Team
EDUCATING ARTISTS SINCE 2014
This is your Team section. It's a great place to introduce your team and talk about what makes it special, such as your culture or work philosophy. Don't be afraid to illustrate personality and character to help users connect with your team.
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At Art Academica, our tutors are more than teachers — they are practicing artists, designers, and storytellers who guide children and teens with care, curiosity, and deep respect for creativity.
Each tutor brings their own artistic voice into the studio, giving students the rare chance to learn from people who live and breathe art. From illustration and manga to oil painting, industrial design, sketching, and character creation, our team covers a wide spectrum of creative disciplines — and they do it with warmth, humour, and intention.
What makes our tutors special is not just their professional skill, but the way they teach. They know how to encourage confidence, nurture individuality, and help young artists find their own visual language. Lessons are structured, thoughtful, and inspiring — yet always playful and open-ended, allowing every student to grow at their own pace.
Our tutors believe that art is not about copying, but about seeing, feeling, and thinking. They guide students through technique, art history, and creative problem-solving while making the studio a safe, joyful space where mistakes are welcome and ideas are celebrated.
Whether your child is just beginning their artistic journey or building a serious folio for the future, our tutors are here to support, challenge, and inspire — one brushstroke, sketch, and idea at a time.
Welcome to Art Academica — where learning art means learning to believe in your own creative voice.
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 Fedoskino 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.
Elena Buya
Art Teacher
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.
Michelle molinari
Art Teacher
Hello everyone, I'm Michelle Molinari, and I'm excited to share my artistic journey with you. As a painter and installation artist, my work delves into the concepts of death and animal beauty. I often use the taxidermic medium to explore the deep cultural longing to preserve nature against its inevitable course.
Inspired by the European still life tradition, I create my own still life paintings. Painting allows me to develop an empathetic understanding of the animals, capturing both the preservation and revelation of life and death.
I graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with First Class Honours in both BFA and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) degrees. In 2014, I was honored to receive the Graeme Hildebrand Travel Grant, which enabled me to undertake artist residencies in New York and Italy. Now, I am represented by Flinders Lane Gallery Melbourne, and my works can be found in collections across Australia and overseas.
I am thrilled to be here at Art Academica, sharing my passion and expertise with all of you. Let's create something amazing together!
Giuliano Zanchi
Art Teacher
Ciao everyone! I’m Giuliano, and I can’t wait to create with you!
I’m an artist from Italy , now based in Australia, and I absolutely love experimenting with different art styles, storytelling, and illustration. When I’m not teaching at Art Academica, you’ll find me in my studio, playing with new materials and finding creative ways to make art more eco-friendly. I also have a big passion for Japanese culture—I love origami, traditional art, and yes, I even speak Japanese!
Right now, I’m studying at NCAT (Northern College of the Arts and Technology), where I continue to explore and refine my artistic skills.
I’m so excited to meet all of you and create something amazing together. See you soon!
peter Nomura
Art Teacher
Hi, I’m Peter!
I studied engineering and industrial design, and spent a few years working in the industry, designing a wide range of products. While I gained valuable experience, I realised that my true passion lies in art.
I love creating entire worlds through characters, machines, and imagination—bringing ideas to life through drawing. My work places a strong emphasis on constructive drawing, with a focus on perspective and form.
I also have a rescue German Shepherd who keeps me company while I draw!
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.