NMA Course Guide: Learning Tracks & Classes
NMA Course Guide: Learning Tracks & Classes
COURSE GUIDE
Welcome to New Masters Academy (NMA)! Our Course Guide is here to help you choose the right courses to meet your artistic
goals. You can follow our pre-designed Learning Tracks or customize your plan by selecting from Courses by Subject starting on
Page 3. Courses progress from beginner to advanced to support your skill development.
NMA offers 10 Learning Tracks focused on specific art disciplines, extending over four to five years. Tracks are divided into
Modules, typically equivalent to one to two years of study and composed of subject-specific courses. For Interactive learning,
we require you to take the module in its designed sequence of parts, though you may take individual courses within a part in
any order.
Each course typically lasts 8–12 weeks, with an average of eight hours of video lessons and weekly assignments. Your time to
complete a module depends on your schedule and pace. Full-time students will progress more quickly, while those with about
two hours per week will take longer.
We strongly recommend beginning with the Drawing Foundations Module, which establishes essential drawing principles and
provides a solid foundation for future study.
Note: To enhance your learning, we recommend meeting the prerequisite requirements for certain specialized courses, especially
those focusing on the Russian approach or Sight-Size techniques. Completing these prerequisites helps you fully understand and apply
the concepts presented in those courses.
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
LIVE CLASSES
New Masters Academy offers a diverse range of Live Classes to complement your studies. These sessions add new lessons
and assignments to our library and include weekly critiques from our instructors.
Some Live Classes are designed to accompany specific catalog courses. Enrolling allows you to progress through the course
material week by week, complete assignments, and receive instructor feedback.
With active participation and successful completion, you may earn a Certificate of Completion. To see current and upcoming
sessions, visit the schedule at [Link].
If you cannot attend live, each session is recorded so you can review the material at your convenience.
INTERACTIVE COURSES
AND FEEDBACK
Our Interactive Courses combine self-paced lessons with personalized feedback.
How it works:
1. Watch the pre-recorded lessons on the course page.
2. Submit assignments through the Jotform provided on each lesson.
3. Receive tailored feedback from the NMA Feedback Team.
4. As you complete the required assignments, subsequent courses unlock so you can continue seamlessly.
Earn an Interactive Course Certificate by completing all course requirements.
Interactive Courses align with the Drawing Foundations Module (see Page 6). Not all courses are currently available in the
Interactive format; we will add more over time. Learn more at [Link]/interactive-courses.
The NMA library features a broad range of courses taught by leading artists. The lists below are organized by subject and general
difficulty. Use them to explore topics or to supplement your Track.
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 Anatomy Drawing ☐ Outdoor Landscape Painting Quickstart
☐ Complete Human Anatomy for Artists ☐ Watercolor Sketching on Location
☐ Portrait Painting for Beginners
DRAWING: ☐ Oil Painting for Beginners II
☐ Drawing Foundations I ☐ Still-Life Painting in the Sight Size Method
☐ Drawing Foundations II ☐ Introduction to Still-life Painting I
☐ Drawing Foundations III ☐ Introduction to Still-life Painting II
☐ Drawing Foundations IV ☐ 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 ☐ Ceramic Portrait Sculpting: Armature Bust
☐ Constructive Figure Drawing I ☐ An Observational Approach to the Portrait in Clay
☐ Constructive Figure Drawing II ☐ Build Your Own Anatomy Figure
☐ Figure Drawing for Fantasy Art ☐ The Dynamic Anatomy Figure in Clay
☐ Drawing the Portrait in the Russian Style ☐ Drawing in Space
☐ Figure Drawing in the Russian Style ☐ Marble Sculpting
☐ Advanced Dynamic Gesture Drawing ☐ An Observational Approach to the Figure in Clay
☐ Complete Sight-Size Drawing Course ☐ An Introduction to Mold Making for Sculptors
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6. Stress-Free Sketching
9h 24m
12. Perspective I
40h 45m 55s
Interactive Feedback Available for all courses in this Module Check Point: Choose TWO
15a. Cast Drawing: The Russian Approach
15h 19m 36s
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Observational Drawing
Interactive Feedback Available for all courses in this Module Anatomy and Value
Check Point: Choose One
3A. Art Anatomy for Beginners
11h 25m 42s
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. Oil Painting for Beginners I
will be introduced to several painting media such as oil paints, 20h 58m 28s
watercolor, and acrylics. You will learn more about perspective,
painting environment, and color theory. 2B. Oil Painting Atelier
10h 12m 3s
Interactive Feedback Available for courses in Part 1 of this
Module 2C. Introduction to Still-life Painting I
26h 47m 3s
Prerequisite: Bargue Plates and Plaster Cast: Sight Size
Method
7. Creative Composition
11h 10m 11s
This module is for professional figure or portrait sculptors as 2. Modeling Plaster Casts (in production)
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
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 I
20h 0m
Painting Technique
Check Point: Choose One
4A. Contemporary Realism in Oils
18h 43m 32s
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 2h 27m 21s
important painting theories and processes while working
on location, and lastly, focus on the design element of your
landscape painting. Theory and Process
Landscape Design
5. Russian Impressionist Landscape Painting (in
production)
Animal Drawing
5. Introduction to Animal Anatomy
9h 1m 41s
Head Rendering
Check Point: Choose One
3A. The Portrait in Watercolor
9h 21m 40s
Design
Check Point: Choose One
7A. How to Design Movie Posters
19h 39m 30s
This module is for artists who want to develop their drawing 2. Vehicle Design and Sketching
and designing skills for visual development, animation design, 11h 51m 51s
and concept art. You will expand your visual library, master the
foundations of advanced linear perspective, and continue to Perspective and Visual Library II
improve your skills in figure and costume drawing. 3. Linear Perspective Master Course
Part 2: Lessons 8-13
36h 57m 29s
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 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
Intro to Painting
Check Point: Choose One
7A. 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. Ceramic Portrait Sculpting: Armature Bust
sculpting ability. You will build on your ability to construct the 19h 43m
portrait in three-dimensional space. Then, you will develop a
deeper understanding of the anatomy of the figure. 3. An Observational Approach to the Portrait in Clay
18h 55m 52s
3D Anatomy
5. Build Your Own Anatomy Figure
13h 51m 53s
This module is for artists who 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 (in production)
permanent state.
3. Scanning and Printing/Cutting (in production)
Pointing
4. Stone Carving with the Macchinetta di Punto (in
production)
This module is for artists who want to get started in three- 2. Introduction to Zbrush (in production)
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 of your traditional 13h 51m 53s
skills 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 who want to develop their animating 2. Visual Storytelling
skills. You will learn the fundamentals of traditional animation. 16h 33m 4s
Moreover, you will develop the ability to tell stories, design
characters, and create complex animations with visual effects. Advanced Techniques
3. Walk and Run Cycles in Animation
15h 1m 14s