating Fuzzy Nostalgia Art in Blender

Harry Bhalerao is a British illustrator and animator currently based in Berlin. He received a BA in illustration from Arts University Bournemouth before pursuing a career as an independent artist. Using Blender, Harry creates nostalgic, fuzzy art that has caught the attention of clients like Nick Jr., Adult Swim, and Justin Bieber. His work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and even on buses.

6. Will Anderson is Creating a Fluffy Stop Motion Cat in Blender

Will Anderson is a BAFTA-winning filmmaker and animator from Edinburgh, Scotland. He has perfected his whacky, stretchy, fluffy stop-motion style in Blender by working on Greg, his original cat character. His unique style has attracted clients and brands like Adult Swim, Nouns, Pictoplasma, and more.

7. Bryson McBee is Creating Plastic Toy Look-Alikes in Blender

Bryson McBee is an independent illustrator, animator, and songwriter who also runs a 1,300+ member sticker club on Patreon. He’s developed his unique style of very cutesy pop culture characters from TV shows and video games and often creates very popular gifs in Blender which have been viewed hundreds of millions of times. He also shares his behind-the-scenes process of using Grease Pencil and other tools in Blender to create his art on YouTube.

8. Moonshake3D is Recreating Vintage Gadgets in Blender

Moonshake3D is a freelance CG artist based out of Denmark, Germany, who uses Blender to create hyper-realistic renders of vintage gadgets and tech. Moonshake3D also runs a Patreon where they share their models, textures, tutorials, and general tips and tricks for rendering in Blender.

9. Max Hay is Creating Imaginary Cityscapes in Blender

Max Hay is a popular artist on Instagram and YouTube known for his beautiful and incredibly detailed environment builds made entirely within Blender. He also runs full courses on how to use Blender to create fantasy environments and also gives away many of his assets for free.