Launch your 3D career!
Everything you need to start your 3D career. A time-tested program run by industry experts invested in making your goals a reality.
Personalized career coaching
AMA session with industry recruiters
In-depth feedback from industry veterans
Industry-standard demoreel
Customizable resume template
Industry-leading 3D modelling, surfacing and rendering techniques
Our students have gotten sweet jobs at awesome studios:
All artists get stuck.
Yet, studios are hiring other artists everyday for amazing projects we'd kill to work on. How are they getting those jobs?
Studios aren't giving you a chance.
Most studios don't respond to your application. If they do, they say "they're moving forward with other candidates." They don't tell you why they didn't pick you or what you need to do to improve. It feels like you have to break-in just to be considered.
We know how you feel: frustrated, disheartened, and losing confidence. You don't have the support, professional feedback, or an inside look at how hiring decisions are made.
It's hard to know what 3D recruiters look for.
The job descriptions are either super-intimidating or completely vague. All of them require years of experience that you don't have. Should you apply anyway? Is your demo reel what they're looking for? What should you work on first and what is the most important thing you're missing out on?
You don't have the resources to chase your dream.
Between your job and daily responsibilities, who the hell can carve out time to achieve a dream? The schools you've found look great, but they require a massive time and financial commitment. Even if you could, what guarantee do they offer that will make you feel comfortable making a decision of that magnitude? How can you tell which step is the right step for you?
Meet Conor:
I've been exactly where you are.
When I was trying to break into the industry, I applied to over 200 studios within the first 30 days of creating my debut demo reel - 197 of them didn't respond. The other 3 sent rejections. I received and failed 3 art tests because I simply wasn't good enough. It took me 12 months to get my first interview.
Since then, I've worked for over ten years in the industry: modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, rendering, compositing and even rigging. I have held senior positions on Dreamworks and Nickelodeon projects, worked as a creative director, a freelance artist and started my own studio creating virtual spaces for VR and the metaverse. I've taught professionally for 5 years and have helped over 50 students start their careers.
There’s one thing I’ve learned that has been the catalyst for every step of my career. One secret that stands between you and getting your dream job quickly and effortlessly. It’s the one thing I credit my success to, and I’m eager to share it with you.
Better art,
better opportunities.
Going from where you are now to where you want to be is as simple as signing the job offer. But it’s not easy.
Plug into our network of pros.
We've all heard the cliche: It's not what you know, it's who you know. In the 3D industry, it's who knows you. Joining this program means building camaraderie with your classmates, connecting to the studios you love via our recruitment team and making real contacts with professionals already in the industry.
Get feedback on your work from professional artists.
Inside knowledge is vital to landing the job. You need answers from artists with years of industry experience that have been there and done that. Creating and presenting your art beyond industry standard ensures the next time you put in an application they send you an offer.
Skip unneccessary classes
There's nothing more painful, more soul-crushing than wasting time in a class that you spent money on that has nothing to do with your dream career. Get the exact direction you need, when you need it, scheduled around your busy life.
Artwork by student Kyle BrownBased on concept art by Etienne Savoie.
Make great art
Great studios expect great art. The quality of work you deliver, your ability to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, all determine success in this industry.
We have over a decade of experience that informs our tried and true systems which will transform your art and mindset. Our experience is here and available for you. We want you to learn from our mistakes so you don’t lose the same amount of time and money we did or miss any once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
How to get started:
Perfect Demoreel
Group Coaching
$249 CAD per month
Openings available:
2 / 15
- 4 x 90 minute group calls per month
- Membership to the Thoughtful3D Circle Community
- Access to the library of Office Hours calls
- Step by step guidance through the
Perfect Demoreel Blueprint - Training for Blender, Maya, Substance Painter, Real-time rendering engines, path-tracing rendering engines.
- Proven resume templates
Career Launch
1-on-1 Mentorship
$1300 CAD per month
Openings available:
2 / 5
book a Call to Apply- 8 x 60 minute live 1-on-1 calls per month
- Membership to the Thoughtful3D Circle Community
- Placement into our recruitment roster
- Access to all other cohort live calls
- Access to all workshops, pre-recorded courses, Office Hours calls
- Training for Blender, Maya, Substance Painter, Real-time rendering engines, path-tracing rendering engines.
- Proven resume templates
Our students say
It is thanks to Conor that I have obtained a job as a junior surface artist. One rarely comes across a standout teacher like Conor. He's always supported me with professionalism and passion and given me the right advice, especially in building my demo reel.
Conor is a great 3D artist with knowledge in any CGI field, especially with textures, lighting and rendering.
Federica De Simone
Mainframe Studios
Conor has always been a step ahead in reaching out to his students. Making sure they understand the material and maintain the proper, healthy mindset to succeed as an artist. Conor has always been a great mentor, friend, and artist.
I wouldn't have a foot in the industry nor the maturity as an artist that I have today without Conor's help.
Jose Antonio Ong
PlayStation Studios
Conor is an amazing professor with a Rockstar personality. Not only knows his subject in and out, but also guides everyone with the best of his ability. I personally have taken college classes with him and he brings out the best in you and you can always rely on him for decision-making and critiques. He always makes time to discuss amazing projects and how to make it more fun.
Ahmed Sohail
ILM
Having Conor as an instructor has been a life changer. He is incredibly knowledgeable and well-versed in the science, theory, techniques, and pipelines behind 3D art and its programs. He is also conveys that information to his students in a clear and concise manner.
He has an impressive ability to troubleshoot and problem solve any technical issue that arises on the spot. In addition to his expertise, he has been a source of motivation to his students. He really has gone above and beyond. We are incredibly grateful to learn from him.
Kailyn Beecher
Electronic Arts
Conor defines professionalism, integrity and artistry. As a former student of Conor's, he would take time for each individual. Conor explains the most intricate topic and delivers it simply so it could be understood by all.
As a mentor, Conor is very approachable, relatable and a talented individual. When he delivers his lectures you can sense his ambition and devotion to his crafts, yet he is humble and selfless.
Jann Herrera
Mainframe Studios
Conor is an excellent instructor. He is encouraging, empathetic, and a fountain of knowledge. I found meeting up for the zoom classes each week uplifting and I found the confidence in myself grow as he helped me through resume polishing and portfolio creation that allowed me to show off my work to it's best. And that work paid off, as I now have my first job in the industry and I thank Conor, and the other students I learned with for helping me believe I could do it. I owe a lot to Thoughtful3d, both mentally and artistically. Thank you!
Kate Elliott-Jones
Twisted Mountain Animation
Conor’s supportive personality and willingness to teach has been a constant source of motivation and inspiration to all of his students. His extensive artistic background and understanding of the industry has allowed him to provide students with realistic solutions and critiques to tackle any project they have in mind for their next demo reel or project and make it look as good as possible. Conor’s personalized approach to each student with his lectures have been eye-opening and gives the students confidence and direction to continue working towards their dream; something that isn’t provided by any other school
Desmond Chan
Atomic Cartoons
At first I had a large body of work but not much skill in presenting it for prospective employers. Over the course of a few sessions, Conor has taught me ways of crafting demo showreels that would compel recruiters in videogame, film and animation industries.
Thanks to his excellent guidance, my demo reel landed me a job with an animation studio which produces work for Disney and Netflix.
Yuri Brigadir
Atomic Cartoons
Create art that gets you the job.
This 3D model was created by Kate-Elliott Jones and secured her place in the industry. In the interview, this model was credited as the most important piece of her demoreel as it displayed her excellent eye for detail, skills in modeling, texturing, shading and lighting. Congratulations Kate!