When modeling a 3D shoe as a beginner, the core steps are gathering references, blocking basic shapes, refining details, applying textures, and validating the model.
Gathering photos/sketches from all angles guides accuracy; blocking uses cubes/cylinders to build the shoe’s structure (upper, sole, heel); refining adds details like stitching or laces with extrude/bevel tools; applying textures (leather, rubber) boosts realism; validating checks for errors (overlaps) and ensures it matches your reference.
Start with a basic sneaker in free software like Blender—its simple design helps practice; try low-poly first to master fundamentals before complex details.