Introduction to Maya 2026 Volume 2 by Eric Keller

Ready to take your Maya skills to the next level? This course dives deep into the essential tools and concepts that make Maya such a powerhouse in the 3D industry. You’ll go beyond the basics, learning how to customize your workflow, understand the nuts and bolts of polygon modeling, and even get a solid introduction to rigging. It’s all about building a strong foundation so you can confidently tackle more complex projects.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Customize your Maya interface for efficient workflows.
• Master the modeling toolkit for detailed polygon modeling.
• Understand the differences between polygons and NURBS surfaces.
• Utilize Maya’s remeshing and retopology tools.
• Learn the fundamentals of deformers and animation rigging.
• Gain practical experience with industry-standard techniques.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic understanding of 3D concepts and Maya interface navigation.
• Tools: Maya 2026 (or compatible version).
• Hardware: A computer capable of running Maya smoothly.

📝 Description

This course is your next step in mastering Maya 2026, building directly on the foundational knowledge from Volume 1. We’re going to get hands-on with customizing your workspace, making Maya work for you with custom hotkeys and shelf buttons. Then, we’ll dive headfirst into the modeling toolkit, the absolute core of creating detailed 3D assets. You’ll learn the ins and outs of polygon modeling, explore NURBS surfaces, and get up to speed with Maya’s newer retopology and remeshing tools.

The journey doesn’t stop at modeling. We’ll also cover the essential concepts of deformers, how to paint skin weights for characters, and the fundamental steps involved in creating basic animation rigs. Eric Keller breaks down complex topics into digestible lessons, providing practical demonstrations and project files so you can follow along and build your skills with confidence. This is about getting you comfortable and proficient with the tools used in professional 3D production.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Artists looking to deepen their understanding of Maya’s modeling tools.
• Beginners who have completed Volume 1 and want to learn rigging and animation basics.
• Students aiming to build a strong foundation for a career in 3D modeling or character art.
• Professionals seeking to refresh or expand their knowledge of Maya 2026 workflows.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Eric Keller is a seasoned CG artist with over 25 years of experience in the visual effects and 3D modeling industry. He’s worked on major film and TV projects like John Wick: Chapter 4, Aquaman, and The Haunting of Hill House. Eric has also shared his expertise as an instructor at Gnomon School and has authored popular books and tutorials on Maya and ZBrush. His background includes teaching at Harvard Medical School, showcasing his ability to explain complex 3D visualization techniques clearly.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid grasp of Maya’s core modeling, rigging, and animation tools. You’ll be able to confidently customize your workflow, build detailed models using the modeling toolkit, and understand the fundamentals of creating basic character rigs, all while working with industry-standard practices.