Course Dates:
April July 13 –  September 14, 2025

Skill & Style for Fine Arts

Instructed by Cassandra Kim, Raymond Bonilla, & John English

10 Weeks · 26+ Live Classes · Beginner Level

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Equip yourself with tools and skills to build a career and thrive as a working fine artist.

Unlock your potential as a gallery-ready fine artist in this immersive 10-week mentorship. Led by acclaimed artists Ray Bonilla, Cassandra Kim, and John English, this course hones your technical drawing and painting skills while helping you shape a distinctive, marketable artistic voice.

Through personalized critiques, live demos, and hands-on assignments, you’ll build a compelling body of work and gain the confidence to pursue gallery representation and collector interest. Ideal for emerging artists ready to elevate their craft and presence in the fine arts world

  • Skill Development

  • Composition

  • Lighting

  • Texture

  • Perspective

  • Establishing Style & Voice

  • Exploring career paths

  • Outlining your professional track

Class Time

Sundays, 4:30pm – 7:30pm PT

Length

10 weeks (23 Live Classes)

Medium

All Traditional Mediums Permitted

Space Limited

Skill Level

Beginner / Intermediate

Feedback

Live & On-Demand

Live Class with Instructors

Sundays, 4:30 – 7:30pm PT

All School Critique (Study Hall)

Wednesdays, 5 – 7pm PT

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A mentorship-style course taught by seasoned pros

Cassandra Loomis Kim

Cassandra is a contemporary artist whose paintings reflect a lifelong love of animals and traditional art. Inspired by the master painters of the past and she seeks to put her own slightly absurd surrealistic twist on art by replacing animals with people.  She also has been teaching herself to restore reclaimed antique and vintage wood items to paint on or frame her paintings in. She is a Virginia native and 2003 BFA Illustration graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University, and worked as a muralist and graphic artist for Trader Joes for 14 years. In 2013, the Klondike Gold Rush National Park and Chilkoot Historical Site awarded Cassandra with an artist residency. In 2018 Cassandra turned her focus to her personal art full-time. She is represented by Glave Kocen Consulting and is guest artist at Robert Lange Studios and has been in exhibits across the United States and internationally. 

Illustrator and painter John English

John English

John English was raised in the company of New York’s most talented illustrators. He is the co-founder and program director of Visual Arts Passage. He is also the founder and director of The Illustration Academy.

John is currently represented by Eva Reynolds Gallery.

He has received numerous awards from organizations including New York Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, Graphis and Print Magazine. John’s work has graced the cover of Newsweek, the pages of Esquire, Money, and Essence, and the publications of Penguin Books, Bantam Books, Hitachi, 7-Up, NCAA, Sprint Corporation, and the Knoll Furniture Group.

Illustrator and gallery painter Raymond Bonilla

Raymond Bonilla

Bonilla is a nationally recognized illustrator and fine artist in Buffalo, NY. Raymond graduated from the State University in New York at Fredonia in 2005 with a degree in New Media and Illustration. He continued his studies at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where he completed his Masters of Fine Art in 2009. He was awarded Best in Show in the Great Lakes Emerging Artist Competition, was a finalist in the Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition, has been awarded Gold Medals in advertising from both Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles, and juried into the Communication Arts Illustration Annual. He is represented by Principle Gallery in Alexandria,VA, Abend Gallery in Denver, CO and Meibohm Fine Arts Gallery in East Aurora, NY.

Learn from Top-tier Guest Artists

Seven world-renowned artists and directors visit this class every semester. Gain access to their craft, process, and industry wisdom.

UPCOMING GUEST ARTISTS

Broaden and explore new skills while developing work that appeals to galleries and clients

Students are tasked on a weekly basis with a variety of skill-building exercises, real-world assignments, and projects to help refine and improve. Once students establish direction, their assignments will aim to build a body of work with that focus.

Student Testimonials

I was pushed to try new techniques and materials. I really enjoyed the projects and the opportunity to let loose in regards to my own process and style.
Ren LindroosIllustration Student

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

This course series can be complete within a 10 month period. Students are encouraged to repeat the third course in the program, Establishing Career & Clients.

Our fine arts courses are 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.

Fine Arts 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 Fine Arts Program, Skill & Style for Gallery Art. Highly experienced students may qualify to attend the second course in the program, Developing Voice for Fine Arts or Career Development for Gallery Representation. 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.

*Grandfathered in pricing excludes discounts and discontinues with any breaks in your enrollment.

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Need Some Guidance?

We can help you with any questions related to enrollment, portfolio development, and the student experience.