Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, online courses and workshops offer a flexible and effective way to enhance your skills as a visual artist. From mastering traditional techniques to exploring digital mediums, there’s a wealth of online learning resources available. Here’s a list of the top online courses and workshops for visual artists.
Skillshare: Comprehensive Art Courses
Overview: Skillshare offers a wide range of art courses taught by industry professionals. The platform covers various art forms, including painting, drawing, illustration, and digital art.
- Popular Courses:
- “Drawing Essentials: How to Improve Your Creative Skills” by Gabrielle Brickey.
- “Digital Illustration: Learn to Use Procreate” by Jarom Vogel.
- Why Choose Skillshare: It’s ideal for artists who want access to a broad range of topics and flexible learning schedules. The community aspect allows for peer feedback and networking.
Coursera: University-Level Art Programs
Overview: Coursera partners with universities and institutions to offer courses that often provide certificates upon completion. These courses are more structured and may involve assignments and peer assessments.
- Popular Courses:
- “Modern and Contemporary Art and Design” by The Museum of Modern Art.
- “Graphic Design Specialization” by California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
- Why Choose Coursera: It’s perfect for artists who want a more formal education experience with the possibility of earning a certificate from a recognized institution.
Domestika: Specialized Art Workshops
Overview: Domestika offers workshops led by creative professionals, focusing on specific skills and techniques. Each course is project-based, allowing you to apply what you learn immediately.
- Popular Courses:
- “Watercolor Techniques for Illustrating Birds” by Sarah Stokes.
- “Introduction to Digital Painting” by Álvaro Zamarreño.
- Why Choose Domestika: It’s great for artists looking to dive deep into specific skills with guided projects and access to high-quality production content.
Udemy: Affordable and Diverse Art Courses
Overview: Udemy offers a vast selection of courses on various art subjects, often at lower prices. The courses range from beginner to advanced levels and cover everything from traditional painting to digital software.
- Popular Courses:
- “The Ultimate Drawing Course: Beginner to Advanced” by Jaysen Batchelor.
- “Digital Painting in Photoshop” by Hardy Fowler.
- Why Choose Udemy: It’s a budget-friendly option for artists who want to learn at their own pace, with lifetime access to purchased courses.
New Masters Academy: Traditional Art Techniques
Overview: New Masters Academy focuses on traditional art education, offering courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, and anatomy. The instructors are often renowned artists and educators.
- Popular Courses:
- “Introduction to Drawing” by Glenn Vilppu.
- “Figure Drawing Fundamentals” by Steve Huston.
- Why Choose New Masters Academy: It’s ideal for artists who want to strengthen their foundational skills in traditional art disciplines with guidance from master artists.
Schoolism: Industry-Level Art Training
Overview: Schoolism offers courses taught by top artists in the animation, gaming, and film industries. The courses are highly specialized, focusing on advanced techniques in concept art, character design, and more.
- Popular Courses:
- “Painting with Light and Color” by Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo.
- “Fundamentals of Character Design” by Stephen Silver.
- Why Choose Schoolism: It’s perfect for artists looking to break into or advance their careers in the entertainment industry, with access to knowledge from industry veterans.
CreativeLive: Live Art Workshops
Overview: CreativeLive offers live-streamed workshops as well as on-demand classes. The platform covers a broad range of creative subjects, including fine art, photography, and design.
- Popular Courses:
- “The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design” by Bonnie Christine.
- “Drawing Fundamentals: Getting Started with Markers & Ink” by Peter Han.
- Why Choose CreativeLive: It’s great for artists who enjoy the energy and interaction of live classes, with the added benefit of lifetime access to recordings.
ArtStation Learning: Digital Art for Professionals
Overview: ArtStation Learning offers courses tailored for digital artists, particularly those interested in concept art, game art, and VFX. The platform is part of the larger ArtStation community, a hub for professional artists.
- Popular Courses:
- “Advanced Texture Painting in Substance Painter” by Christophe Desse.
- “Character Design for Games” by Tim McBurnie.
- Why Choose ArtStation Learning: It’s an excellent choice for artists who are already in or aspiring to join the digital art and entertainment industries.
The Virtual Art Academy: Rigorous Art Curriculum
Overview: The Virtual Art Academy offers a structured, multi-year curriculum designed to teach painting and drawing at a professional level. The program is self-paced but follows a rigorous approach to art education.
- Popular Courses:
- “Foundation Program in Fine Art” covering drawing, painting, color theory, and more.
- Why Choose The Virtual Art Academy: It’s suitable for serious artists who want a comprehensive and disciplined approach to mastering traditional art techniques.
MasterClass: Learn from Famous Artists
Overview: MasterClass provides courses taught by world-renowned artists and creatives. The content is designed to be inspiring and informative, offering insights into the creative process of the masters.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to build foundational skills or explore advanced techniques, these online courses and workshops provide valuable learning opportunities. With options catering to various artistic disciplines and skill levels, you can find the perfect course to enhance your artistic journey.
