Has anyone had a mentor contact THEM

[Jason Rainville]

I'm just wondering how useful certain threads are in this section. How many people have actually been contacted by dedicated mentors through the sign up topic, or the various other topics that sprout up saying 'I need a mentor'

It seems that the only people who find mentors are the ones who contact mentors directly. If that's so, wouldn't having the sign up thread be somewhat useless?

Not bitching or anything (though I'm still searching for someone to help me out) just wondering what can be done to 'optimize' this section, or maybe it's just all in my head.... :)

[AsaB]

I agree with you, Jason. This section does need a little facelift, some kind of reorganization.

Currently there's this big thread of people seeking mentors, like you mentioned. I think we need more balance, like a thread where both future mentors and mentees can sign up. We could have some definite categories (anatomy, colour, photoshop etc). People who want to be mentors would then list what their strengths are (with the category list) and people needing mentors could then list their area of weakness, and match up with what's available. So I guess we'd need some sort of table or list that'd be updated on a regular basis. Make sense?

I dunno, though, just something that flew through my head when reading your post. Whatever the solution is, I believe some changes here would benefit the section :)

[jason01]

I've contacted people who have popped up with a thread saying "I need a mentor" - but only those who I think are good enough to be able to take a critique and improve. Let's be honest, there are a lot of people on this community mentor site that are really terrible.

In a perfect world we would be at least a couple years into an art college education, or be a working art professional, trying to improve in a certain area. Artists helping fellow artists.

Most of the people asking for help are never going to be professional artists, don't use the resources they have (books, pencils, hands, eyes) and are, quite frankly a waste of time.

Ah, but what can you do about it? This is a place for everyone, for better or for worse.

[Ian J]

I think a couple of the people here have the potential to become pros but are either too lazy or scared to ask for mentorship and others that ask for mentors just want a short-cut to becoming a great artist. But then I must ask where you draw the line? When does someone have potential, and when is he/she a waste of time?

:yayca:

[D.C.]

I've contacted people who have popped up with a thread saying "I need a mentor" - but only those who I think are good enough to be able to take a critique and improve. Let's be honest, there are a lot of people on this community mentor site that are really terrible.

In a perfect world we would be at least a couple years into an art college education, or be a working art professional, trying to improve in a certain area. Artists helping fellow artists.

Most of the people asking for help are never going to be professional artists, don't use the resources they have (books, pencils, hands, eyes) and are, quite frankly a waste of time.

Ah, but what can you do about it? This is a place for everyone, for better or for worse.

You are right. It's practically a statistical truth given the number of people on this site. But I don't think people are wasting their time (I know you meant waste of the mentors time) as long as they get something out of it and don't have unrealistic expectations. However, most people probably do have high expectations without putting their best effort into achieving them.
I won't deny having them myself, but I do try to put the effort in needed to fulfil my goals.


I think a couple of the people here have the potential to become pros but are either too lazy or scared to ask for mentorship and others that ask for mentors just want a short-cut to becoming a great artist. But then I must ask where you draw the line? When does someone have potential, and when is he/she a waste of time?

:yayca:

A sketchbook is a pretty good indication of how much progress someone has made and how dedicated he/she is. So basically, let their work speak for itself.