Sarah’s expertise spans sculpting, modeling, composition, in-game storytelling, and complex scene building, all under the rigorous demands of AAA pipelines. Her mentorship will help you not only improve the how of environment art, but also deepen your understanding of the why—why a composition draws the eye, why a modular workflow matters, and why storytelling through set dressing creates worlds players remember.
Sarah specializes in complex composition, in-game storytelling, and micro-detailed scene construction. You’ll learn how to push your work from good to unforgettable, crafting environments that feel alive, narratively rich, and technically sound.
In this mentorship, you’ll receive personalized guidance through live demonstrations, progress reviews, and hands-on feedback tailored to your goals and current skill level. Together, we’ll refine your sculpting, modeling, and scene-building workflows to align with the expectations of top-tier game studios.
Please note: Mentorship start dates are guidelines - the exact date will be determined by your Mentor in the month listed. Each session will be scheduled to best accommodate both mentors and mentees
Through this mentorship, you’ll gain
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Tailored feedback grounded in AAA production, including paintovers focusing on sculptural composition, visual storytelling, and modular asset workflows.
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AAA production techniques, including high-poly to low-poly baking, trim/tiling texture systems, and world-building for gameplay—plus an introduction to next-gen workflows like building an asset for Unreal’s Nanite tech.
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Composition and storytelling guidance focused on creating environments with strong focal points, atmosphere, and narrative clarity.
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Actionable critiques that go beyond surface-level polish and delve into the deeper layers of what makes an environment believable, compelling, and game-ready.
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Tips on presenting your work with clarity, cohesion, and professional confidence, from portfolio pieces to in-engine shots.
By the end of this mentorship, you’ll have a stronger grasp of how to build emotionally resonant and technically optimized scenes for the games industry, while strengthening your voice as a storyteller through environment design.
This mentorship is ideal for aspiring or mid-level environment artists looking to elevate their work to a AAA standard. A working knowledge of 3D tools (e.g. Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance, Unreal) is recommended.
MENTORSHIP INCLUDES
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Eight one-on-one live sessions (1 hour each), scheduled weekly
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Personalized demos and paint-overs
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Notes and transcriptions may be provided
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Access to the Sierra Division Discord and private Academy channels
- Teacher: Sarah Swenson