Hello,
I'm a a college senior who is aspiring to become an environment artist in the game industry. Seeking someone who has worked over the course of time in the industry As an Environment Artist. Seeing others work/portfolios have inspired me to change/improve on the way I do my own work. It has inspired me so much so that I would like to reach out and ask fellow artist someone would be my mentor for my Capstone class.
As a mentor for my capstone class, all I would need from you is a critique of my work and to speak with you once a week. The critique is only needed for the middle of my class (midterm) and the end of the class (finals). Besides talking to you, everything else is up to me a student. I would really appreciate if you would take the time to become my mentor and if so I wouldn't mind hearing back by Thursday or by the Latest Friday
Replies
If its the latter, why not consider Polycount your mentor and post your artwork for everyone to critique and review?
It's required for the class. As much as I wish the people of Polycount could collectively be our mentor, we're required to just have a single person.
i know it is not your fault, but this idea of mentorship is just wrong if a third party does nothing to it but collecting money.
Why settle for 1 mentor, when you can have many many artists critiquing and then get live feedback on google hangouts with the polycount hangout room.
To top it further why not even make a portfolio piece alongside other artists with the monthly challenges? Or if your stuck on something particular use the HUGE wiki... (Which has saved me countless times)
I know you've probably been asked to post on here, but to put it simply one artist won't be able to dedicate a huge chunk of time to you. But consider as Neox and others have said - use polycount as a whole for mentorship .
Unfortunately we're not allowed to use Polycount as a mentor or resource for critiques. However, the only amount of work a mentor would NEED to put in is to help their student to set up a project to complete, and critique their work on said project once a week.
I know it's not much time, but on principal this isn't something schools should require if they're not paying for it.
your uni gives nothing to the potential mentor. but if this could get certified somehow, the mentor would get something for his efforts. an official document signed by the uni, stating he mentored other artists, could be worth alot to that artist if he/she plans to work abroad.
Either way it is worth more than nothing.
I'd make a thread on polycount anyways. I'd then post my work. Get critiqued.
If, the school requires a means to verify the Mentor. I'd then ask if it'd be alright if I could use the name of someone who critiqued my work(in the thread) and pretend it was there advice the whole time.
I'm sure a couple guys would have no problem saying they helped you out. No big deal
This way you're getting more feedback, while not taking up anyones free time.
Ok I see what you're saying now and I see why you asked. The only way I can properly answer this, is by asking my instructor and President tomorrow and give you a better answer. If you wouldn't mind we could exchange emails and I would get back to you early morning tomorrow.
But I like the way you think. If we can't find a mentor by this Friday, we'll most likely drop the class so we don't get charged for it. Then wait 12 weeks until the class is offered again. This is literally the last thing I need before I graduate, so I guess I would spend that time working on stuff and posting it on polycount for feedback.
i am just trying to find a way to get something in return to whoever will be a mentor, giving them a bit more for their career than just "thank you"
i think not many would mind mentoring you in the forum, just for you, but having a paid school in this makes it all weird, especially as they demand it, while they should be offering it to you
Yea, most people would feel that same exact way. "Thank you", isn't enough most of the time.
As for the class and finding a mentor I'll keep searching, and as for Polycount I'll of course post my work and have people help me improve on my craft. I'm glad at least the people who has posted here today tried to help.
- Though not everyone is qualified. (only some are in the industry, others are trying to break in)
- If they are in the industry, they are gonna be busy working. If they aren't, they're gonna be busy working on their folio.
- Artists are really standing together now to 'not work for free'. Unless it's what they want to do.
- This feels like a slap to the face of the artists and inspiring artists. It's quite a shitty move by the university. Unless the professor agrees to pay each and every Mentor with the tuition fee students pay.
- Crowd-sourcing is pretty powerful. Multiple artists may help more than just a single mentor.
Question: Is this the only capstone class ? When I was in Uni, I had a choice of two to choose from.
I'm also more than happy to talk to them on the benefits of showing your work to a community like Polycount and why seeking an individual for mentorship is a recipe for curriculum failure (Just incase: I co-own Polycount and have been a member since 1999).
"However, the only amount of work a mentor would NEED to put in is to help their student to set up a project to complete, and critique their work on said project once a week."
This sounds exactly like what the teachers should be doing and organizing, not the students or the 'strangers'/peers/fellow artists. I know the curriculum isn't going to change over night because a few people on Polycount have voiced their concern over a requirement like this, but I am really interested in hearing why this is part of the schools curriculum.