, keep up the great work!

Albert Lim Mentorship
Intro to Visual Development

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Program Overview
Develop your skills as you follow a curated syllabus with Visual Development artist Albert Lim in this Intro to Visual Development online mentorship.

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

This is a great program for individuals who are ready to develop careers as vis dev artists in the entertainment industry and need a profession and experienced mentor who can point out what they are doing right and what they still need to work on.
Mentorship Program Design
Interactive Learning
12 Live classes scheduled weekly.

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

Private Discussion Group
Enjoy the companionship of a group of artists who learn and grow by your side, with private access to a classroom discussion board.
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


We know better than anyone that artists can be blinded as to what is missing in their own work. Albert will accurately pinpoint what you are doing well, and what you still need to work on. 

Albert will ensure all of his students develop expertise in the most important elements of Visual Development, and guide you to develop advanced skills.

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

The Intro to Visual Development Mentorship is for artists who are almost ready to embark on a career in the entertainment industry. Albert will share what he has learned during his career with you, and train you to be a competitive visual communicator. Learn to evoke mood using values, color schemes and lighting so that the story you want to tell can come to life.

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

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: Each class period will last between 1.5 hours and 3 hours depending on the prepared lesson content and the number of students in attendance.

Thursdays 4 PM PST / 5 PM MST Class Begins January 16 2025. Last Class April 10th. 


Applications open December 27, 2024.  Please Join the Waitlist. 
Students on the Waitlist will be notified by email when applications open.

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 three 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 Albert provides throughout the session.

What if I need to leave the program early?

This program is a commitment of 12 weeks. However, we understand that occasionally personal emergencies may prevent an artist from unexpectedly continuing with the program. If you are an artist enrolled in a mentorship program and need to end your enrollment, please email julie@sentientacademy.com

This should, however, be a worst case scenario as accepting one of the twelve seats in this program prevents another artist from participating. 

I am confused about how much this program costs!

The full cost of this 12 week program is $1,050 dollars. However, we know it isn't fun to pay $1,050 dollars for anything all in one lump. You will be charged $350 dollars at the time of your enrollment. Then, on the same day for the two consecutive months, you will be charged an additional $350 dollars. 

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.

How long is each class?

The class length is determined primarily by the number of students who have submitted work to be critiqued. Another factor in the class length is the complexity of the instruction. Students can expect an average class length of two hours per week. 
Black and White Value
Developing basic understanding how to to approach digital painting.

Design Process Fundamentals
How to use references and idea sketches to create quick mood and ideation.

Space, Lens & Perspective
Creating a world within a defined space with use of perspective.
Lighting
Directing narrative and mood through light. 

Intro to Color
Symbolism and music can create emotional tone.

World Building Props
Apply materials and textures to impact perception and storytelling.
World Building Exterior
Focusing on value and composition as a foundation for detail work. 

Adding Color to Exterior Thumbnails
Introduce color and lighting to bring thumbnail to the next level.

Refining Exterior Scene
Bring your exterior scene to life creating a polished environment.
Finishing Touches
Refining details for exterior scene and props.

Portfolio Prep
Prepare to pitch your project, incorporating your narrative, props and design elements.

Final Presentation and Guest Speakers
Present projects with feedback from class and feedback from guest speakers.
Past student

Artist Name

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Meet your instructor

Albert Lim

Albert Lim is a visual development and background artist in the animation industry, known for his contributions to major projects like Despicable Me 4 and his current work on background painting for Critical Role's Mighty Nein. He is passionate about crafting immersive worlds that captivate audiences. Outside of his creative work, Albert enjoys climbing, traveling, and portrait photography.

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