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Tayler Olivas 3D for Concept Design Mentorship: From Props to Environments

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Program Overview
Join Concept Designer, Tayler Olivas, in this opportunity to learn how to integrate 3D techniques into your workflow, with an emphasis on speed, creativity, and iteration.

Enjoy a regular weekly schedule of personalized critiques and lectures in a small group class setting.

This program is for aspiring concept artists in film and game design who want to enhance their skills with 3D modeling, lighting, and rendering to build a professional portfolio.
Mentorship Program Design
Interactive Learning
12 live classes, scheduled weekly.

Personalized Feedback
Receive critiques on class assignments and relevant personal projects in live sessions

Complete the Program
Enroll at the beginning of the program, and enjoy the companionship of a steady group of peers who complete the program by your side. 
Preview Demo Lesson

Participate in weekly live classes hosted via zoom. Classes will target a specific principle each class, and will follow a rotation of assignment driven lessons and demos with personalized critiques and feedback.
Preview Personalized Critique
What do Tayler Olivas's past students think about this program?

It's important to hear what past students have felt about Tayler's online program before you make the decision to apply. The good news is that past students loved it! 

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Program Details

This 12-week course is designed to teach students how to use 3D tools for concept design in film and game entertainment. You will learn the basics of 3D modeling, lighting, and rendering to create engaging props, small environments, and finalized concept designs. The course emphasizes speed, creativity, and iteration, helping you integrate 3D techniques into your concept artist workflow. By the end, you'll have polished, portfolio-ready designs and a streamlined 3D-to-2D process for professional concept design.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:
  • Grasp the fundamentals of 3D modeling, lighting, and rendering for concept design.
  • Develop an efficient workflow for integrating 3D into your concept artist pipeline.
  • Create portfolio-ready props and small environment designs.
  • Build confidence in storytelling, composition, and presentation for entertainment design.

Each live session will be recorded for unlimited HD replay which you can access for your duration in the program.

Why should a digital artist learn how to use Blender and 3D modeling?

Integration with 2D Work: Blender can be used to create reference models, 3D mockups, or environments that complement 2D work. The ability to view a scene from different angles and in 3D space can significantly help with lighting and perspective in 2D illustrations.
Texturing & Shading: Blender offers powerful tools for texturing and shading 3D models, which are essential skills for artists working in areas like game design, VR, and film. 
Lighting & Rendering: Blender has a built-in rendering engine, Cycles, which is renowned for its high-quality outputs which can give a digital artist a deeper understanding of how light interacts with surfaces.
Animation and Rigging: Blender offers powerful animation and rigging tools, enabling artists to create characters that can be posed, moved, and animated. If you're interested in character design, storytelling, or game development, these skills are highly valuable.
Versatility: Blender can be used for a wide range of digital art applications. It supports sculpting, VFX, simulation (like smoke, fire, and liquids), video editing, and more. 
Industry Demand: As 3D art and animation become more mainstream in gaming, movies, and other media, being proficient in tools like Blender can make you more attractive to potential clients or employers. 
Format: This is a 12 week program.
Weekly Live Group Sessions / Critiques / Class recordings / Bonus Demos / Private Community Discussion

Tuition : $350 per month ($1,050 collected over a three month period)

Time and Day: Mondays 6pm PDT / 7pm MDT
Class Begins April 7th. Final Class June 23rd.

Applications are open! Enrollment begins March 24th.


What if I can't make it to live sessions?

Each live session will be recorded and uploaded to the course for you to rewatch. At the end of the four month program, students will enjoy a fourth month free where they can rewatch all of the lectures and critiques from the live classes, plus any additional lectures and demos Tayler provides throughout the session.

If you submit your homework by the due date, your mentor will provide a critique during class as usual, and the recording of that critique will be made available for you to view. If you reside in a different time zone and anticipate being unable to attend classes live, please inform your mentor in advance about your situation. Sentient works with artists globally, so this is a common occurrence. Both the Sentient team and your mentor are more than happy to assist you.

What if I decide to leave the program early?

This program requires both a financial and time commitment from you and your mentor. We expect mentees to demonstrate the same level of dedication and priority that they expect from their mentor. Please note that no refunds will be issued for completed payments. If you wish to terminate your payment plan and exit the program, a mandatory early exit fee of $100.00 will apply.

By accepting a seat in this program, you are committing to it fully. Choosing to leave, for any reason, not only disrupts your mentor's time but also takes away an opportunity from other applicants who were denied participation in favor of your placement.

How long will I have access to mentorship recordings?

Students will have access to mentorship recordings for the duration of the program plus one month after the program ends. At the conclusion of that time period students will no longer have access to the mentorship recordings as Sentient will be preparing for a new term and a new student group. This practice is consistent with optimal learning. Sentient Mentors do not advise students to become overly focused on the same lectures and critiques for a long period of time as this ultimately hinders growth and confidence. 

If a student quits the program early they will lose access to the recordings at the end of their pay period. Please email the sentient team if you are uncertain as to when that will take place for you.
Introduction to 3D for Concept Design
Basics of navigation, primitives, and transformations.

Blocking Out Shapes
Importance of silhouette and proportion in design.

Modeling Essentials
Introduction to basic modeling techniques (extrusion, beveling, and subdivision).
Materials and Textures
Introduction to texturing techniques (procedural and image-based).

Lighting Basics
Using light to enhance mood and readability.

Building a Small Set
Blocking out a small environment using modular design principles.
Detailing the Set
Balancing focal points and secondary elements in a scene.

Advanced Lighting for Environments
Introduction to HDRI lighting for natural scenes.

Rendering Essentials
Optimizing render settings for speed and quality.
Paint-over Techniques
Adding color, texture, and storytelling through paint-overs.

Compositing and Finalizing
Combining 3D renders and 2D elements seamlessly.

Portfolio Prep
Presenting 3D Concepts Professionally
Past student

Justin Owens

Tayler has done a great job both guiding and pushing us, and I feel like I've seen a lot of growth in my comfort with gouache, and overall painting ability.
Past student

George Ahlmeyer

I enjoyed having office hours time to connect with my mentor and fellow students. I loved the structure too. I grew a lot and a lot of fellow artists have told me that they see a major jump in my work.
Past student

Ernesto Navarro

I learned so much about color with Tayler, he is one of the best teachers I had so far, giving me a lot of ideas, things to think about, and ways to keep learning in the never ending path of art. He also went above and beyond to help all of us succeed in the class. Thank you Taylor for your time and sharing so much with us!
Past student

Makeme Camara

Even though I was a beginner and felt a bit in awe of the much higher level of my classmates, Tayler was always very kind in giving me feedback, showing me all the areas in which I could improve and highlighting my strengths.

The programming of Tayler's syllabus follows a gradually increasing level of difficulty and has allowed me to understand the logic of progression behind the weekly exercises. Now, I know how to move independently in my own study time.
Meet your instructor

Tayler Olivas

Tayler is a Visual Development Artist, Art Director, and professor in the film and games industry. Tayler's work has been showcased in numerous games, cinematics, and marketing materials for brands like Gucci, Team Fight Tactics, Spider-Man 2, Insomniac Games, Riot Games and Elodie. When not working on client projects, Tayler teaches at Laguna College of Art and Design in Southern California.

Tayler's expertise spans various digital media, including Adobe Photoshop CC, Blender, Zbrush, 3DCoat, Substance Painter, and Marmoset Toolbag, as well as traditional media like gouache, watercolor, oil paint, and markers (Copic and Prismacolor). Tayler holds a bachelor's degree in game art from Laguna College of Art and Design, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

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