EDUCATING ARTISTS SINCE 2014
Art Academica offers step-by-step sessions to more than 2000 students from all over Melbourne.
Our school has an educational philosophy built upon an integrative approach to art, giving you exceptional opportunities to develop creative and technical abilities, while working in a small group under professional guidance.
Book a class today and come see what we are all about. We promise you will not be disappointed!

OUR CREATIVE TEAM

TAYA DANCHENKO
Creative Director, Teacher of adult's classes
10 years ago, she held the very first art class for adults...it was the beginning of Art Academica. She has been graduated with honour from art school in Kovrov and finished Fedoskono Professional Art Colledge with a Master of classic lacquer miniature technique.
After college, she finished 5 years of Industrial design at Moscow State University of Design and Technology. She opened up the
doors of Art Academica for kids with a passion for art to teach them how to develop and construct the works with impact in their future.

Marissa Antolino
Art Teacher ( 5-9 kids-Wednesday, Thursday )
I', am so excited about being an art teacher at Art Academica and already had so much fun working in our creative atmosphere. I love all things pertaining to the art process and am truly passionate about imparting this knowledge to my student with a passion for art and a willingness to learn classic art.
Graduated after 2 years at Chisolm Tafe with a Diploma of visual arts and a further 3 years at Monash University with a degree in Fine Art and finally a Post Graduate DIP of Education for secondary schools at the University of Melbourne with a double major in teaching all visual art subjects in a high school setting.
I'm a practising artist, who loves sharing knowledge and ideas.

Rebecca Bracewell
Art Teacher (5-9 &9-14 years old kids)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday)
Art is a huge part of my life, and I have been drawing, painting, and craft-making since I was little.
I hold a BA (honours) from Monash University, where I studied both sound art and fine art. My music and art practices are very inter-connected, and when I am not teaching at Art Academica, I’m working as a freelance artist and musician."
I love working with kids because of how naturally creative and passionate they are, and I'm so excited to help provide them with the tools they need to create what they have in their heads and to capture the world around them.

yana fIdan
Art Teacher (5-9 &9-14 years old kids- Monday, Saturday)
Being born in a family of artists, I am passioned about the creative world since childhood! I went from a design bachelor’s degree to a master's course in RMIT in animation, games and interactivity.
In the first university, I received a theoretical and practical knowledge base in academic drawing and painting, sculpture, software, art history and design. Now I’m studying to create 2D and stop-motion animation.
Whatever I do, I take great pleasure in sharing my skills and knowledge with the children.
I have been working as an art teacher for seven years already because I’m admiring the kids’ unique individual vision of the world and expressing it in art. It’s an immense pleasure for me to see the inspiration and progress of young artists!

Elena Buyanova
Art Teacher (9-14 years old kids- Monday, Wednesday)
I am a portrait artists, mentor and social media content creator.
I'm passionate about learning and sharing my knowledge. I believe that process is more important than the end result. Therefore, I always try to improve and experiment with the process and techniques.
Over the years, I have developed a strong online following through sharing my progress, inspiring other artists and creating entertaining and educational art content.
I'm excited to be an art teacher here at Art Academica because we share same passion for art and learning.

Jasmine Jayakhar
Art Teacher (5-9 years old kids- Tuesday_Monet campus)
Hi, I'm an aspiring graphic designer/illustrator a student studying for a master's in creative arts at Deakin University, Australia. I'm also a recent graduate from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore where I attained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in design Communication in 2021 and a diploma in Fine Arts previously.
I have always had a passion for the arts and a flair for teaching children about the wonders that art can bring.
I have taught art classes back in Singapore as well as in Australia and aim to bring out a beautiful artist in every child through fun and engaging art techniques and inspiring stories.
I enjoy creating illustrative works and paintings with bold shapes and inviting colours. My art style is versatile and has a strong affiliation to culture, pop and vibrant compositions.

Annie Nguyen
Art Teacher (5-9 years old kids- Tuesday, Friday and Procreate)
Hi, I'm a freelance illustrator who knows the secrets to making children's books burst with color and wonder. My skills in both traditional and digital techniques using Procreate will leave you in awe!
From the moment I was a little artist myself, my heart danced with joy every time I picked up a pencil to create magic on paper. Now, I'm in Art Academica to guide kids on an extraordinary artistic journey, where our imaginations will run wild and our creativity will soar to new heights!
Altogether, we'll explore enchanting worlds, draw fantastical creatures, and tell stories that come to life through our artwork.
I will be very happy to see your young artists in the classroom.
EXPERIENCE YOU WILL ENJOY
We create a relaxing experience for women, men and their families with a purpose and a passion: to celebrate life, to inspire and entertain, empowering inner artists around the world to live their best lives filled with art, and by doing so, lift the lives of those around them in ever-widening circles. If you would like to learn more about creating your own masterpiece we invite you to check out our classes.