1-to-1 mentorship · English · Italiano · Español
Build the Houdini and Unreal skills your portfolio needs.
Private 1-to-1 mentorship for artists who want a clear direction, stronger technical work and honest feedback, built around their career goals.
30 min · free · no prep needed · English, Italiano, Español
- SideFX Certified Instructor
- Unreal Authorized Instructor
- Voxel School Professor
Where they started, and where they got to
Sound familiar?
- 01
You've watched the tutorials, and you still freeze in front of an empty node network.
- 02
You don't know what to learn next, so you learn a bit of everything.
- 03
You send out applications and portfolios, and nothing comes back.
Most of the time it isn't talent. It's direction, a few strong projects and honest feedback. That's exactly what we work on together.
Who it's for
- You feel overwhelmed by Houdini or procedural workflows
- You want structured guidance instead of disconnected tutorials
- You need professional feedback on a project or portfolio
- You want to combine Houdini, Unreal Engine, PCG, environment art and technical workflows
- You're preparing for technical art or environment art roles
Who it's not for
- You want someone to do the work for you
- You're looking for a prerecorded course to watch passively
- You want a job guarantee. Nobody honest can give you one
This is an active mentorship. You apply what you learn between sessions and bring problems, experiments and progress back for review.
A note from me
Whether you're opening Houdini for the first time or sharpening one specific skill, the mentorship adapts to you: practical guidance, real production techniques and personal feedback, so you grow faster.
I've seen students raise the quality of their work and land their first job in the industry. To give them more, I became a SideFX Certified Instructor and an Unreal Authorized Instructor.
If we're a good fit, we'll start. If not, we just met and had a good conversation. I hope to see you in class.
Mario
Process
How it works
- Start here
A free 30-minute call
You're one click away. We talk about where you are, where you want to go and whether I'm the right mentor.
- 02
Define the destination
Your current level, target role, portfolio goals, interests and biggest technical gaps.
- 03
Build your roadmap
A personal learning direction instead of a fixed curriculum.
- 04
Learn through real projects
Explanation, demonstration, problem-solving and direct feedback on your work.
- 05
Review and adapt
The roadmap evolves with your skills, your project and your priorities.
Testimonials
In their own words.
Students' work
Explore the projects.
See how each mentorship was shaped around a different goal.
3 months · Houdini · SpeedTree · Unreal Engine
Jwalin Adhyaru
Tropical bay in Unreal with Houdini, SpeedTree and PCG
Hired after 18 months of job searching
Read the case study
Nearly one year · Houdini · VEX · PDG
Giulia Radicchi
Hidden Gem, a library hideout reclaimed by nature, plus a kitchen environment
From zero Houdini to independent in nearly a year
Read the case study
3 months · Maya · Houdini · Copernicus
Joshua Dixon
Forest of Secrets: a pagoda environment from Maya to Nuke
Beginner to intermediate Houdini in three months
Read the case study
2 months · Houdini · Feathers · Grooming
Devishree Setti
A feathered hippogriff with Houdini's feather and groom tools
Houdini feathers on a full hippogriff in two months
Read the case study
Blender · Geometry Nodes · Instancing
Aranza Espinosa
Curve-driven brushstroke particles in Blender for OSHI
A brushstroke particle system built for OSHI
Read the case studyYour mentor
I'm Mario Leone, a Senior Technical Artist and procedural specialist working across Houdini, Unreal Engine and production pipelines.
I'm a SideFX Certified Instructor, an Unreal Authorized Instructor and an Environment Art professor at Voxel School. My work has been recognized by The Rookies and featured by NVIDIA, 3D World, Creative Bloq and SideFX.
My teaching combines technical foundations, artistic decisions, production workflows, portfolio work and career strategy.
The free call
Thirty minutes on video. Together we:
- Look at your experience and your goals
- Find what's blocking your progress
- Talk about the project or skills you want to build
- Decide whether my mentorship fits you
- Agree on the most useful next step, whatever you decide
It's free because the only way to know if I can really help you is to talk.
No presentation to prepare, nothing to commit to. If I don't think it's right for you, I'll tell you directly.
30 min · free · no prep needed · English, Italiano, Español
Questions
Am I too much of a beginner?+
No. Giulia started with no Houdini at all and ended up working on her own. We start from where you are.
Which software do we cover?+
Houdini, Unreal Engine (including PCG) and Nuke, plus whatever your project needs around them. Students have also worked in Maya, SpeedTree, Substance Designer and Blender.
How long does a mentorship last?+
Most run two to three months. Some keep going: Giulia's grew from three months to nearly a year. We choose the length together on the call.
In which language?+
English, Italian or Spanish, whichever you're most comfortable in.
How much does it cost?+
It depends on the length and pace we choose, so we talk about format and price on the call, once I know what you need. No surprises, no pressure.
Do I need to prepare for the call?+
No. If you have a portfolio or a project, bring it. If you don't, that's fine too.
Can you guarantee me a job?+
No, and be careful with anyone who does. What I can promise is honest feedback, a clear direction and work you're proud to show.
Jwalin spent 18 months applying on his own. After our mentorship, he landed the job.
Contact
Ready when
you are.
The first call is free and there's no commitment. If I'm not the right mentor for you, I'll tell you directly.
30 min · free · no prep needed · English, Italiano, Español