He attended courses at the Artists’ Association of Revolutionary Russia guided by Ilya Mashkov and studied at Surikov Institute under Boris Ioganson. In 1942 Nikolai became a member of the USSR Union of Artists.
Nikolai's artistic training included courses at the Artists' Association of Revolutionary Russia, instruction from Ilya Mashkov, and studies at the Surikov Institute under Boris Ioganson. He joined the USSR Union of Artists in 1942.