Mentorship Course
Advanced Stylized Handpainting Characters for Games
Build polished, personality-filled 3D art through a guided 12-week mentorship workflow.
Weekly feedback • Structured workflow • Portfolio-focused projects
Join the MentorshipFor 3D artists who want more than another tutorial
This mentorship is being built for artists who want clear direction, practical feedback, and a more professional approach to creating stylized handpainted 3D work.
Critical Analysis of Concepts
Build early rough blockouts from the concept, addressing and problem-solving areas of concern before more involved modeling
High-Detail Stylized Modeling
Shape language, silhouette reads, secondary and tertiary details. We cover it all for the best hipoly model
Game Ready Model
Clean topology, proper UV unwraps, perfect bakes. These are standard expectations for any character artist. We cover them all
Handpainting Theory and Process
Establish solid greyscale base values and blocking before more involved handpainting
Impressive Greyscale
Before color, painting the model in full greyscale. Capturing light, shadow, material definition, and details for clear readability
Amazing Color Textures
Building upon all that's learned, apply color and make a final paint pass for a truly incredible final handpainted texture
Outcomes
What the mentorship is designed to help you improve
The goal is not to overwhelm you with more content. The goal is to help you make better work with more confidence.
- Planning from a concept, while learning how to interpret and execute in 3d effectively
- Technical and aesthetic choices in modeling and sculpting to create a stellar hi-poly model
- Principles of good topology and UV creationÂ
- Training the eye to see the broad information and the small details when handpainting a texture
- Self-critique and ways to critically analyze your own work
- Finishing work with more polish and intention
Structured 12-Week Progression
Follow a focused path that keeps your project moving from early study to finished work.
Weekly 3-Hour Live Demos
Watch professional workflows demonstrated live, with time for questions and discussion.
Weekly Homework Feedback
Submit your work each week and receive critique that helps you improve your next pass.
Build Toward a Portfolio Piece
Apply each lesson to a final project designed to become stronger, cleaner, and more presentable.
Get enrollment details
Join the waitlist to hear when enrollment opens, see course updates, and get the details before public launch.
- Updates on the course topic and format
- Early access to enrollment details
- Information about dates, pricing, and available spots
- A chance to share what kind of mentorship support you want most
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 There is no obligation to enroll. This waitlist is simply the best way to stay informed.
Join the WaitlistPrefer to learn at your own pace?
Tutorial downloads are built for artists who want direct access to focused training without the weekly mentorship structure.
- You are an artist who is comfortable working independently.
- You want the information, workflow, and training without weekly live demos.
- You do not need week-to-week pacing or video feedback to keep progressing.
- You want to study on your own schedule while still sharpening professional-level skills.
If that sounds like you, tutorial downloads may be the better fit.
Browse Tutorial Downloads
Meet the Instructor
Howdy — I’m Weston, and I’ll be your mentor over this 12-week journey as we build a character from the initial ZBrush blockout through a final rigged and animated handpainted piece.
I’m a 20-year game industry veteran, with the last decade spent in Lead and Principal Character Artist roles at studios including Blizzard Entertainment, Moonshot Games, Lost Lake Games, and Hi-Rez Studios. I’ve also taught at CGMA and helped many students strengthen both their artwork and their critical eye. My passion is stylized art, especially handpainted texture work, and this mentorship is a chance to pass that experience on to you.
Along the way, you’ll get guidance that goes beyond steps and technique. I’ll show you how I evaluate work, solve problems, break complex challenges into smaller steps, and keep momentum on a large character project.
By the end, you’ll leave with a clearer workflow, stronger decision-making, and a better understanding of how to create polished stylized characters with more confidence and intention.
What You’ll Work Through in 12 Weeks
A clear production path from early planning to a polished portfolio-ready character.
Phase 01Â
Zbrush Blockout to Final Hipoly Model ( Weeks 0-4 )
Choose your concept, block out the model, and begin refining the forms. Dial in secondary and tertiary details, then optionally pose the character.
Phase 02Â
Retopology, UVs and Bakes ( Weeks 5-6 )
Take the character from high-poly to game-ready with clean topology, polished UVs, and the bakes needed to prepare for texturing.
Phase 03Â
Greyscale to Final Color Handpainted Texture ( Weeks 7-11 )
Build a strong greyscale base in Substance Painter, then continue refining and handpainting the texture in 3DCoat. From there, develop the final color pass and bring the texture to a polished finish.
Phase 04Â
Polish and Presentation ( Week 12 )
Make final texture tweaks, set up a scene for final renders, and optionally rig and create an idle animation to finish with polished presentation images.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mentorship course available now?
Do I need to apply?
What skill level is this for?
What if I’m not ready for the mentorship?
Will this include feedback?
Will spots be limited?
Enrollment
Join the Advanced Stylized Handpainting Character for Games Mentorship with structured lessons, project files, weekly live demos, and individual homework feedback.
Limited to 20 students per termÂ
12-Week Mentorship
Build your next portfolio character with expert guidance
A structured 12-week mentorship for 3D artists who want live demos, weekly feedback, and a clear path from concept to finished stylized character.
Join the Waitlist
Get notified when enrollment opens and receive the full details before applications begin.
Get notified when enrollment opens and receive the full details before applications begin.
