Career Development for Fine Arts
Instructed by Raymond Bonilla, Cassandra Kim, & John English
10 Weeks · 26+ Live Classes · Advanced Level
10 Weeks · 26+ Live Classes · Advanced Level
The Career Development for Fine Arts course is a dynamic and intensive 10-week bootcamp designed to empower aspiring artists with the knowledge, skills, and strategies required to build a compelling body of work that appeals to galleries and facilitates the sale of artwork. Recognizing that artistic success extends beyond artistic talent, this course also emphasizes the development of vital networking and marketing abilities necessary for thriving in the competitive fine arts industry. This is the third and final course in the Fine Arts Program and is designed to take students across the finish line as they prepare to contact galleries and outline career strategies
Throughout this course, participants will engage in a series of immersive learning experiences, hands-on projects, and interactive discussions that foster creative growth and professional advancement. By exploring both theoretical concepts and practical applications, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of the fine arts industry, enabling them to navigate its complexities with confidence and proficiency.
Mediums Covered: All traditional 2D Mediums.
Skill Requirements: Advanced
Delivery: Live & Online (all classes are recorded and available on-demand)
10 weeks (26+ Live Classes)
Sundays, 4:30pm – 7:30pm PT
Wednesdays, 5 – 7pm PT, (AKA Study Hall)
$1199
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.
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.
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.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Seven world-renowned artists and directors visit this class every semester. Gain access to their craft, process, and industry wisdom.
UPCOMING GUEST ARTISTS
As a mentorship student, you will gain access to a vast wealth of resources to better your understanding and improve your skills. You will be paired with a high-caliber professional, who will be with you every step of the way.
Every class is delivered live and is fully interactive with lectures, demos, critiques, and guest speakers. Consider this your front row seat.
Learn-by-doing Assignments
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.
Even though our courses are the best value, with the high caliber instruction and personalized mentoring, there are finance options available to make the mentorship program financially possible for as many artists as possible. Select Shop Pay or Affirm at checkout to view options.
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.
Each course in this program is $1199.
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, Gallery Inventory & Career Research. 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.
We can help you with any questions related to enrollment, portfolio development, and the student experience.