Overview
While artists in the US are often undervalued, with the advent of gen-AI image, music, and video creation, the creative industry has been even further commoditized as the market is saturated with slop. While standing out has always been important, it is imperative now for creatives to hone their voices and tell a story that connects with people. Now more than ever, this ability to connect with an audience is necessary for creatives to make their mark in the world.
In this 6 week (plus week 0) mentorship with artist and creativity coach Rick Kitagawa, we’ll dive into crafting personalized, authentic brands for ourselves that go beyond surface level quick-fixes like brand colors or logos. Through group exercises, feedback sessions, and practical frameworks, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of yourself, your artistic practice, and your ability to communicate that to the people who resonate with your work.
This mentorship will help you to:
- Understand your own unique voice and how to apply it to both your art and marketing
- Craft a compelling introduction that recruiters, collaborators, and hiring managers will remember
- Think deeper about value, pricing, positioning, and building trust
- Gain an understanding of both your work, your brand, and your audience
- Develop the professional and personal tools for building resilience to survive and thrive, whether or not AI successfully replaces most of us
Details
This mentorship runs Wednesdays from 7-10pm PT, May 6 through June 10th, 2026. It consists of 6 live sessions over Zoom and a Week 0 prep week with setup.
Pending space, mentees will also be invited to join all future iterations of this group mentorship, at a non-feedback level, for free.
Who is this for?
This is especially for artists who feel like marketing is inauthentic, those who have trouble articulating what they do, and artists who hate writing artist statements. If you associate selling with being pushy but also want to make money from your craft, this is for you.
All interested artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply, although those who will likely gain the most out of this mentorship are ones who already have a portfolio/body of work, a strong foundational skillset in your discipline, and a specific goal in mind of where you want to go with your art.
Minimum technical requirements
An internet connection that can handle Zoom and screen sharing, a web camera, and mic access (built in or external).
Mentor: Rick Kitagawa
Hello! I’m Rick (he/him), a visual artist, storyteller, toy maker, and game designer, who also happens to be a coach for creative people and educator.
I’ve helped thousands of people find clarity around their work, develop their soft skills, and build an authentic career narrative.
I’ve taught career skills at the Academy of Art University, coached Fortune 50 executives and leaders, ran a gallery and artist workspace, organized creative-focused events like the SF Zine Fest and DesignerCon, and facilitated interactive Zoom conferences with over 400 people in a single room.
Besides co-authoring an Amazon-bestselling leadership book on building trust, I’m also one of the best Skee-Ball rollers in the world (yes, it’s a thing), and a proud cat dad of two tuxedo siblings, Mike and Eleven. I also really like monsters (the fictional kind, not the ones running the government).
The Investment
A weekly average of 3-6 hours of homework is required – this mentorship will require a lot of introspection, so the deeper you go, the more you’ll get out of this mentorship.
The cost of registration is $549 USD. We offer payment plans through Klarna and Affirm and scholarships are available – please note any financial assistance needed on your application. Our goal is to offer accessible art education, so if financial barriers are the only thing stopping you, we strongly encourage you to apply.
The Application
We process applications in the order that they are received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as you’re ready and committed. Applications close for May/June 2026 on April 23rd, 2026.
Things to have ready for your application:
- a portfolio link and/or a link to your social media account
- 30-60 minutes to fill out the application form
When you’re ready, please apply here.
Looking for a different mentorship? Go back here.