Fine Arts Program — Course 3
Career Development & Pursuit
Co-taught by Raymond Bonilla & John English
Not sure if this is the right course for you? Book a consultation now.
The Career Development & Pursuit 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 (23 Live Classes)
Sundays, 4:30pm – 7:30pm PT
$1199
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.
In addition to being represented by several prestigious galleries, John 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.
Raymond Bonilla is a highly acclaimed illustrator and fine artist based in Buffalo, New York. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in New Media and Illustration from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 2005, and later received his Master of Fine Art from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2009.
Raymond has been recognized for his exceptional talent, winning numerous awards such as Best in Show in the Great Lakes Emerging Artist Competition, being a finalist in the Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition, and being awarded Gold Medals for advertising by both the Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles. He has also been selected for inclusion in the Communication Arts Illustration Annual.
In addition to his painting, Raymond shares his knowledge and passion for the arts by teaching part-time at Visual Arts Passage. He is represented by the Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado, and Meibohm Fine Arts Gallery in East Aurora, New York.
Every semester, Visual Arts Passage invites 7 guest speakers to connect and share wisdom with all students. These industry leaders answer student questions, complete in-depth demonstrations, review work, and more.
UPCOMING GUEST SPEAKERS
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 Mentorship Program is $1199.
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 Commercial Gallery Program, Gallery Fundamentals: Direction & Voice. Highly experienced students may qualify to attend the second course in the program, Gallery Portfolio & Inventory. 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.