The Art on 30th Keys to the Art World program (formerly Artist Mentorship program) is a rigorous, six-month professional development experience designed to support emerging artists and provide a framework for building a sustained career in fine art.
What is it?
For 24 weeks, I met weekly with my artist mentor, Kristen Guest, and 10 other dedicated artists in my cohort. The curriculum was jam packed—from developing your visual voice and building a cohesive body of work to essential business skills like marketing efforts, pricing logic, pursuing gallery representation, and available revenue streams best suited to our artist goals.
Each session was split into two portions: the first half focused on a classroom lesson and group discussion, the second half was reserved for paint time and group critique.
By the end of the program, each artist produced a unified series consisting of six mini and six large original paintings. And the best part? We’ll be exhibiting our new bodies of work in a group exhibition this December at the Ashton Gallery—featuring both the spring and fall 2025 cohorts (event details below!).
Why I Chose to Do It
Keys to the Art World had been on my radar since its inception in 2021, but at the time, the Monday mid-day time commitment was nearly impossible for me to pull off with a full-time job.
Everything changed in fall of 2024 when I transitioned from full-time employment to 1099 contract work. That shift freed up my availability and gave me the flexibility to fully commit to this incredible program.
Since deciding to elevate my art practice from hobby to business in 2020, my momentum has majorly ebbed and flowed. I joined this program because I craved structure and accountability to help push my art practice to new heights—artistically, professionally, and financially. I knew my dedication and technical ability were there; this was the time to strike while the iron was hot.
Reflecting on the Program
My final session wrapped on Monday, June 23; I already miss it! Mondays now feel strangely empty without the artist friends I’ve grown so close to through our breakthroughs, challenges, and celebrations.
As I reflect, I feel immense gratitude, inspiration, and pride. Every artist in my cohort has such unique styles, motivations, and business goals, but one thing we shared was how much we were able to accomplish under Kristen’s guidance.
The first, initial layer of my 8x8 minis in the Feeling of Water series, captured way back in January!
Accomplishments I’m Really Proud of:
These wins wouldn’t have happened without the structure and support of Keys to the Art World:
1. Created a unified series consisting of 12 original paintings—my most prolific streak ever. I went from painting 1–2 days/week when I worked full-time upped to 4–5 days/week.2. Discovered and defined my abstract visual voice with conviction. I can now clearly articulate the design language and emotional tone behind my style, and confidently communicate it to collectors and gallerists.3. Refreshed my brand. I redesigned the Studio Skye Silver logo, typography, and color palette to reflect my evolving identity as an artist.4. Launched (might I say slaved away) a new, optimized website that creates a much stronger collector experience.5. Secured my first-ever solo show—The Feeling of Water series will be on view this August and September at OB Beans Coffee Roasters in Ocean Beach, San Diego.6. Exhibited work at a new gallery venue for me, Borrego Art Institute, in Borrego Springs, CA.7. Achieved consistent, month-over-month sales at every Art on 30th Saturday opening reception—making the first half of 2025 my highest-grossing period to date.
What’s Next for Studio Skye Silver:
The road to a serious art career doesn’t end with Keys to the Art World; this is just the beginning. Post-mentorship, my goals include:
1. Sharing my new series, the Feeling of Water, with the world at December’s Keys to the Art World group exhibition (details below!).2. Expanding retail presence: placing artwork in new boutiques, gift shops, and plant shops within San Diego County and beyond.3. Returning to my surreal tree series and releasing a full body of work.4. Preparing for major fine art fairs like the Mission Fed Little Italy and Liberty Station Art Walks.5. Setting a new sales goal for 2026, topping 2025's success.
Bottom Line
Keys to the Art World is an exceptional program for any serious artist ready to take the leap into making art a viable career. There’s nothing else quite like it in San Diego or the greater Southern California region. If you're even slightly curious about where your art practice could go with structure, mentorship, and support—this is your sign to do it!
Keys to the Art World Group Exhibition, December 2025
Save the Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 4 to 7 PM
Join us for a group exhibition at Ashton Gallery featuring work from the 2025 Keys to the Art World graduates. I’ll be exhibiting 6 miniature and 5 large-scale original paintings from my newest series, the Feeling of Water.
Hope to see you there!
—Skye 🌞