1:1 Mentorship with Drew Hartel

8-Week Customized Program

What This Mentorship Is About

Since the pandemic, I’ve been working closely with artists around the world through personalized 1:1 mentorships. Over the past several years, I’ve helped mentees bridge the gap between college and professional careers, with many going on to work at studios like Disney, Pixar, Illumination, Netflix, and more.

This mentorship is about you — wherever you are on your artistic journey. Whether you’re just starting out, building a portfolio, or already working and want to sharpen your craft, the focus is on helping you grow into the artist you want to be.

How It Works

• Week 1: Discover Your Voice
  We start by digging into who you are as an artist — your influences, strengths, and unique voice. From there, we design a roadmap tailored to your goals.

• Weeks 2–7: Customized Growth
  Each session is adapted to your needs — from storytelling and visual development to colorscripting, portfolio building, or industry navigation. Every week builds on the last with clear, actionable feedback.

• Week 8: Next Steps
  We review your progress, refine your portfolio or project, and talk about strategies for breaking into the industry (or leveling up within it).

Beyond the Art: The Mental Game

So much of growth as an artist isn’t just about drawing or painting — it’s psychological. Doubt, perfectionism, comparison, and burnout are struggles all artists face. I put a strong emphasis on helping you navigate these mental and emotional hurdles so you can grow not just in skill, but in confidence, resilience, and joy in the work.

Why This Program Works

• Customized Approach: No cookie-cutter lessons — everything is designed around your goals.

• Psychological Support: We’ll tackle the inner struggles of being an artist as much as the technical ones.

• Real Industry Insight: Practical, honest advice on what studios are looking for.

• Portfolio-Ready Growth: By the end, you’ll have clearer direction and stronger work to showcase.

• Career Support: I’m passionate about helping artists not just improve, but also get hired.

About Your Mentor

Drew Hartel is an Art Director specializing in colorscripts at Skydance Animation. He has contributed to Academy Award–winning and nominated films including Coco, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Cars 3, Blue Eye Samurai, and many more.

In addition to his studio work, Drew developed an original animated series as its creator and executive producer while in development at Apple TV. Since the pandemic, he has been mentoring artists 1:1, helping them refine their voices, overcome the psychological hurdles of creative life, and launch careers in animation at some of the world’s top studios.