Our Instructors
Our instructors are classically trained, professional artists who have studied at some of the best academies in the world.
Melissa Zimberg
With more than 20 years of experience, Melissa has taught at every level from middle school through college; and has taught in some of the top art schools in the country including Pratt School of Art and Design, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Each year I help hundreds of students create work they didn't think possible; and guide dozens of high school students into great art programs at schools including NJIT, Pratt, St. Andrews, NYU, Rutgers, and more.
My years of experience as a designer, professor, and teacher allows me to provide students of all levels insight and instruction typically reserved for those attending the top arts programs.
Dana Dimuro
Dana is an award-winning artist whose passion for art focusing specifically on portraiture and the effects of light and shadow on the human figure. After studying at the Art Students League and the National Academy to more deeply explore the techniques of the old masters, she pursued classical realist training at the Florence Academy of Art. Dana's roots are in classicism but each painting brings a new slant to her work.
‘Looking past the obvious, close observation and engagement of the subject are a large part of my painting process. One of my goals is to inspire those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover beauty in nature, and to be drawn toward pictures that find meaning and poetry in the everyday. This with a love of drawing and a keen desire to explore the effects of light has formed my passion for painting.’
Victoria Herrera
Victoria Herrera is a classically trained artist known for her very large scale flower portraits and figurative oil paintings. Her style is contemporary yet rooted in the techniques of the Old Masters. Victoria spent four years training at the famed Grand Central Atelier where she learned the techniques of the great masters.
As a contemporary realist, my style, which is decidedly modern (reflecting my subject matter), my processes is deeply rooted in classical artistic training in the tradition of the Old Masters. And while I enjoy covering a wide variety of subjects, what remains consistent throughout my work is a deep love and respect for beauty and nature. For me, painting is intuitive and highly symbolic, and the direction it takes each time I approach the canvas is often surprising, even to me.
Riham ElSadany
Riham ElSadany is a classically trained artist whose works began from an immersion in the architectural wonders of Old Cairo. Riham holds a PhD in Art Education and a Masters from the famed NY Academy of Art where she trained in the techniques of the Old Masters.
Her contemporary works find meaning in everyday moments, particularily in the context of motherhood. Today, Riham resides at the intersection of creativity and motherhood, infusing her work with emotion and depth. "I embark on a voyage into figures and landscapes that whisper ancient tales and beckon with enigmatic allure. Veiled in shadows and cloaked in ambiguity, my figures dance between revelation and mystique, inviting the viewer to unravel the narrative woven within."
Mike Morrocco
Mike was trained at the famed Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, where he learned sequential art, cartooning, storytelling, and illustration.
Mike has worked in the graphic art and cartooning fields for many years and is the author of several graphic novels. He continues to create illustrations and novels daily.