Independent Study Program (ISP)
The Atelier at Arlene’s is introducing a new opportunity for artists and creatives seeking to foster their artistic practice while developing their skills. The Independent Study Program (ISP) pairs each participating artist with an Atelier at Arlene’s faculty member who serves as their Primary Mentor. Working closely together on a self-designed course, the mentor is there to guide the artist through technical and conceptual challenges, helping refine the artist’s eye and skill.
Regardless of experience and past art training, the ISP is open to all artists who wish to engage in a sustained studio experience designed to sharpen their abilities as artists.
Developing one’s work over time and absorbing new approaches to technique can challenge the content, expression, and visual elements of one’s art-making practice. The program can provide support, insight, and clarity during the often seemingly difficult, artistic process. Mentors will respond to ongoing work, providing guidance, feedback, and encouragement.
Who should apply to the Artist Mentorship Program? People who want to...
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gain technical skills
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set creative goals
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resolve aesthetic issues
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prepare a portfolio for school
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find their creative voice
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complete a project
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approach galleries
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build a cohesive body of art
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help start a creative business
How it Works
Participants in the Artist Mentorship Program are assigned a Primary Mentor. They discuss how the program can provide a framework and direction for each individual artist. Mentors and mentees work closely to set goals. A mentor may provide demonstrations, technical advice, critiques, editing help, assign readings or research, or recommend resources specific to the participant’s interest — helping the participant work toward and develop a focused practice and deepening the experience of making, looking, and thinking about art. Mentors offer guidance in how to shape an interest into an idea, and an idea into a body of work. Mentors will also suggest other Atelier at Arlene’s faculty members to work within the mentorship program. Mentees do not have to be local. When possible, Mentees can meet with their mentors in person in the studios at Arlene’s Artist Materials.
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Applications are required in order to place artists with a mentor that best fits their needs and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply for acceptance to the program by filling out the attached application. The applications will be reviewed by the mentors and program director. We will start accepting applications for the Artist Mentorship program in FALL 2022.
The Details:
Full (ISP100):
The Full Artist Mentorship Program is for artists who want to deepen their artistic practice, learn new techniques, engage in critical dialogue about their work, develop language, overcome obstacles and generate new work.
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The program consists of 20 hours of one-on-one work with your mentor over the course of six months. The hours can be spent as critique, technical instruction, support while making art, goal setting, discussion of readings or trends, career advising, portfolio development, etc. In addition, your mentor will spend 10 non-contact hours in email conversations, research, documentation, etc. to support your mentorship.
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Mentorship hours can be used to work with your primary mentor, or with other mentors in the program to target specific areas of expertise, or to get a different perspective on your work.
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You and your mentor design the program to suit your individual desires and availability. At your first meeting you will discuss your interests, goals, artistic practice, obstacles and outline the shape and scope of your mentoring experience.
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In addition to your time spent with your mentor, artists must commit to a minimum of 250 hours working independently.
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Additional hours can be added to the mentorship program at a rate of 50/hour.
When: Full Artist Mentorship Program covers a six month consecutive period. Dates and times of meetings set by Mentee and Mentor.
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Cost:
$1500 includes:
20 contact hours with mentor
10 non-contact hours by mentor to support mentee
Inclusion in an exhibition in the R Gallery at Arlene’s upon completion
10% discount at Arlene’s Artist Materials on products that are not already on sale.
Half (ISP50)
The Half Artist Mentorship Program is shorter in length. It is ideal for artists who have a definite project in mind, like upcoming exhibitions, organization, graduate school applications, flat file entries, etc., and want technical and professional support to complete a project within a given deadline or someone who wants to develop a personal art-making practice but require less support or those who want to repeat the program on a more limited basis.
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The program consists of 10 hours of one-on-one work with your mentor over the course of 3 months. The hours can be spent on critique, technical instruction, portfolio development, help writing artist statements, and exhibition promotion. In addition, your mentor will spend up to 5 non-contact hours in email/phone conversations, research, documentation, etc. to support your mentorship.
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You and your mentor design the program to suit your individual desires and availability. At your first meeting, you will discuss your interests, goals, artistic practice, and obstacles and outline the shape and scope of your mentoring experience.
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Mentorship hours can be used to work with your primary mentor, or with other mentors in the program to target specific areas of expertise, or to get a different perspective on your work.
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In addition to your time spent with your mentor, artists must commit to a minimum of 100 hours working independently.
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Additional hours can be added to the mentorship program at a rate of $50/hour.
When: The Half Artist Mentorship Program covers a three-month consecutive period. Dates and times of meetings set by Mentee and Mentor.
Cost:
$750 includes
10 contact hours with the mentor
5 non-contact hours by mentor to support the mentee
Inclusion in an exhibition in the R Gallery at Arlene’s upon completion.
10% discount at Arlene’s Artist Materials on products that are not already on sale.
The mentors:
Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Philadelphia and Haddon Heights, New Jersey. She Currently resides in the Eagle Hill section of Albany, NY. She received her MFA and MA from the State University of New York at Albany and attended Rutgers University and Philadelphia College of Art for undergraduate school. Her work has been exhibited widely. She is an award-winning artist whose work is in various private and public collections.
Schenectady native Erin Eckler has always been that unique combination of artist and entrepreneur. She first conceptualized the EQWilbert brand in her late teens as a way to umbrella her various creative efforts under one mission: to be a professional artist. Creativity has been a saving grace for her through various challenges. Although the heart is fragmented and missing pieces, it still has wings to soar. The name is a composite of her songwriting performance pseudonym “Erin Quillinan” (her mother’s maiden name) and her maiden name “Wilber.” She attributes much of her resilience and talent to her lineage and wanted to pay tribute to those ties using language which is traditionally tossed away over time.
Rebecca A. Flis is interested in a wide range of artistic processes, but her specialty is metal casting. Her academic credentials are a BFA with minors in Art Education and Art History from Alfred University [2014] and an MFA in sculpture from the University at Albany (SUNY) [2018]. Her work has been featured in many shows including Strange World, a solo show, at the Widlund Gallery in North Creek, NY and Passing Time, a three-person show, at the Saratoga Arts Gallery in Saratoga, NY, as well as numerous group shows. She currently lives and works in Schenectady, NY.
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Through the use of various mediums and materials artist Andrew Ochal’s work examines the value we put on objects. He primarily works on panels or paper mounted to panels in various types of mediums. It's the use of various quality mediums, from crayons, inks, paints and even gold leaf, that Ochal explores the concept of value. He endeavors to create work that entices the viewer to question their opinions of everyday materials as well as things that we deem special. To have them see the idea of value placed on objects as artificial and a construct put upon the item; not inherent to it. Andrew Ochal has worked extensively in water-based media primarily featured in his early work. His recent work also features his love for traditional mediums like encaustics, as with untitled: random guy (2018), and oil colors. He sees materials as assets and his love for all mediums is just as important to his process as his concept. Ochal currently lives and works in upstate New York