NMA Course Guide
NMA Course Guide
NMA Course Guide
COURSE GUIDE
Welcome to New Masters Academy (NMA)! This Course Guide aims to provide clear and Notes: To ensure a smooth
informative guidance for selecting courses that meet your educational needs. You have the learning experience, we strongly
option to follow our recommended Learning Tracks or create your own path by exploring the advise fulfilling the prerequisite
"Courses By Subject" listed on Page 3. The courses within each subject are arranged from requirements for specific
beginner to advanced levels. courses in our NMA library.
This is particularly important
At NMA, we currently offer 10 Learning Tracks, each designed to provide specialized education for courses that focus on the
in a specific art field. These tracks typically span around 4-5 academic years. Each track consists Russian approach and sight-
of modules, which represent one (1) to two (2) academic years of study. Within each module, size techniques. Meeting these
we offer courses organized by subject. While we suggest following the order of subjects within prerequisites will help you grasp
a module, it is not mandatory; you are free to choose the order in which you take the courses. the concepts and techniques
On average, each course spans 8-12 weeks, comprising approximately eight (8) hours of weekly taught in these courses more
video lessons and assignments. The duration of modules can be adjusted based on your effectively.
availability and individual needs. If you are working full time (40 hours per week), your time
commitment would be reduced by three-quarters. Conversely, if you can only dedicate two (2)
hours per week, the modules will take five (5) times longer to complete.
As a foundational module, we highly recommend that all NMA students begin with Drawing
Foundations. This module serves as a core introduction to the fundamental principles of
drawing and provides a solid base for further artistic development.
START HERE:
DRAWING FOUNDATIONS
TRACKS:
3D
FIGURE PORTRAIT LANDSCAPE ENTERTAINMENT
SCULPTURE CARVING ILLUSTRATION COMICS ART ANIMATION DESIGN
CHARACTER
PAINTING PAINTING PAINTING
ART
MODULES:
1. Sculp- 1. Sculp- 1. Figure 1. Figure 1. Figure 1. Figure 1. Portrait 1. Painting 1. Enter- 1. 3D Char-
ture I ture I Drawing I Drawing I Drawing I Drawing I Drawing Founda- tainment acter Art I
tions Design I
2. Sculpture 2. Sculpture 2. Painting 2. Painting 2. Painting 2. Illustra- 2. Painting 2. 3D Char-
II II Foundations Founda- Founda- tion I Founda- 2. Land- 2. Enter- acter Art II
tions tions tions scape tainment
3. Sculpture 3. Sculpture 3. Figure & 3. Anima- Painting Design II
III III Costume 3. Portrait 3. Portrait tion 3. Portrait
Drawing II Drawing Drawing Painting 3. Enter-
4. Sculpture 4. Carving tainment
IV 4. Figure 4. Illustra- 4. Illustra- Design III
Painting tion I tion I
5. Illustra- 5. Comics
tion II Art
Some Live Classes are designed to accompany specific courses from our catalog. By enrolling in
these Live Classes, you can progress through the course material on a week-by-week basis, complete
assignments, and receive valuable critiques from instructors.
Upon successfully completing a Live Class while actively participating, you will have the chance to
receive a Certificate of Completion. To stay informed about the latest Live Classes, including upcoming
and ongoing sessions, you can refer to the up-to-date schedule available at Live.NMA.art.
In the event that you are unable to attend the Live Classes in real time, rest assured that we provide
recordings of each session for later review. This ensures that you can benefit from the content and
insights shared during the Live Classes at your convenience.
INTERACTIVE COURSES
Introducing our innovative Interactive Courses, a new format designed to enhance your learning experience. With
this format, you can access pre-recorded courses on our website, submit assignments conveniently through Discord
or Jotform, and receive personalized feedback from our dedicated teaching assistants (TA's). While our Drawing 1
course is entirely free and conducted through Discord, most courses can be accessed directly on our website.
Once you submit an assignment, you will receive customized feedback from one of our talented TA's. The
Interactive Courses align with the Drawing Foundations Module outlined in our Course Guide, available on Page
6 of this guide. While not all courses within the module are currently offered in the Interactive format, we will
progressively introduce more options as they become available.
By completing all the required assignments for each course, you have the opportunity to earn an Interactive Course
Certificate. As you fulfill the assignment requirements, the subsequent course will unlock, allowing you to proceed
with your learning journey.
For additional information on our Interactive Courses, please visit Live.NMA.art/Interactive-Courses. This
resource provides further details and insights into this engaging learning format.
The NMA library consists of a wide range of unique courses. We’ve gathered the world’s top artists from different creative fields to
provide you with a complete learning experience. The following is a list of all our courses arranged by subject and difficulty level.
ANATOMY: PAINTING:
☐ Art Anatomy for Beginners ☐ Oil Painting for Beginners I
☐ Anatomy of the Head and Neck ☐ An Introduction to Painting
☐ Anatomy of the Figure ☐ Oil Painting Atelier
☐ How to Draw Hands ☐ Watercolor/Gouache Sketchbook
☐ Intermediate Art Anatomy ☐ Outdoor Landscape Painting Quickstart
☐ Complete Human Anatomy for Artists ☐ Watercolor Sketching on Location
☐ Portrait Painting for Beginners
☐ Oil Painting for Beginners II
DRAWING: ☐ Still-Life Painting in the Sight Size Method
☐ Drawing Foundations 1 ☐ Introduction to Still-life Painting I
☐ Drawing Foundations 2 ☐ Sight-Size Portrait Painting
☐ Fundamentals of Drawing and Perspective ☐ Contemporary Realism in Oils
☐ Stress-Free Sketching ☐ The Portrait in Watercolor
☐ Fundamentals of Observational Drawing ☐ Pastel Painting Atelier
☐ Drawing with FORCE ☐ From Paper to Canvas
☐ Dynamic Gesture Drawing ☐ Long-Pose Figure Painting
☐ Introduction to Landscape Drawing ☐ Sight-Size Figure Painting
☐ Drapery: The Russian Approach ☐ Painting Interiors in Oil
☐ Cast Drawing: The Russian Approach ☐ Watercolor Painting from Observation
☐ Bargue Plates and Plaster Cast: Sight Size ☐ Introduction to Landscape Painting
Method ☐ Designing Your Landscape Painting
☐ Introduction to the Figure ☐ Studio Landscape Painting from a Plein Air Sketch
☐ The Spirit of the Pose ☐ The John Asaro Approach to Oil Painting
☐ Introduction to Inking
☐ Pastel Figure Drawing SCULPTING:
☐ An Overview of Rendering Techniques ☐ A Beginner’s Guide to Modeling in Clay
☐ Renaissance Head Drawing ☐ The Sculptor’s Funeral
☐ Constructive Head Drawing I ☐ Clay Modeling in the American Western Tradition
☐ Constructive Head Drawing II (Lesson 7-13) ☐ Modeling the Portrait in Clay for Beginners
☐ Colored Pencil Portraiture ☐ An Observational Approach to the Portrait in Clay
☐ Constructive Figure Drawing ☐ Build Your Own Anatomy Figure
☐ Drawing the Portrait in the Russian Style ☐ The Dynamic Anatomy Figure in Clay
☐ Figure Drawing in the Russian Style ☐ Drawing in Space
☐ Advanced Dynamic Gesture Drawing ☐ Marble Sculpting
☐ Complete Sight-Size Drawing Course ☐ An Observational Approach to the Figure in Clay
☐ An Introduction to Mold Making for Sculptors
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Figure
4. Drawing Foundations II
10h 15m 16s
This module is for professional figure or portrait sculptors as 2. Modeling Plaster Casts (pending 2022)
well as digital or entertainment modelers that want a stronger
foundation in the traditional arts. This module is also great for 3. The Sculptor’s Funeral
2D artists who want to improve their understanding of form. 52m 35s
Drawing Development
Check Point: Choose One
6A. Figure Drawing in the Russian Style
20h 58m 50s
Recommended Prerequisite: Fundamentals of
Observational Drawing
This module is for traditional artists who want to pursue Figure 2. Oil Painting for Beginners II
Painting as their focus of study. You will get an overview of 23h 3m 17s
oil painting and learn to construct the figure using different
approaches. 3. Constructive Figure Painting (pending 2023)
Painting Technique
Check Point: Choose One
4A. Contemporary Realism in Oils
18h 43m 32s
This module is crucial for artists who are looking to move on Check Point: Choose One
to figure painting, portrait painting, or landscape painting. You 2A. An Introduction to Painting with Steve Huston
will be introduced to several painting media such as oil paints, 26h 37m 19s
watercolor, and acrylics. You will learn more about perspective,
painting environment, and color theory. 2B. Oil Painting Atelier
10h 12m 3s
7. Creative Composition
11h 10m 11s
This module is for traditional artists who want to pursue 2. Watercolor Sketching on Location
Landscape Painting as their focus of study. You will learn to Parts 1 & 2
create quick painting sketches of the landscape, explore the 2h 27m 21s
important painting theories and painting process while working
on location. Lastly, you will focus on the design element of your
landscape painting. Theory and Process
Landscape Design
5. Russian Impressionist Landscape Painting (pending
2023)
Gesture
4. Quick Sketch for Narrative Arts (pending 2023)
Animal Drawing
5. Introduction to Animal Anatomy
9h 1m 41s
Developing Landscapes
4. Introduction to Landscape Painting
50h
Design
Check Point: Choose One
6A. How to Design Movie Posters
19h 39m 30s
This module is for intermediate artists who want to strengthen 2. Drawing Lessons from Art History (subject to change)
their drawing and painting for a visual development or concept 17h 8m 53s
art portfolio. You will study the human and animal anatomy then
learn to paint the portrait and figure. Check Point: Choose One
3A. Head Drawing for Entertainment Arts
Lessons 1-3
16h 3m 8s
Advanced Anatomy
4. Complete Human Anatomy for Artists
17h 2m 47s
Intro to Painting
Check Point: Choose One
6A. Oil Painting for Beginners
42h 32m 34s
This module is for advanced artists interested in refining 2. Color Theory Bootcamp
drawing and painting skills while creating a visual development, 39h 6m 41s
animation design, or concept art portfolio. You will develop your
ability to research, ideate, and execute designs from a project
brief. Environment Design & Painting
Check Point: Choose One
3A. Designing Your Landscape Painting
35h 41m 12s
Design
Check Point: Choose One
5A. How to Design Movie Posters
19h 39m 30s
This module is for intermediate artists interested in refining their 2. An Observational Approach to the Portrait in Clay
sculpting ability. You will build on your ability to construct the 18h 55m 52s
portrait in three-dimensional space. Then, you will develop a
deeper understanding of the anatomy of the figure.
Mid Length Portrait Modeling
3. The Ceramic Portrait (pending 2023)
3D Anatomy
4. Build Your Own Anatomy Figure
13h 51m 53s
This module is for advanced artists looking to expand 2. Figure Sculpting (pending 2023)
their ability to sculpt the figure. You will learn the different
approaches to working from life with the model. Then, you
will gain the knowledge needed to bring your sculptures to a Advanced Figure Modeling
resolve. 3. An Observational Approach to the Figure in Clay
24h 54m 51s
This module is for artists that want to take the next step with
their sculptures by making molds for casting. You will learn Sculpture Production Process
the techniques and tools required to take your sculptures to a 2. Digital Sculpting for Traditional Sculptors (pending
permanent state. 2023)
Pointing
4. Stone Carving with the Macchinetta di Punto (pending
2024)
This module is for artists that want to get started in three- 2. Introduction to Zbrush (pending 2023)
dimensional character art. You will learn the traditions of
sculpting with clay, develop an understanding of working in
space, and gain the skill set for traditional sculpture work. Head and Animals
3. Clay Modeling in the American Western Tradition
29h 21m 30s
This module is for intermediate artists who want to work with Anatomy
three-dimensional character design. You will learn the anatomy 2. Build Your Own Anatomy Figure
of the figure with clay. You will then take all your traditional skills 13h 51m 53s
and apply that to creature designs and maquette making for the
entertainment industry. 3. The Dynamic Anatomy Figure in Clay
22h 27m 11s
Creature Design
4. How to Design Creatures
9h 9m 40s
This module is for artists who want to develop the skills for 2. Penciling and Inking for Comics
making comic art. You will study the foundations of traditional 13h 1m 22s
comic books. Then, you will learn the different techniques used
to create comic books and how to conceive your style. 3. Character Development for Comics and Illustration
36h 12m 44s
This module is for artists that want to develop their animating 2. Visual Storytelling
skills. You will learn the fundamentals of traditional animation. 16h 33m 4s
Moreover, you will build up the ability to tell stories, design
characters, and create complex animations with visual effects.
Advanced Techniques
3. Walk and Run Cycles in Animation