Arthur Monteil and Baptiste Cottel credit Artline Institute's inclusive environment, supportive mentorship, and diverse student community for their artistic growth, preparing them for successful careers in the visual arts field.
Arthur Monteil and Baptiste Cottel share their experiences at Artline Institute, an online school renowned for its distance learning format and specialised courses in 3D, gaming, CGI, and Concept art. Despite initial apprehensions, they found Artline's inclusive environment, supportive mentorship, and diverse student community to be invaluable in their artistic growth. Through collaborative projects, mentor feedback, and access to industry professionals, Artline has equipped them with the skills and confidence to pursue their passion and career goals in the field of visual arts.
Arthur: Artline Institute stands out in the field of traditional education for its entirely distance learning format. This mode of operation is increasingly common, but it remains an important feature that plays a predominant role in education. For some, this is a remarkable advantage, while for others, it is a major challenge. Personally, I consider it an asset, and I will explain why.
Baptiste: Artline is an online school offering specialized courses in 3D, gaming, CGI, and Concept art. As a concept art student, what sets Artline apart is their inclusive approach to fostering conversation and accepting a diverse range of individuals.
Arthur: I chose Artline Institute after high school, feeling uncertain about my professional path. Discovering their video showcasing the diverse careers in audiovisual creation, including photography, video, and 3D, intrigued me. Despite initial apprehensions about distance learning, it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Overcoming initial fears, with my parents' support, I embarked on a journey that dispelled all concerns about the effectiveness of this learning model.
Baptiste: I transitioned from engineering in public transport to pursuing my passion in concept art, leading me to discover Artline. What struck me was its inclusive environment, welcoming individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
Arthur: Despite the physical distance, we have many means of communication. We mainly use Slack, with public channels to interact with the whole school and private channels to chat with mentors and classmates during classes. We also use Google tools to share work and scheduling (Drive, Calendar). The virtual corridors of the school are filled with kindness, and the mentors are always interesting and competent. There is a real exchange of passion. I have discussed and received feedback from mentors even outside of classes. They are there to help and share their passion, and this is felt.
Baptiste: One of the main challenges we face at Artline is the lack of physical interaction due to distance, which can make it difficult to maintain a sense of community. However, despite these obstacles, our mentorship system ensures that we receive valuable feedback at a pace that suits us. Additionally, regular discussions about art, both in class and during Artline's industry conferences, help us stay connected with professionals in the field.
Arthur: The approach of Artline Institute gives a lot of freedom to learners. Being relatively autonomous, I quickly progressed at my own pace. Although difficult at first, over the years, I have developed self-discipline, a broader vision and, overall, greater autonomy and maturity. This personal development has had a positive impact on my art. With a good organization, I was able to practice other activities complementary to my artistic development, such as music.
Baptiste: My journey at Artline has been both long and challenging. I found myself relearning the fundamentals of composition, lighting, and color from scratch. Delving into the workings of the animation and video game industries as a concept artist opened my eyes to the existence of my dream job: creating props and decors. However, the most valuable lesson I've learned is the art of storytelling and infusing life into my creations.
Arthur: Mentors have always provided me with valuable feedback. But let’s take the most important example for me, that of my final project of my bachelor, where we had three months to adapt 2D references in 3D. Throughout these three months, weekly feedback from mentors has been crucial. Some even shared my work in their studios to get feedback from colleagues. Whether it’s workflow tips, visual details or technical skills, I’m proud of my project today largely thanks to them. They guided me and exploited my creative energy.
Baptiste: During my second year at Artline, I was fortunate to have a mentor specializing in props and decors. This experience was a revelation for me. His feedback was not only precise and honest but also delivered with kindness, always aimed at pushing me to improve. With patience and dedication, he guided me to new heights in my craft. Without his mentorship, I don't think I would have developed such a deep passion for drawing props and backgrounds.
Arthur: At Artline Institute, despite the geographical distances, there are many contacts. I know many students despite their numbers. I saw their work, exchanged ideas easily and shared my work on public channels, receiving feedback from learners and alumni of all levels and fields. Specific channels for industry news or job postings are also important resources. The school also offers Zoom rooms available at all times so that learners can work together, regardless of their level or class.
The approach of Artline Institute gives a lot of freedom to learners. Being relatively autonomous, I quickly progressed at my own pace...I have developed self-discipline, a broader vision and, overall, greater autonomy and maturity. - Arthur
Baptiste: They offer conferences featuring numerous professionals covering various topics such as the legal aspects of the artist's job, portfolio building techniques, and the latest industry tools.
Arthur: Artline also encourages group work and sharing. Unlike the end of prep class and license projects, the second year final project is a group effort. For five weeks, I worked with five classmates. Learning to manage small production, divide tasks, support each other and manage disagreements. This experience was enriching in a school that also emphasises autonomy. It offered a different approach to my work, and I gained a lot by exchanging with my classmates.
Baptiste: In every class, mentors frequently encourage students to share their perspectives with each other, fostering a collaborative environment. Additionally, we regularly post our work in the channel to receive feedback and advice from fellow students.
Arthur: Unfortunately, I was not able to work in the professional world of audiovisual creation during my studies. I had an apprenticeship for my first year of a master’s degree, but because of administrative problems, it did not materialise. Fortunately, the climate at the Artline Institute is very professional.
Baptiste: The mentor in props and decors provided me with the opportunity to work as an intern. I contributed to a 1D video game project, focusing primarily on the animation aspects of a documentary.
Arthur: There are few barriers to entry to the Artline Institute. I have met people from all over the world, of all ages, some with careers in other fields. This diversity, facilitated by the ease of distance learning, enriches exchanges with people with whom we might never have interacted otherwise.
Baptiste: Artline has a 10% enrolment of students with disabilities and is committed to simplifying their school experience and facilitating their integration.
Arthur: My short and medium term goal is to work in a studio to experience the "real world" in my field. In the longer term, I aim to start my own business and use all the skills I learned at Artline Institute, both soft and technical skills.
Baptiste: I aspire to work in animation or video games, focusing on strong conceptualisation and visuals. Specifically, I am drawn to the realm of props and set design. The process of creating vehicles and narratives alongside fellow artists, and witnessing my concepts come to life through the work of others, is truly fulfilling.
Check out more of Baptiste Cottel and Arthur Monteil's student artwork and reach out to them via their Rookies profiles linked above.
Learn more about Rookies Certified School, Artline Institute, at this link.