Services

Online Art Mentorship

Portfolio & Career Development for Illustration

Co-taught by Iris Compiet, Sterling Hundley, Dale Stephanos & John English

Live & Online
Fully Interactive
10 Weeks (23+ classes)
All Skill Levels
Enroll Now

Iris Compiet

WE WILL IDENTIFY YOUR DREAM CLIENTS & SHARPEN YOUR PORTFOLIO.

 – Dale Stephanos, Instructor

In just 10 weeks, you’ll create 3–5 standout illustrations with direct, personalized feedback from top-tier pros—artists whose work has appeared in Time, NASA, Rolling Stone, New Yorker, HBO, and more. This course is all about leveling up your craft and your career.

You’ll get one-on-one mentorship focused on both your work and your path into the industry—with insights on freelancing, art direction, and treating your career like a business.

By the end, you’ll walk away with a polished exit portfolio and a clear sense of where you’re headed next.

Topics covered:

  • Identify your industry and career pursuit

  • Develop a portfolio aimed at your aspirations

  • Branding

  • Development of personal style

  • Marketing

  • One-on-one coaching

  • Exit Portfolio

  • Industry networking

Course Dates: Jan. 24 –  March 28, 2026

Live Class Meetings
Saturdays, 10am – 1pm PT

Course Length
10 weeks (23 Live Classes)

Mediums
Digital or Traditional

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Personalized Mentorship

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Course Outline

Portfolio Development is heavily focused on reviewing student work and career strategies.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Guest Speakers:
Saturday & Sunday Zoom Meeting 
Students meet both Saturday and Sunday for two separate Guest Artist events. Guest artists will present work, share process, and technique via demonstration and on occasion will provide group critiques to select students.

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Guest Speakers:
Saturday & Sunday Zoom Meeting 
Students meet both Saturday and Sunday for two separate Guest Artist events. Guest artists will present work, share process, and technique via demonstration and on occasion will provide group critiques to select students.

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Guest Speakers:
Saturday & Sunday Zoom Meeting 
Students meet both Saturday and Sunday for two separate Guest Artist events. Guest artists will present work, share process, and technique via demonstration and on occasion will provide group critiques to select students.

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)\

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Homeroom:
Saturday Zoom Meeting (3 hours)

Study Hall: 
Wednesday Zoom Meeting (1-2 hours)
Topics: Study Hall is an optional weekly resource. Group critique, assistance on homework and general support by VAP mentors from each program.

Discord:
Post progress, ask questions, connect and network with fellow classmates, while gaining insights from VAP mentors throughout the week.

Professional Working Artists as Instructors

Portfolio Development is co-taught by a team of world-class artists, who students gain access to every step of the way.

Learn from Top-tier Guest Artists

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

Colorful cityscape featuring residential buildings with distinctive window designs and warm lighting, highlighting urban architecture and artistic shadow play. Guest artist feature at Visual Arts Passage showcases creative community engagement in contemporary art.

Caren Wynne-Burke | Gallery Painter

Vibrant, colorful mural artwork by guest artist featuring playful caricature with bold lines and engaging street art style at Visual Arts Passage.

Jorge Gutiérrez | Artist, Animator, & Director

Greeting card art featuring a humorous, close-up portrait of Santa Claus with a playful expression and detailed facial features, highlighting festive holiday artwork for visual arts exhibitions.

C. F. Payne | Illustrator & Painter

Vibrant digital portrait of a woman with purple hair surrounded by colorful flowers, highlighting the diverse artwork featured by Visual Arts Passage.

Rachelle Baker | Screen Printing, Illustration, Comic Artist

Vibrant watercolor artwork by guest artist at Visual Arts Passage featuring abstract figures and nature-inspired scenery in warm pink and green tones.

Kyle T. Webster: Illustrator, Designer, & Entrepreneur

Vivid green ivy-covered mural featuring a mysterious face peering through leaves, showcasing talented guest artist work at Visual Arts Passage.

Iris Compiet, Fantasy Artist & Illustrator

Build Your Portfolio

Throughout this 10-week long course, you will create and refine finished work that is worthy of a career-ready portfolio. The focus and purpose of the finished work from this class is determined by your personal goals and industry of interest.

  • Addison Green

    Vibrant digital portrait of a woman with curly hair, showcasing contemporary art styles, ideal for visual arts passage and modern art exhibitions.

  • Tom Shannon

    A moody watercolor painting of a young girl sitting on the floor in a dimly lit room next to a window with rain seen outside, depicting emotional depth and artistic expression.

  • Ocean Salazar

    Fear and mortality-themed artwork featuring a person in a coffin with an open lid, holding a blue object, surrounded by sketches of fish and animals with red collars, symbolizing life, death, and the natural world.

  • Grace Aldrich

    Vivid mural of a woman running with birds around her, showcasing contemporary art at Visual Arts Passage, highlighting dynamic motion and expressive street art in a colorful urban setting.

  • Aidan Holloway-Bidwell

    Charming fantasy artwork featuring a goblin with a large hammer, wearing tattered clothing and surrounded by a medieval battlefield with wooden spikes and ruins, illustrating imaginative video game or fantasy art.
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Student Testimonials

At Visual Arts Passage, this course maximizes your efforts by not only guiding the development of your artistic voice but also clarifying your desired direction in the industry. Because of tremendous support and guidance from the mentors, I had an artwork accepted into the 64th Society Of Illustrators annual and started receiving paying job opportunities from real-world clients.

Photographer portrait of young woman with dark hair and blue eyes in art studio, smiling, professional photography, creative portrait, artistic mood, visual arts passage.
The class helped me start to really focus on what it is want to do as an artist and how I want to do it. Dale’s insight on the craft and the business make for a unique experience.
Bright young man taking a selfie in front of a colorful mural of two women, showcasing urban street art and contemporary mural painting techniques.
Dale’s class pushed my technique and process. Through the class I produced my first digital fantasy painting that I would include in my professional portfolio. The rigorous yet positive atmosphere helped give me the confidence I needed to take ownership of my illustration goals.
A young man with glasses holding a coffee cup walking along a tree-lined city sidewalk during autumn.

Taking the portfolio development class with Visual Arts Passage was exactly what I was looking for to support my growing art career. I met so many talented individuals during the class that I continue to share my art with. Dale Stephanos and John English gave me the clarity I needed in moving forward in illustration.

The program’s instructors are not only in the top 5% of American illustrators working today but are the most generous, thoughtful, caring and helpful instructors I have ever had. Each instructor takes his/her time with each student’s work, offering detailed, specific, clear and entirely useful commentary, all of which is crafted toward each students’ goals. Comments are always honest and direct, while ensuring students are made to feel valued, relevant and understood. They truly care about the progress of each of us. Additionally, everyone is treated with equal consideration. The quality of the teaching here exceeds anything I experienced in my MFA program. This program has made me feel motivated, energized and in love with the business of illustration.

Relaxing woman enjoying coffee outdoors with her dog on a patio, showcasing leisure and outdoor lifestyle.

Dales Stephanos is a great instructor and I feel like I was given very valuable insights on what makes an effective portfolio. Plus, the critiques and direction I was given helped me out in the process of making a portfolio that I could be happy with.

Portrait of a young man with short dark hair wearing a striped shirt, standing against a neutral wall.

I owe all my advancement and improvements in my work to John and to Dale. The way that they teach Portfolio Development is very holistic and tailored to everyone’s specific needs. I have never once felt shoehorned or forced into a box by my instructors and have only felt encouraged to approach my ideas as authentically as possible. The guidance given to me has allowed me to take more risks using my artistic voice and try more complex compositions, ideas, and themes fully knowing that I would be gently corrected if need be.

Girl with dark hair holding a small creature inside a neon-lit coffin surrounded by ghostly fish illustrations, representing contemporary dark art and surrealism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Portfolio Development is the third course in the Illustration Program and it's the perfect course for advanced students who have begun to build out a portfolio. The course is a 10-week long workshop to continue building and polishing your portfolio to prepare it for the industry.

We recommend this course for students who have already attended Ideation & Visual Storytelling or for artists who are already working at an advanced level.

We recommend against jumping straight to Portfolio Development, but for some advanced artists, this is feasible. We recommend booking a portfolio review here, but there is no technical requirement to attend a more advanced course.

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.

We encourage students to attend the livestream whenever their schedule permits, however, this is not required nor is it essential to fully benefit from the personalized coaching and mentoring offered by this course. Every class we host is recorded and available on-demand after the broadcast. You will still receive personalized feedback on work submitted before the livestream.

Yes! This course is designed truly as a mentorship course. Your mentor will review work you submit for the course and provide feedback during or after class to help you progress, improve and develop your skills and portfolio.

Yes, all classes are available for download during your enrollment as a mentorship program student.

We recommend students enroll in only one mentorship course per semester. We highly recommend taking mini-courses, such as Color Theory or Figure Drawing in addition to Mentorship courses.

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Need Some Guidance?

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