Mentorship is the fastest way to go from where you are today, to where you want to be! Learn How Mentorship Works or join this mentors group below. Not sure what stage you are? Click here for descriptions.
Mentoring Emerging Artists Not sure if you’re an emerging artist? Find your stage here.
MEDIUM: Mixed Media | Acrylic | Digital | Drawing | Ink SPECIALTY: ✔ Building Your Brand ✔ Website Sales ✔ Social Media
Our mentorship group is all about mastering the business side of art, focusing on effective studio time management, expanding financial diversity, and uncovering new income opportunities. We’ll explore the vast landscape of art career possibilities, including teaching both within academia and beyond, engaging in both in-person and online formats. We’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of website and social media management, online content creation, and mailing lists, and we’ll leverage AI and other innovative digital tools to ensure we’re working smarter, not harder. Based on group interest, we can also explore mixed media and painting techniques, alongside practical advice on applying for shows, securing grants, and writing impactful artist statements.
In my own art practice, I draw the world not as it is but how I wish it could be. I use symbols, icons, and patterns with cross-cultural significance combined with color psychology to help soothe, heal, and reinvigorate weary idealists. Inspired by the lofty mission statements used by the world’s top organizations, my images are a call to action to visualize better outcomes for our lives, communities, and the planet. Through my mixed media drawings, I layer colors, lines, and textures with ink and acrylic on vellum or canvas, adapting my practice to suit an expat’s location-independent life on the move and in diverse environments.
Joining this mentorship means we’re not only going to dive into your art business, income opportunities, teaching, and tech tools. We’ll also explore how your work can inspire meaningful dialogue, challenge perspectives, and contribute to positive societal change. This is about empowering you to use your creativity as a force for good, encouraging a deeper connection with your community and the wider world.
Kristen’s EXPERTISE
Listed below are this Mentor’s specialty skills. Join this group if you want to grow in these areas.
Specialty: ✔ Building Your Brand ✔ Social Media ✔ Website Sales
Technical:
Z
Colour and Composition
Z
Incorporating digital tools and technologies into an art practice
MARKETING & BRANDING:
Z
Website Design
Z
Social Media
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Artist Statement & CV
Z
Marketing & Branding
Z
Building Relationships With Fans
Z
Building A Strong Online Persona
Z
Using AI & new digital technologies
Business:
Z
Selling Online
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Products, Prints, & Reproductions
Z
Help Making A Career Change
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Life Design Plans
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Applying for Grants & Fellowships
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Running Your Art Business the Day to Day
Kristen goes above and beyond what we ask of her and her information is extremely clear and easy to follow instructions! She is a wealth of knowledge and is extremely empathetic.
It was very helpful on many levels and the spacing of classes was perfect
Kristen did a wonderful job of motivating and encouraging us on this journey to improve our web presence. So much useful information and topics to explore as we move forward.
Kristin is a great instructor. Enjoyed it!
Kristen lays out her information in an organized and easy-to-follow way, and she is very generous in sharing a lot of information. She also got a lovely demeanor which makes everyone feel that she is interested in each of us and cares about our success.
Kristen has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom within multiple areas all liked between and in the areas of subjects I was looking to develop. I managed to obtain some wonderful golden nuggets of key information and wisdom that will help me step up my ability to attract and put my brand, artwork and image out online better.
Amazing energy. Kristen is passionate about her topic and a skilled instructor.
Fabulous course, so grateful to have taken it. I now have a clear idea of what I need to do to get myself up to speed with the whole social media game.
This course was really helpful. Kristen is a wealth of knowledge and is willing to adapt the course to individual needs as well as provide group discussion topics.
Kristen is very generous in her sharing her tools, and tips for marketing growth.
Kristen is very knowledgeable and provides great instruction
Kristen shares so much information and makes difficult topics easy to understand. She’s so encouraging and supportive and she creates a wonderful community feeling with the members.
This was a great class so full information that I am now ready to blitz out and create a better social media presence.
JOIN NOW
select your mentorship group
If the group you're interested in has a waitlist, you have the option to join another group to get started. When your group opens we can transfer you over.
Your Membership Includes (click here):
Mentorship Session: Meet via video conference for a monthly 2-hour session with your Mentor and small group. You choose the mentor, we provide the group!
Mid-Month Session: Meet via video conference for a 1-hour session with your small group and Navigator to connect, share progress, encouragement, and support.
Weekly Events: Attend LIVE weekly events online, on hot topics like Finding Your Style, Composition & Critiques, plus master DEMOS. Access event recordings!
MyStudio: Access your private online studio space equipped with business tools and Mentorship Session Recordings.
Chat Group: Access your private online chat group to connect with your small group and Navigator (group facilitator) anytime.
Discounts: Enjoy member discounts on LIVE and ON-DEMAND courses, art supplies, and more!
EMERGING
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Next session: January 15, 2025
On the 3rd Wednesday of every month 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM MST Wed
Not your timezone? Click below
EMERGING
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Next session: January 16, 2025
On the 3rd Thursday of every month 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM MST Thu
Not your timezone? Click below
NEW ON-DEMAND ONLINE COURSE
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5 hours
Start Making More Sales with Proven Strategies! Simplify your process and take control of your time and income.
Kristen Palana is an American/Portuguese multidisciplinary artist based in Rome, Italy. After decades of work as a digital artist, she reconnected with her fine art roots in 2021. Her mixed media drawings, inspired by the ambitious mission statements of the world’s top organizations, serve as a call to action to visualize better outcomes for our lives, communities, and the planet. Her time living in Myanmar and Malawi from 2016 to 2024 also deeply influences her work, celebrating diverse cultures and exploring themes of unity and oneness. Kristen's earlier animations have been showcased at over 75 international film festivals, earning numerous awards for “Best Animated Short Film,” including rom the Cannes Short Film Festival, Italy International Film Festival, and Sunscreen Film Festival.
As an educator, Kristen has taught at universities on four continents. She co-founded the Film and Digital Media BFA at The American University of Rome, where she taught full-time beginning in 2006, earned tenure in 2009, and led the Film and Digital Media Program from 2013 to 2016. From 2016 to 2019, she expanded her teaching to academic institutions and NGOs in Myanmar, including at the groundbreaking American University of Myanmar. Currently, Kristen offers in-person, hybrid, and online courses and training for various organizations, including returning to teach at The American University of Rome.
In addition to her fine art practice, Kristen has worked as a designer, educator, and consultant for international agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), The British High Commission, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Food Programme (WFP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and The Australian High Commission. Kristen crafts training programs catering to diverse audiences and, since 2014, has reached over 80,000 online students from 191 countries. Her learners range from refugees and diplomats to individuals without formal education living on less than $2 USD a day, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.
FREE eBOOK: Secrets You Won't Learn In Art School
✔ Where creative BLOCKS come from, how to identify them, and how to quickly move forward
✔ What not to be a SLAVE to (this feels counter-intuitive to most artists)
✔ Two things to focus on that improve the VALUE range making your art more interesting
Plus 16 other tips from successful Master Artists that you won't learn in art school.
