Desert Art Academy

Desert Art Academy offers instruction in oil painting, acrylic, drawing, sculpting, charcoal, pastel, paper mache, mask making, collage, watercolor, and group projects. Students can explore specific styles and topics such as Cubism, Expressionism, Impressionism, portraiture, additive sculpture, assemblage, art history, design, illustration, cartooning and anime, figure study, architecture, digital media, and anime art classes. Classes provide individualized instruction in a group setting of 5 to 6 students, with each student able to work on their own project at their own pace, from complete beginner to intermediate and advanced levels, supported by a written curriculum with a wide range of lessons for all ages and skill levels.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Summer Art Camp runs for 9 weeks, every day from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM; classes continue year round with multiple sessions per week available by the session, week, or month
• Price: 1 Day Drop-in $50.00; 5 Day Pack $225.00; 10 Day Pack $400.00; 20 Day Pack $700.00; Full Camp (9 weeks) $1,125.00

Courses take place in a fully-equipped studio with all materials needed to get started. Instruction follows a twofold process that covers both formal elements of art—such as line, shape, form, composition balance, color mixing and application, and a range of drawing and painting techniques in media and styles including Realism, Classicism, Plein Air, Impressionism, and forms of abstraction—and expressive elements of art, which focus on emotion, feeling, imagination, and intuitive heuristic learning. The program’s mission is described as student centered, outcome based, and success oriented, with an emphasis on clarity, impeccability, vision, passion, commitment, and results.

Leo Fuchs is the founder, teacher, and director of education for Desert Art Academy and has developed and written the curriculum for the programs and courses. He is an award-winning artist, a master of color theory, paint mixing and application, and an arts educator who has taught at major art and design colleges. He has given many lectures on art and art education, worked as a motivational speaker, and published numerous articles on the creative development of children, multi level intelligence, and right brain thinking in the cyber age. He has appeared on many TV and radio programs where he has interviewed major leaders from the art and design fields, and over the last 30 years he has helped hundreds of students make their way to top colleges as well as professional careers. The leadership team also includes Gianna Bonaddio (Teacher & Children’s Program Supervisor), Hunter Zhang (Teacher & Program Director), Jaime Pajarito (Assistant Manager), and Jaden Pacia (Advertising & Media Director).

Last updated March 13, 2026.