This is a call to artists in the community, who desire to have some guidance regarding their creativity, and who may be considering a professional career in illustration.
I’m offering you a rare opportunity
Most of you know me as the packaging illustrator for the Littlest Pet Shop line 20 years ago, but my career as an illustrator goes back some 44 years, to a time when illustration was considered a dying art form, and chasing the vocation took a lot of grit and determination.
What I needed most during those early years, was someone in the business who would take me under their wing and guide me as my mentor. Sadly, that opportunity didn’t show up for me until a few years ago. So I can tell you, no matter where you are in your career—working with a mentor can have a powerful effect on your level of creativity.
Since I missed out having a mentor in my 20’s, I want to offer my services to you as your mentor. When I mention this idea weeks ago, the response was overwhelmingly positive, requiring me to redesign the program to best serve this community’s demand.
Here’s how it will work
The Mentorship Program begins with a required four-session online classroom, 1 1/2 to 2 hours in length, every two weeks, with a limit of six participants to a classroom*. Each participant will have an additional one hour private session with me, your mentor, in between the weeks of the classroom phase.
The focus of the mentorship is on becoming a better illustrator based on the participant’s level of experience, in a collaborative classroom environment. Topics may include visual story telling through composition, character design, visual thinking, working with criticism, the difference between commissions and clients, basic business practices, style choices, and building a portfolio, just to name a few.
At the end of the four week classroom phase, participants have the option of continuing their mentorship by purchasing and scheduling one-hour one-on-one sessions.
*Please note:
Registrations for the Mentorship Program are limited to SIX (6) participants only, on a first come-first served basis. Once there are six registrations for the Classroom, there will be no more registrations granted, until the next Mentorship Program Classroom registration is announced.
Future mentorship programs may expand to two or three classrooms set a different times, making it more accessible for people in different time zones.
Tuition
The Mentorship Classroom
Four classroom sessions plus a one-hour private session $300.00
Additional private one-hour sessions: $60.00 each
Must have completed the Classroom phase before booking.
All sales final. No refunds
Dates & times for the first Mentorship Program Classroom:
Tuesday September 10, 2024 8:00 PM EST
Tuesday September 24, 2024 8:00 PM EST
Tuesday October 8, 2024 8:00 PM EST
Tuesday October 22, 2024 8:00 PM EST
The link will take you to my wife's (Lisa Michaels) Stripe page.
Requirements:
This will be a ZOOM video meeting classroom.
You will need a reliable internet connection, headset and video camera on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone to participate.
Prior to the FIRST session, I will need to view your online portfolio, and/or your Instagram page, to understand where you are as an artist. Please include links with your enrollment.
You will be given assignments to complete within the timeframe specified, and are to be shared within the classroom, Your assignments must be uploaded to your assigned mentorship folder on my Google Drive 24 hours before the next class begins,
You may use traditional media with your assignment, as long as you upload a good quality scan of the finished piece for sharing.
Please handle all communications concerning your Mentorship via email.
I will not respond to direct messaging or texts, regarding the program.
About me...
I've been a working graphic designer and Illustrator since I graduated from The New England School of Art & Design in 1980.
I also have extensive experience in theater craft, filmmaking, & photography.
In 2002, I set my intention to be a full time professional illustrator, and since then I've worked with some of the top corporations in the toy and children's publishing industries.
I "retired" in 2023, but if you're a creative, you can't ever retire–you just change directions.