Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as a mentorship student you will only take one, 10 week long course per semester. You do have the option to attend topic-based mini courses during the week, such as Color Theory or Figure Drawing.

Beginner students are encouraged to attend our Foundations Course. Experienced students or individuals who have completed the Foundations Course enroll in one of our two programs: Illustration or Concept Art. Both programs are made up of 4 linear courses, each building upon the lessons taught in the previous. Each course consists of 10, 3 hour long classes.

You will meet with your mentor every weekend for a live 3 hour class. You also have the option to attend the midweek  "Study Hall", which is live class meet-up for all Passage students.

We only require you to commit and pay for one course per semester. If for any reason you need to take a break from the program, you can return at a later date and pick up with your next class.

During your mentorship, you will develop your skills via lecture, demonstrations, and learn-by-doing assignments. Every assignment you submit will either be critiqued live and in real-time during your online class or feedback will be provided as a recording shortly after the live class.

Students will spend a minimum of 3 hours per week attending live and online classes. In addition, we recommend planning on at least 2-3 hours per week on your assignment as well. This program is designed to be extremely flexible, so you get out of it what you put in. Some of our students commit much more time each week.

Mini courses are topic-based workshops that last 5 weeks in length. They function very similarly to our mentorship courses and offer many of the same resources, but are shorter. Each mini-course is guided by a working pro as the mentor. You can learn more about the mini-courses here. 

You need an ambitious, won't give up attitude, and a computer with access to wifi. Here are the system requirements for using Zoom video conferencing.

Mentors are assigned to instruct specific courses. Students are then paired with the best Mentor for their personal growth. Special requests are not always possible and is not always advisable depending on the student's skill level or professional interest, but we do our best to accommodate requests.

The Mentorship Program places each student on a track towards professional portfolio development guided by mentoring artists over a minimum of 12 months. Studio Bridge is a subscription based resource that gives students access to guest speakers and a broad community of artists. Studio Bridge does not include a linear track, with guaranteed coaching and guidance.

We currently host all of our classes in Zoom. Students do not have to purchase this software. Google Classroom and Slack are also used for communication outside of the live sessions.

Yes, the Foundations Course is perfect for beginners. Visual Arts Passage levels the playing field for artists. We go back to the basics and help you rethink the way you create visual narratives. This information is applicable to all artists, regardless of experience level.

YES! This is designed for busy people - that's why all of our classes are available on-demand and are hosted on Saturdays.

Yes! Our Foundations Course, which precedes our Illustration and Concept Art Programs, is perfect for high school-aged artists. The Foundations Course will also prepare you to join our Illustration and Concept Art Programs. You must be 18 years or older or provide permission from your parent or legal guardian to apply or attend any of Visual Arts Passage's classes.

Visual Arts Passage is the perfect place to sharpen your skills. Passage levels the playing field for artists. Our organization consists of advanced and amateur artists. Artists who are exceptionally advanced are allowed to test out of our first installment. This is not encouraged, but allowed on a case-by-case basis.

Each program features presentations by three guest speakers per semester. The guest speakers will instruct during two classes in place of your mentor. The guest speakers are extremely successful artists. Many of these artists are on year-round contracts with some of today's most iconic studios and brands. The presentations often consist of lectures, demos, critiques, or Q&A. Mini courses like Foundations and Color Theory do not feature guest speakers.

Yes. It is possible to test out of any course at Visual Arts Passage. To do so, students must apply to the program and schedule a portfolio review with John English to determine this. All applicants are prompted to book a portfolio review. You can also submit your portfolio to hello@visualartspassage.com

Visual Arts Passage is a highly personalized training resource and mentorship for artists. Unlike higher education, this is an industry-focused organization that will help you improve and advance your skills as an artist and introduces you to professional, working artists. This program is not built on theory, it is built on the industry.