One-on-One Private advising & Mentorship SESSIONS

Private Virtual Zoom Sessions
— Limited offering through the rest of 2026 —

As a working artist who has navigated undergraduate study, graduate school, several years in the contemporary art world, and all the awkward and challenging periods in between, I understand how opaque and overwhelming the early stages of an art career can feel.

The scariest periods for me were:
1) When I first got out of undergrad and had no idea how to keep making paintings on a disciplined schedule, while balancing a real-world job.
2) Applying to graduate school three years in a row and getting waitlisted each time (until I finally got in…yay!)
3) Graduating with my MFA into the pandemic and trying to make shows in my living room and a garage while in lockdown.
4) Every time I change my artwork. The older I get, the more self-conscious I become about putting new paintings into the world. In my 20s, this wasn’t so psychological. In my 30s, perception, priorities, and expectations shift.
5) Navigating galleries, consignments, and the unspoken rules of the art world — especially during my first shows.

I share this because if you are going through similar struggles and muddy periods yourself, know that you don’t have to do it alone.

For the remainder of this year, I’m offering private virtual mentorship sessions for artists seeking serious feedback, honest conversation, and direction in their studio practice and professional growth. At the end of the day, my goal is to offer something genuinely useful to you.

What these sessions are

These are informal but serious Zoom sessions — similar to focused office hours with a professor — where you can ask direct questions, share your work, and receive thoughtful, tailored feedback based on where you are now and where you want to go.

These sessions are especially suited for young artists, MFA applicants, early-career painters, and artists navigating transitional periods.

Topics we can cover

1-hour advising

In a 1:1 “Ask Me Anything” session, you may seek guidance on:

  • Early-career art life and professional development

  • Transitions:

    • Undergraduate → Graduate school

    • Gap years between degrees

    • Graduate school → Professional art world

  • General MFA application and MFA interview questions

  • Navigating the contemporary art world

  • Galleries, consignments, and first exhibitions

  • Painting, materials, and studio questions (time management, studio health management, artistic shifts, artistic blocks)

  • Open Q&A — including existential studio crises questions, personal, and miscellaneous

2-hour Portfolio & Application Reviews

  • MFA portfolio reviews

  • Graduate school application feedback

  • Residency applications

  • Grant applications

Does your portfolio make sense?
Does your application narrative align with your work?
Are you positioning yourself clearly?
We can address these directly.

I have sat on the other side of national juried applications, MFA applications, portfolio review sessions, residency applications, TA’ed and acted as a visiting critic at Columbia and Brown University in many crit sessions, and written applications for residencies and grants, so I hope to be as helpful as possible.

Rates & pAYMENT

  • Single Session (60 minutes): $125 USD

  • Portfolio Reviews (minimum 2 hours): $200 USD

  • Additional time may be added at $100 USD per hour if requested

  • All sessions are held virtually via Zoom.

  • Payment is required in advance via Zelle or Venmo to secure your date and session.

  • Availability: Select weekdays, 8 PM EST onwards, with some weekends pending.

ENROLLMENT

  • Email: susanmbchen.studio@gmail.com to sign up.

  • Please include:

    • A brief introduction of yourself and your artwork

    • Links to your art website and/or Instagram

    • What you hope to focus on during our session

Building a life in art requires resilience, discipline, and clarity.
If you are in an uncertain stage, you don’t have to navigate it alone :)