New Masters Academy: Glenn Vilppu's Figure Drawing Lessons for $49/Month

If you had to pick one subscription platform for traditional fine art education, the argument for New Masters Academy comes down to a single name: Glenn Vilppu. Vilppu is widely considered one of the greatest living figure drawing teachers. He has taught at the American Animation Institute, Art Center College of Design, and major animation studios. His approach to figure drawing has influenced generations of professional artists. And his entire course library is available on NMA for the cost of a monthly gym membership.

But NMA is not just Vilppu. The platform offers over 1,000 hours of instruction across figure drawing, anatomy, portrait painting, landscape, still life, sculpture, and art fundamentals, taught by dozens of master-level artists. As of 2026, the platform has undergone significant changes to its pricing and feedback systems, which are worth understanding before you subscribe.

What You Pay

NMA restructured its plans in 2024. The current tiers are:

• Library Plan: $49/month or $441/year. All on-demand courses, learning tracks, and full digital reference library.
• Library+ Plan: $79/month or $711/year. Everything in Library plus the image reference library, 3D model reference library, rare art book library, and live class recordings.
• Live Plan: $199/month. Group coaching with esteemed instructors, full access to every NMA Live Class, and all Library+ benefits.
• Group Coaching: $79/month. Live group sessions with personalized critiques from professional artists.
• Master Mentorship: $249/month. Biweekly one-on-one mentorship sessions plus group coaching access.

Annual plans include 3 NMA Tokens and membership in a seasonal cohort at no additional cost. NMA ran a Memorial Day Sale in 2026 offering 45% off the first year (Library for $242.55, Library+ for $391.05), which is the deepest discount they offer outside of Black Friday.

The key change from 2024 onward: free assignment feedback is gone. Submitting assignments for instructor feedback now requires NMA Tokens. Tokens cost $12 each or $90 for a bundle of 10. One token covers a standard assignment submission, while more complex interactions like full critiques cost more. This is a significant shift from the old model where subscription included feedback, and it changes the value calculus for students who need critique.

The Instructor Roster

Glenn Vilppu's figure drawing courses are the headline attraction. His instruction covers gesture drawing, figure construction, anatomical study, and the development of a fluid, confident approach to drawing the human form. If you have seen his teaching on YouTube, the NMA courses are the full, structured version of those concepts.

Beyond Vilppu, the platform features instruction from artists with decades of professional experience in their specialties. Portrait instructors teach likeness, expression, and character capture. Landscape painters share plein air and studio techniques. Still life instructors demonstrate classical approaches to composition, lighting, and material rendering.

The breadth of master-level instruction means you can study multiple disciplines with multiple instructors, experiencing different teaching approaches and artistic philosophies. This exposure to diverse perspectives is one of the most valuable aspects of the platform.

The 3D Reference Library

The interactive 3D anatomical model library (available on Library+ and above) is NMA's most distinctive technical feature. These digital models can be rotated, zoomed, and studied from any angle, providing a resource for anatomical study that supplements traditional reference materials. You can examine skeletal and muscular structures in three dimensions, understanding spatial relationships that are difficult to grasp from flat illustrations.

The platform also provides an extensive library of high-quality reference photographs for figure drawing, portrait study, and other practice. These curated references give you quality material for independent practice sessions.

The Token System: What Changed and Why It Matters

Before August 2024, NMA subscription included free assignment feedback. Now, all interactive offerings (assignment submissions, NMA critiques, live class participation) require NMA Tokens. This was a controversial change that upset many existing subscribers.

The token system works like this: you buy tokens individually ($12 each) or in bundles ($90 for 10), and each interactive service costs a specific number of tokens. A standard assignment submission costs 1 token. An NMA Critique costs 2-3 tokens depending on length. More extensive interactions cost more.

For self-directed learners who just want to watch courses and practice on their own, this change does not matter. The Library and Library+ plans still give you unlimited access to all video content. But for students who relied on free feedback as part of their subscription, the token system effectively raises the monthly cost.

NMA also offers a Two-Year Foundations Program

For students who want structured, comprehensive training, NMA offers a Two-Year Foundations Program costing $4,987.50 per year. This is a full curriculum with enrollment requirements and a $100 enrollment fee. Financing options are available through NMA or credit partners. This is a different product from the subscription library and is aimed at students who want a guided, cohort-based experience rather than self-paced browsing.

How NMA Compares

Against Proko, which sells individual courses with lifetime access, NMA is a subscription library with multiple instructors. Proko gives you Stan Prokopenko's figure drawing and anatomy courses permanently. NMA gives you Vilppu plus dozens of other instructors for as long as you subscribe. If you only want figure drawing, Proko is more cost-effective. If you want breadth across traditional art disciplines, NMA wins.

Against Watts Atelier Online, which offers a similar classical training approach, NMA has a larger library and more instructors. Watts has a more focused, atelier-style curriculum. Both are excellent for traditional art fundamentals.

Against Drawabox, which is free, NMA costs money but offers video instruction from named experts instead of written lessons. Drawabox is narrower in scope (construction drawing only) while NMA covers the full range of traditional art.

Final Verdict: Who Is This Actually For?

New Masters Academy is for artists who want access to master-level instruction across multiple traditional art disciplines without paying per-course prices. It is for students of figure drawing and anatomy who specifically want Vilppu's teaching. And it is for self-directed learners who can watch, practice, and assess their own progress without needing constant feedback.

It is not for artists who need regular instructor feedback as part of their subscription, since the token system makes that an additional cost. It is not for anyone exclusively interested in digital art or entertainment industry workflows (look at Gnomon Workshop instead). And it is not for artists who prefer owning their courses permanently over renting access.

Start with the Library Plan at $49/month. Watch Vilppu's gesture drawing series. If his teaching style resonates, the subscription pays for itself. Use the coupon code DRAWABOX (from Drawabox) for 25% off your first billing cycle.