Creative Compass | Mentorships for Artists
Consulting for the college bound creative
Turn Overwhelm into Confidence—A Guided Path to Art College Success The journey to art school is exciting, but let’s be honest—it can also be overwhelming, stressful, and filled with uncertainty for both students and parents.
👉 What pieces should be in the portfolio?
👉 Is their work strong enough? Unique enough?
👉 What do colleges really want to see?
👉 How do we even start?
As a parent, you want to give your child the best chance at success, but navigating the art school admissions process can feel like stepping into uncharted territory—especially if you don’t have a background in the arts. You’re not alone! Many families feel clueless, stressed, and unsure about how to guide their creative teen toward their dream school.
That’s where Creative Compass comes in.
With over 20 years of experience teaching art at all levels—from elementary to adults—I’ve spent much of my career helping teens build confidence and craft portfolios that stand out. I know how to turn uncertainty into clarity and frustration into focus. My students have been accepted into top-tier programs like RISD, SCAD, Ringling College of Art and Design, and more—because they’ve learned to present their best, most authentic work in a way that aligns with each school’s expectations. A Supportive, Step-by-Step Approach For high school juniors and seniors, Creative Compass offers a structured yet relaxed process that takes the stress out of portfolio building.
Together, we’ll:
✅ Develop a clear plan for what to include and what to create next
✅ Fill in gaps with strategic exercises and projects tailored to your student’s strengths
✅ Refine technical skills across different mediums and subjects
✅ Ensure their portfolio is well-rounded, personal, and meets specific college requirements
✅ Ease stress and self-doubt with personalized support and encouragement
Parents, You’re Not Alone in This I get it—as a mom of three, I know how much you want to support your child’s passion while also ensuring they have a realistic, competitive shot at getting into their dream school. The process can feel like a maze of deadlines, requirements, and high expectations—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. With Creative Compass, I offer more than just technical guidance—I provide emotional support, strategic planning, and personalized mentorship so that both you and your child feel empowered, prepared, and confident in the journey ahead. Let’s make their college dreams a reality—without the stress, second-guessing, and overwhelm.
🚀 Ready to get started? Let’s create a plan that sets your student up for success!
A little about me
Here is a small collection of some examples of my artwork. For my full portfolio visit andreagianchiglia.com
What to expect
Portfolio assessment, goal planning, essay help, recommendation letter.
Individual lessons to create work that will help complete a strong portfolio via Zoom or an in-person add on.
Office hours to ask anything from critiques, application questions, etc.
Andrea has helped my child grow tremendously in such a short period. Not only has my daughter created a strong collection of artwork she has gained confidence and feels secure going into the next chapter of her journey. This experience gave me so much peace of mind!
Brenda L, Mother of Student
I have been learning with Andrea for many years and truly love her as a teacher. She has helped me improve my skills tremendously, and I’ve grown so much in various mediums. She explains things in a way that makes it easier for me to understand, guiding me step by step as I work on my drawings. At the same time, she encourages me to use my own perspective and imagination, allowing me to develop my unique artistic style.
Sahana, Art Student
Andrea’s instruction was key to my portfolio development. She gave me the fundamental skills I needed to be able to express myself well with drawing and painting. As a result, I was accepted to every art school to which I applied, and I was offered several scholarships. I wouldn’t be the professional I am today without her!
Abigail Rae L, Art Student
Student Portfolios
What you will receive each month
Portfolio assessments and critiques
I will provide a 30 min in-depth critique of your portfolio, carefully evaluating key elements that are essential for success in college applications. This includes analyzing the range of mediums you’ve explored, ensuring your portfolio reflects versatility and creativity, as well as assessing your understanding of foundational principles like value, color, composition, and perspective. This will happen via zoom, and the entire critique will be recorded to review when needed.
We’ll also examine the overall cohesiveness and flow of your portfolio, ensuring it presents a well-rounded and compelling narrative of your artistic abilities. If certain pieces require adjustments or improvements, we can work together to enhance them, fine-tuning details and elevating the quality of your existing work. This process ensures that each piece not only reflects your full potential but also aligns with the specific requirements and expectations of your target schools.
Together, we’ll create a clear and actionable plan tailored to your goals and timeline. This plan will outline the necessary steps to strengthen your portfolio, fill in any gaps, and ensure that all work is completed efficiently and on schedule. By breaking the process into manageable tasks, we’ll take the stress out of the application process, setting you up for success and giving you the confidence to present your best work to prospective schools.
One on One Instruction
Two personalized sessions per month: These 1.5 hour, one-on-one sessions, offered via Zoom, are tailored to your unique needs and goals. Each session provides focused time to work closely together, ensuring you have the guidance and feedback necessary to progress confidently.
Portfolio development with purpose: We’ll work side by side to identify the specific areas of your portfolio that need improvement. Whether it’s enhancing technical skills, adding diversity in mediums, or creating pieces that align with college application requirements, our sessions will be structured to address gaps and elevate your work. This includes building new artwork from scratch or refining and enhancing existing pieces to meet the highest standards.
-A customized approach: Each student’s portfolio is unique, so our sessions will be tailored to your individual goals, the requirements of your target schools, and your personal artistic style. From exploring a variety of mediums to mastering key principles like value, color, and composition, we’ll ensure your portfolio not only meets but exceeds expectations.
-In-person materials provided: For in-person sessions, I’ll provide all necessary materials to ensure you can focus on creating without the stress of sourcing supplies. Whether you need paints, pastels, or drawing tools, you’ll have access to everything required to bring your ideas to life.
Office hours, essays & support
Twice a month, I’ll host dedicated office hours for an hour to provide additional support and guidance.
During these sessions, students can:
-Ask questions about their portfolio or the college application process
-Receive quick critiques or feedback on their work
-Check in on their progress and next steps These office hours are also a great opportunity to hear and learn from the questions of other students, fostering a sense of community and shared learning.
In addition, I’ll offer assistance with crafting strong essays that can help set you apart from other applicants and potentially earn scholarships. These essays are a critical part of showcasing your unique voice and story.
I’m also here to provide support for both students and parents in making important decisions—whether it’s choosing between schools, evaluating programs, or navigating other aspects of the application process. Together, we’ll ensure everyone feels informed and confident during this exciting journey!
Divya A, Mother of Student
Andrea kept me enthusiastic about art for over nine years. She has helped me fine tune my artistic technique ever since I was eight years old. I was able to submit a strong portfolio when applying to college. She has been a very influential and kind role model for me in my childhood.
Brian H, Former Student
Lucia, Art Student
Limited Availability: Session Spaces are highly limited to ensure each student receives personalized attention and guidance. Don’t miss this opportunity—secure your spot today!
Breakdown
This program is packaged in a way to help your child thrive. Additional lessons, customization, and in person elements can be added on at an additional cost.
Planning and Critiquing
-Initial consultation -30 min portfolio review of best works
-A strategic game plan to accomplish goals on a timely manner
-Access to all tutorials and demos on Create & Inspire site for 20% off.
Lessons and development
-Two 1.5 hour Virtual live lessons to create new work step by step with me*
-In person can be added on if within a reasonable radius from Califon, NJ.
-Check ins and support throughout the month
Support, office hours and more
-Two monthly one hour office hour opportunities for compass enrollees to ask questions, watch or be critiqued on progress work and to share anything they like.
- An online community with others enrolled to bounce ideas and have peer support.
- A personalized recommendation letter
Building a Portfolio That Opens Doors
"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet."
Monthly Fee
$500.00
Billed monthly
- 1:1 instruction
- Group Office hours and Support
- Goal setting, plan creation, critiques
