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One Character Away Mentorship - 

An 8-week mock freelance mentorship where you create one stylized collectible character from brief to final presentation.

This is not a tutorial library or a follow-along course.

It’s a guided client-style assignment built around the way stylized collectible characters are actually made.

You’ll work from a provided character concept, start with a production-style base mesh and kitbash parts, then build one finished collectible-style sculpt over 8 weeks with direct feedback from me.

I’ll act as your art director and client throughout the process, while also showing how I would approach the same assignment as a professional character sculptor.

Why “One Character Away”?

You could be One Character Away from seeing what has been holding your work back.

You could be One Character Away from leveling up the skills that make your characters feel stronger, cleaner, and more appealing.

You could be one character away from reaching your goals as a character sculptor.

Applications open soon.

Apply for the Next Group

Hello, I am Shane!

I’ve been creating stylized 3D characters professionally for over 25 years, including nearly a decade at Disney working on projects like Disney Infinity and Toy Story 3.

These days, I create collectible-style character sculpts for clients, teach stylized character creation, and help artists understand what actually makes a character feel appealing, readable, and finished.

The part I love most is not just sculpting the forms.

It’s helping artists see what is working, what is missing, and what one thoughtful revision can change.

That is the heart of One Character Away.

You are not just getting tutorials. You are getting direct feedback from someone who has spent decades making stylized characters professionally.

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Who this is for

This mentorship is for artists who already know the basics of sculpting, but want their characters to feel more appealing, more polished, and more collectible-ready.

You might be a good fit if:

  • Your characters feel stiff, even when the anatomy is close.
  • You can follow tutorials, but struggle when working from a concept.
  • Your sculpts lose appeal as you add clothing, hair, props, and details.
  • You want to make stylized characters that feel like they could become statues, toys, or collectibles.
  • You know something is off, but you can’t always see what it is yet.

That’s usually not a software problem.

It’s a seeing problem.

In this mentorship, we’ll use one focused character assignment to train that eye, make stronger decisions, and revise with a clear direction.

A More Practical Way to Build One Strong Character

Art school can be valuable, but it is often expensive, broad, and slow.

One Character Away is intentionally focused.

Over 8 weeks, you’ll work through one stylized collectible character assignment with direct feedback at each major stage.

You’ll start from a provided production-style base mesh and kitbash parts, then shape the character toward a finished high-res presentation.

We’ll focus on the decisions that make the sculpt stronger:

  • Reading the concept clearly
  • Adjusting the base mesh to fit the character
  • Improving pose, proportion, silhouette, and appeal
  • Building clean costume, hair, and accessory forms
  • Revising from feedback instead of guessing
  • Preparing the sculpt for a client-style handoff

This is not a replacement for every part of art school.

It’s focused guidance on one specific skill:

creating stronger stylized collectible characters.

APPLY NOW

What We’ll Work On

Over 8 weeks, you’ll create one stylized collectible character using a provided concept, base mesh, and kitbash parts.

We’ll focus on the parts that make the biggest difference:

1. Understanding the brief

You’ll learn how to read the concept like a professional assignment.

What needs to match?
What can be interpreted?
Where should you simplify, exaggerate, or make the sculpt more collectible-friendly?

2. Shaping the character from the base mesh

You won’t start from a blank sphere.

You’ll start from a production-style base mesh, then adjust the pose, proportions, gesture, silhouette, and anatomy to fit the character.

This is where the sculpt starts to feel intentional instead of generic.

3. Building the costume, hair, props, and personality

We’ll focus on the forms that make the character feel designed, readable, and appealing.

Clothing, accessories, hair, hands, expression, and props all need to support the character instead of cluttering it.

4. Getting weekly feedback and direction

Each week, you’ll get live feedback on your progress.

I’ll point out what’s working, what needs attention, and what to do next, so you’re not guessing between calls.

Why this is different

Most feedback is too vague to be useful.

“Looks good.”
“Keep going.”
“Fix the hands.”
“Watch more anatomy videos.”

That kind of feedback doesn’t give you a clear next step.

In One Character Away, the feedback is tied to a specific character brief.

That means we’re not just asking, “Does this look good?”

We’re asking:

  • Does it match the concept?
  • Does the pose support the character?
  • Is the silhouette clear?
  • Are the forms appealing?
  • Will the sculpt work at printed scale?
  • What should change before moving forward?

You’ll get focused, professional-style feedback each week, so you know what to fix, why it matters, and what to do next.

This is where the real learning happens.

See if you're a good fit

What’s included

  • 8 weeks of live group coaching
  • Weekly feedback on your character
  • A provided concept, base mesh, and kitbash parts
  • A mock freelance assignment with client-style direction
  • Recorded demos of my process on the same project
  • Guidance on pose, proportion, silhouette, appeal, costume, props, and presentation
  • Help preparing your sculpt for a clean production-style handoff
  • Replays of the live calls
  • Private community access during the mentorship

The One Character Away mentorship is kept intentionally small.

Because this is a feedback-heavy mentorship, I want to make sure each artist is a good fit before opening enrollment.

Investment: $2,997
Length: 8 weeks
Format: live weekly group coaching + project feedback
Seats: limited

If you’re interested, fill out the short application below.

If it looks like a good fit, I’ll invite you to book a call so we can talk through your goals, current work, and whether this mentorship makes sense for you.

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