Hi Dude, I remember your Mars scene, and really loved it.
As it happens background/environments Is something I am having to crash course on myself in the last week or so. I am not sure about the Mentor aspect since I am just as new if not newer to this then you, but I am feeling a bit "Artistically" lonely with regard the project as I don't have any other artists to bump ideas off. I set up a discord chan specific to the project, so I have my project partner there (he is focusing on the functionality of the game, so code and other technicalities), then another game dev guy whom I knew before but invited for moral support anyway.
You are more then welcome to visit if you ever feel like a more general chat/feedback on your works, likewise I would love to get feedback from others on mine also. Right now I am REALLY struggling with composition in relation to setting up initial perspective (vanishing points) and making in game chars look like they are not superimposed into the scene due to the off angles.
Anyway give me a shout and I will pm you the discord channel link if your ever up for bumping ideas off each other.
Did you ever complete your alien planet scene? would love to see how it is now