MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Develop your skills and voice, build a head-turning body of work, and learn how to thrive working with art galleries and clients.
Raymond Bonilla
The Commercial Gallery Program equips you with technical skills, hands-on assignments, and industry guidance to chart out a career in the fine arts industry. This track assists you in establishing your style and voice and harnessing your skills for professional opportunities.
This track consist of three individual courses. Each course is taken individually and lasts 10 weeks in length, consisting of 20+ live classes.
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Instructors: Cassandra Loomis Kim & John English
· Developing and employing a process
· Media Exploration
· Identify a group of artist to track (3-5)
· Commit to a genre (figurative, landscape, still-life, western, wildlife, etc..)
Course 2, Gallery Inventory & Career Research
Instructor: Raymond Bonilla
· Exploring media (continued)
· Defining your audience and clientelle
· Research Galleries and directors
· Identifying networking opportunities
· Creating an inventory
· Making your work personal
Instructor TBD
· Continue to build your body of work
· Pursue and contact clients and galleries
· Social media strategy
· Build and design a website
· Write an artist statement, bio, CV
Your instructors are seasoned pros, with experience working with galleries and selling original art to collectors and clients around the world. As you progress through the program, these artists act as your professional compass, helping you develop creative abilities, techniques, and entrepreneurial skills.
Skill & Style for Gallery Arts
Skill & Style for Gallery Arts
Gallery Inventory & Career Research
Each semester features 4 guest artists and directors who have risen to the top of their industry, giving you access to their craft, process, and industry wisdom.
Ask questions, join the discussion, and gain industry knowledge from high-caliber professionals.
Need help determining if this is the right path for your professional and artistic development? Book a free Zoom call with our Program Director to discuss your goals and the resources offered at Visual Arts Passage.
Alana Tedmon attended and completed the Mentorship Programs at VAP, studying with artists such as Audrey Benjaminsen, Edward Kinsella, and Sterling Hundley.
No. Students only commit to one mentorship course per semester. Once you complete a course, you can register for the next course, to continue your progress in the mentorship program.
The Mentorship Program can be complete within a 12 month period. It is not unusual for students to repeat the final course in the program, Career Development, if they choose to have continued coaching from Visual Arts Passage mentors.
The Mentorship program is a "get out of it, what you put in" experience. That being said, our courses are structured to accommodate individuals with a busy schedule. We recommend setting aside a minimum of 3 hours for your live course and 2 hours to complete assignments and course work. We highly encourage students to commit more time if their schedule allows.
Mentorship courses enroll 4 times per year, during the winter, spring, summer, and fall semester. You can view the program calendar here.
We recommend that most students start with the first course in the Illustration Program, Process: Skill & Craft. Highly experienced students may qualify to attend the second course in the program, Ideation & Visual Storytelling. If you are not sure, feel free to send your work to hello@visualartspassage.com and a team member will get back to you with a recommendation shortly.
Each course in the Illustration Mentorship Program is $1199.
