I want to write about my experience learning Blender from a standing start as someone who had done 2D digital art for several years.

The first month: disorienting. The viewport navigation alone took a week to feel natural. I spent considerable time looking at tutorials that assumed prior 3D software knowledge I didn't have.

The second month: I stopped trying to learn Blender generally and started learning only the features I needed for my specific use case: building rough reference models for 2D work. This narrowed focus accelerated my learning dramatically.

The features I actually needed: basic mesh modeling tools (add cube, extrude face, scale/rotate/move), camera placement and framing, basic lighting setup for reference renders, and the export to reference image workflow.

Six months in: I can build any reference model I need in under an hour. I am in no way a 3D artist — I cannot texture, rig, or animate. But I can construct the spatial reference that makes my 2D work consistent across angles. That was the only goal and it was achieved.