The following profiles have been selected from students currently enrolled in the SORA program.
Claudia Kilgore
Claudia has a BFA, majoring in advertising and psychology. She has 25 years of experience in
advertising and has been dabbling in art since she was 4 years old.
"After being a self-taught artist to this point and taking a few drawing courses, I wanted a school
where I could really learn all aspects of painting and drawing. I looked into other places but
just didn.t find what I was looking for. I found SORA when I was admiring a painting of Bruno Surdo's
at Ann Nathan Gallery."
"I can't believe what a difference SORA is making in all
aspects of my art, from how to execute a drawing to
knowing all the ins and outs of painting and all the
materials involved. I've made quantum leaps in
understanding and doing." After SORA, Claudia plans to be a painter. A good one.
Jessica Smit
Jessica has a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
After graduating from college, she spent several years teaching English as a Second Language in Japan.
"I wanted to become a painter when I was in college, but even though I was an art major, I wasn't learning the skills
I needed to draw and paint the human figure well. When I found SORA, I was so impressed by the quality of the student
and alumni work, that I knew I had to study at SORA."
"Studying at SORA is giving me skills in so many areas: figure drawing, paint handing, portraiture, artistic anatomy,
and composition. When I compare the work I am doing now to the work I did before coming to SORA, I am amazed at
how much I've learned. I'm so thankful to have this opportunity to learn from such a talented, dedicated group of
professional artists."
"After my education at SORA, I hope to use the skills I've learned at SORA to become a full-time artist. I want to
paint creative figurative paintings rich in color,
expression, symbolism, and narrative. I am inspired by the Symbolist and Pre-Raphaelite artists of the late nineteenth
century as well as the Japanese aesthetic and woodblock prints."
Ben Rathbone
Ben Rathbone has an Bachelor's degree from George Mason Universtity in Virginia and worked for a number of years
in the I.T. industry. "I knew a few years after high school that I wanted to be an artist, but I didn't know how
I would do it. I also knew that contemporary universities were not where I wanted to study painting. When I
discovered SORA, I knew it would be the right environment to prepare me for a career as a professional painter."
"I chose SORA because the instructors train you not just on drawing and painting skills, but give you the tools
and experience to create and explore original ideas and imagery." Ben is inspired by the art of Ancient Greece,
Johannes Vermeer, and 19th century European painters and plans to be a professional painter after completing the
SORA program.