Technical Art Mentorship Overview

This mentorship is all about diving into the world of Technical Art, and the process for melding creativity with systematic problem solving. You’ll explore how to use Houdini to develop tools, streamline workflows, and solve complex artistic challenges with technical precision. 

Your mentor, Grayson Cotrell, is a seasoned Technical Artist from renowned AAA studio,  Naughty Dog. He worked on The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II as a Props and Texture Artist before becoming a Houdini Technical Artist specializing in procedural tool development. Grayson brings real-world production knowledge from one of the most demanding pipelines in the industry and an intricate understanding of how to create tools that streamline the Technical Art process to ship multiple, award-winning games at the highest level of polish. 

We’ll start by reviewing your current skillset, project goals, and career aspirations. From there, we’ll craft a customized learning path that fits your interests, whether that means sharpening your Houdini skillset, building procedural assets, or learning how to create tools that empower other artists. Each week, you’ll get hands-on guidance, targeted project feedback, and deep dives into the tech art topics that matter most.

Topics we’ll cover include: 

● Procedural modeling 

● VEX and Houdini tool development 

● Technical workflows In Houdini, tailored for Unreal Engine 

● Tool and asset optimization 

● Portfolio presentation and technical breakdowns 

This is a collaborative, project-based mentorship designed to help you grow both as an artist and a problem-solver. You’ll develop the creative mindset to build tools and assets that enhance your work and make you integral to any team. By the end you’ll have an elevated proficiency in Houdini, standout portfolio piece, and a toolkit you’ll use for years to come.

Reminder: In order to sign up for a mentorship, we require that you first complete an application process. If you are approved, we’ll send you a code which you can use to book and pay for your mentorship using the Enter Code and Pay button.