Online Art Mentorship with Sarah Sedwick
FAQ's
How much does it cost?
Tuition is $225 per month. This includes a one-on-one session with Sarah (one hour), and our group session (two+ hours, at the end of each month), feedback and critiques, and much more! Additional one-on-one sessions are available for $75 per hour.
How do I pay?
Paypal invoices are sent on the first of the month. I also accept other forms of electronic payment.
Is there a time commitment? Can I join for just one month at a time?
There is no time commitment to participate. I have students who join for one month, and students who have been working with me for years! Some people take time off and return later on. Simply let me know before the first of each month whether you are planning to continue, or if you would like to return.
Do you offer refunds or partial months?
No, I don’t generally offer refunds, or prorate the monthly tuition for partial-month participation. Of course, reasonable requests and life circumstances will always be considered.
How is the month structured?
You’ll have one individual and one group session each month. Individual sessions (1:1) are one-hour conversations conducted via video chat on zoom.us. These take place during the second week of the month, and are scheduled on the group’s Facebook page. I’m very flexible on times, and am happy to work around your schedule - evenings and weekends are an option.
Our group session happens during the last week of the month, usually beginning at 9:30 am Pacific time. If you are unable to attend “in person,” or can only attend part of the session, it’s no problem. A recording of the group session is sent out to all students.
For those who choose to have two 1:1 sessions each month, they will be scheduled about two weeks apart.
Do I need to have a social media account to participate?
Yes and no. Participation on the group’s Facebook page is optional, but it is a great way to connect with me and with the other students throughout the month. The group is “secret,” so only my students see what is shared there. Being a part of it adds a lot of value to your program!
I do ask that you set up an account on Pinterest. It’s a great way to keep all of your work in one place, so we can really see your progress over time. Posts on Pinterest are made to a “secret” board that only you and I see. There is also a “Group Inspiration” board on Pinterest, shared by all my current students, where we post inspiring works by other artists. We go over this board together during the group session each month.
I’m not very tech-savvy. Can I participate?
The minimum requirement to participate is a computer with solid internet access, an email address, a Pinterest account, and a digital camera - cell phone cameras are just fine. You need to be able to take clear photos of your work and post them online for me. You will also need a PayPal account, and to register with zoom.us. Zoom is free, and has been easy to use for everyone. You can connect via computer, ipad, or smartphone. This is how the 1:1 and monthly group sessions are conducted. I have never had a student who was unable to use zoom - even the most self-proclaimed technologically challenged!
What art materials do I need to get started?
I will email you a brief materials list when you sign up. If you’ve taken a painting class, or have already been painting for a while, you will probably have everything you need already.
I’m not an oil painter. Can I still participate?
Yes! My instruction is geared toward oil painters, but I have worked with acrylic painters, and even some artists who want to focus mainly on digital art. This program is quite individualized. I want to meet you where you are, and help you realize your personal goals. So, if you are not primarily an oil painter, but feel you could benefit from having an art mentor, let’s talk!
Some topics I’ve worked on with students in the past include: selling art online, teaching painting classes, artist residencies, framing and hanging art shows, how to approach and deal with galleries, portrait painting, figure drawing, creating community around the arts, working with models, plein air paintouts, entering juried shows, and more!
What are the lessons like?
When you begin the mentorship, we go through a series of seven lessons that center on the fundamentals of realistic representational painting: value, color, and brushwork. I envision this program as being pretty individualized - yes, I offer assignments, but after a while, we shift to a focus on your unique challenges and goals. We periodically go "back to basics," revisiting black and white studies and the fundamentals of composition as you continue to create your own paintings.
Where do I post my work? How much feedback do I receive?
You post your lessons, and anything else you want to discuss with me, on our shared Pinterest board - which is secret, only visible to you and I. I leave comments and suggestions on Pinterest, and sometimes through email. I also regularly digitally tweak your work - demonstrating by “painting” right on your paintings and drawings. A picture is worth a thousand words!
You are also encouraged to post your work on the group Facebook page. Feedback you receive there - from me and from the other students - benefits everyone!
I’d like feedback on older works, or paintings I’ve done outside of your mentorship program, is that OK?
Yes and yes! I’m here for whatever you need, as your mentor. I’m a resource. Use me!
What kind of paintings do most of your students make?
Most of my students are interested in still life painting, to some degree. Many of them are also passionate about plein air landscape painting, portraiture, pet portraits, interior scenes, even abstract painting! A growing number of my mentees are teachers themselves, working in all art media.
You can see a few examples of my students’ work here.
If you have other questions, don't hesitate to get in touch! sarahsedwick@gmail.com
