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About New Masters Academy

Build a Strong Foundation in Your Craft with NMA

Revolutionizing Online Art Education: The NMA Way

Welcome to New Masters Academy, the ultimate destination for artists looking to build a strong foundation in their craft. Our team of world-renowned instructors has designed a curriculum that covers the essential techniques and skills needed to succeed in any visual art field.

From fine art to entertainment art, our courses offer something for everyone. Our team includes experts such as Glenn Vilppu, Steve Huston, Ed Fraughton, and Bill Perkins, who have achieved major accomplishments in their respective fields. With over 2,500 hours of content from more than 50 instructors, we offer a wide range of courses covering a variety of mediums and techniques.

But what sets us apart from the competition? Our focus on foundational skills. We understand that having a strong foundation is key to success in any art form. That’s why we provide a structured, step-by-step roadmap through our course curriculum to ensure that you have a clear path to mastering the essential techniques. Our courses are recorded in a professional environment with the world’s best artists and are rigorously audited to ensure nothing is left out.

In addition to our comprehensive course offerings, we also offer a unique 3D viewing application and an extensive photo reference library to give you the resources you need to excel in your chosen field. And with live instructor interaction and professional coaching, you’ll have the support you need to take your skills to the next level.

So if you’re an artist looking to build a strong foundation in your craft and gain a competitive edge, look no further than New Masters Academy. Join us today and start building the skills you need to succeed in the visual art world.

New Masters Academy Instructors

Cornelia Hernes Expertise: Drawing, Painting Studied at Florence Academy of Art and Odd Nerdrum Taught at Florence Academy of Art Italy and US

Cornelia Hernes is a fine artist who graduated from The Florence Academy of Art in 2007, where she became a Principle Instructor. She studied with Odd Nerdrum in Norway and completed a BFA from The University of Victoria, B.C, Canada. Cornelia specializes in painting from life with oil paint, covering a variety of genres like still life, interiors, and natural motifs. Cornelia has been an Award recipient from the International Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon Competition.

Matt Duckett Expertise: Figure Painting and Illustration Teacher at Laguna College of Art and Design and Kline Academy Studied at Laguna College of Art and Design

Matt Duckett is an accomplished fine artist and freelance illustrator. Duckett’s art explores themes of displacement and identity, particularly resonating through his poignant reflections on disaster-ravaged communities in the Philippines. Internationally exhibited and featured in distinguished publications, Duckett’s diverse portfolio ranges from indie publisher book covers to card games and splash art, skillfully marrying tradition with modern design. Beyond his creative work, he actively contributes to arts communities via nonprofits, artist incubators, and arts boards. His art goes beyond mere aesthetics, linking cultures, histories, and shared resilience, challenging viewers’ perceptions of identity and tradition. Duckett holds an MFA in Painting from the Laguna College of Art and Design and a BA in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Michal Suffczynski Expertise: Watercolor and Architecture Studied Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Detroit Mercy Teaches at Warsaw University of Technology

Michał Suffczynski holds a degree in Architecture from the prestigious Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Detroit Mercy in the USA. With extensive experience in both practical and academic domains, he is a renowned Ph.D. and Professor of Architecture at the Department of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology. Michał is one of the founders of the Polish Watercolor Association. He is an accomplished watercolor painter and has gained international recognition for his artwork. Michał’s contributions to architecture and watercolor are recognized through various grants and awards from the Residenza Universitaria Internazionale Association in Rome in 1990 to the Italian government recognizing his work with grants in Perugia in 1991 and Siena in 1997.

Marc Dalessio Expertise: Portrait and Landscape Painting Taught at Florence Academy of Art and Charles H. Cecil Studios

Marc Dalessio is an American naturalistic painter and a highly experienced artist who has dedicated his life to mastering his craft. He started his journey by studying art and biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, then later honed his skills by continuing his education at the prestigious Il Bisonte in Florence, Italy, where he specialized in printmaking. He also studied and taught at Charles H. Cecil Studios. In 1997, he instructed landscape painting at the Florence Academy of Art. Not only is he a masterful landscape painter, but he’s also a highly accomplished portraitist with a wealth of experience. His work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries in cities such as London, New York, and Florence.

Moritz Moser Expertise: Wood and Stone Sculpture Studied stone and wood carving in Italy Teaches at HTL Hallein in Salzburg, Austria

Moritz Moser is an experienced stonemason and woodcarver from Salzburg, Austria. He received specialized training in stone carving at the Marble School in Lasa, Vinschgau, and woodcarving at the Woodcarving School in Ortisei, Val Gardena. Moritz currently works as an instructor in the sculpting department at HTL Hallein and has exhibited his sculptures in Pongau, South Tyrol, and Germany. He is known for creating unique, individualized tombstones and sculptures from local and European wood and stone.

Fei Meng Expertise: Portraiture and Illustration Exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists and the Federation of British Artists

Fei Meng is an artist based out of Oxfordshire, England. She specializes in representational portraiture as well as digital and traditional illustrations, primarily in colored pencil. Fei has shown her art at the Royal Society of British Artists – Rising Stars and the Federation of British Artists – Figureatice Art Now exhibitions.

Tina Orsolic Dalessio Expertise: Drawing, Painting Studied at Florence Academy of Art Taught at the University of Zagreb

Tina Orsolic Dalessio is a fine artist who graduated from the Florence Academy of Art, Italy, in 2018. Tina specializes in painting from life using oil paints. Her subjects range from figures and still-life to landscape. Before becoming an artist, Tina taught philosophy of law at the University of Zagreb, where she received her Bachelor’s degree.

Stephen Bauman Expertise: Drawing, Painting Taught at Florence Academy of Art Former Director of Anatomy & Ecorche in Sweden and USA

Stephen Bauman is a Tennessee-born artist. He trained at Florence Academy of Art, where he later taught and worked as the Director of the Anatomy & Ecorche department for six years. He left the academy in 2020 to focus on his art career and online teaching. Stephen has representation in New York with Grenning Gallery and Hersh Fine Art.

Ryan Benjamin Expertise: Comics Worked for Image Comics, DC, Marvel Collaborated on Batman Beyond, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Black Panther Top selling book: Brothers Bond

Ryan Benjamin is a professional comic artist with more than 28 years of experience in the industry. He started his career with Image Comics in 1994. Later, he joined DC and Marvel, where he collaborated on many successful projects such as Batman Beyond, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Black Panther, and more. Ryan also teaches comic BootCamp around the world. His top-selling comic is Brothers Bond; it was nominated in 2018 for the Eisner Award for the Best Webcomic.

Michael Siegel Expertise: Painting and drawing Studied under David A Leffel Taught at LAAFA, The Art Students League of New York, and the Barcelona Academy of Art

Michael Siegel is a fine artist and instructor currently living in San Antonio, Texas. He specializes in drawing and oil painting; has been represented by galleries in New York, Amsterdam, and Santa Barbara. He has won numerous awards. As an instructor, Siegel has taught painting, drawing, and anatomy for more than 15 years to professionals in fine art, animation, and illustration. His teaching credits include LAAFA, The Art Students League of New York, and the Barcelona Academy of Art.