Technology has changed the game for all of us, as digital assets power how we all work, play, learn, and socialize in this age. One of the most significant impacts has been our ability to access knowledge and information. The creative arts have not been left behind in this regard, as we now have almost limitless resources to help creatives hone their skills.
Even so, not all learning platforms are created alike. Whether you want to be an illustrator, sketch artist, fine artist, painter, 3D designer, art critic, or anything in between, you will need to pick a platform that suits your needs. In this piece, we’ll be looking at some of the platforms offering the best online art courses, hoping you’ll find something that can get you on your way to becoming the next big thing.
Let’s dive right in.
Skillshare
This online learning resource prides itself on being a one-stop shop for all your learning needs, creative or practical. Whether you want to figure out how to develop your doodling skills, learn the foundations of fine art, figure out how scientific illustration works, run an online gallery, or write a masterpiece, they promise to have the knowledge you seek. They offer unique and useful features such as interactive community spaces, readings and worksheets, and celebrity-run programs.
What Will it Cost You?
You can get started on Skillshare at no cost, as they have a limited range of courses that they offer for free. If you provide your payment details, you will be eligible for the 30-day free trial period, after which you will pay $15.88 each month. If you want the full package, you will need to subscribe to their premium package for $167.88 each year.
Pros
- Free trial classes
- A large variety of art content categories, including sketching and illustration (scientific, technical, etc.)
- Effective community interaction spaces and optional assignments
Cons
- Instructors are not obligated to participate in community interactions
- Learner interactions can sometimes be off-topic or uninformative
CreativeLive
This platform is dedicated to offering courses in creative fields, offering over 1,500 classes conducted by over 650 experts in their fields. They focus on five well-defined categories: music and audio, video and photography, art and design, money and life, or craft and maker.
Classes are conducted live with around-the-clock availability, and the platform has seen over 10 million students since its inception back in 2010.
What Will it Cost You?
The platform has different classifications for its classes, with more in-depth courses with more content costing learners more. Their monthly subscription is set at $39.00 and is a great starting point for beginners. Once you know exactly which course you will need to progress, you can sign up for individual classes, which will be more in-depth and can range between $50 to $100.
Pros
- Course selection is exclusively art-related
- A tight-knit community of co-operative fellow art students
- 24/7 class availability
- Budget-friendly monthly subscription
Cons
- Relatively high individual class prices
- A small user community limits the breadth of ideas you’ll come across
- Course availability depends on the availability of relevant instructors
Coursera
Coursera is a platform dedicated to offering creative and non-creative courses that will provide value to learners hoping to translate the skills they learn to a professional setting.
They host free/paid courses from esteemed institutions such as Yale and Harvard. They also offer courses ranging from Business, Philosophy, Fine Art, and Humanities to Art and Music at the Certificate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree levels. You can either learn using their course materials at no cost or pay to earn these professional certificates for use in the real world.
What Will it Cost You?
University-accredited courses resulting in certificates will be charged according to the course in question, but you can access all the instructions and learning materials for free.
Pros
- Budget-friendly certificate course price
- University-level courses at no cost
- Courses with real-world usefulness in the art industry (graphic design, computer animation, technical illustration, etc.)
Cons
- Outdated interface in some areas of the website
MasterClass
If you’re hoping to become the best, there’s no better way to get there than by learning from the best. MasterClass has come up with an excellent way for established and would-be artists to accomplish this.
They bring in acknowledged masters in their respective fields, such as Martin Scorcese (legendary film director), Jeff Koons (legendary contemporary artist), and many more. Their high production values and top-notch instructors are why MasterClass is one of today’s most celebrated online learning platforms.
What Will it Cost You?
A Standard pass granting you access will cost you $180 each year, although you won’t be able to download them for offline viewing. The Plus package costs $240, and lessons are downloadable and viewable on up to two devices simultaneously.
Pros
- Living Legend status instructors
- A broad range of topics
- High production value
- High-quality course structure including fine art, anatomical sketching, graphic design, art history, and so on
Cons
- No monthly subscription options
Udemy
Udemy is a massive platform offering online video courses on various professional and creative topics. The main selling point here is that they bring the same thoroughness and structure in their programming, software development, and management training modules to their illustration, fine art, graphic design, and 3D modeling courses.
They also allow instructors to come in and offer courses they created for sale on the platform, which adds to the course diversity and potential for specialization.
What Will it Cost You?
Udemy does not offer personal subscriptions, choosing instead to provide lessons on a class-by-class basis. The platform has a free-floating pricing regime. Instructors set their prices according to their specialization, expertise, and the length and depth of the content; what one instructor charges for a class may differ widely from the next.
Pros
- Wide selection of highly-rated creative courses
- Broad content pool, including professional classes
- Plenty of resources for instructors
Cons
- Non-standardized pricing models make class costs unpredictable
CreativeBug
The site is a crafter’s haven with over 1,000 on-demand classes and videos. Its Daily Practice videos will get you into a routine of being creative with quick projects. You can check out their library by craft type and exclusive techniques within every craft, whether you’re a beginner or need a quick multi-part course.
CreativeBug offers classes that include crafting, illustrating, knitting, and quilting.
What Will it Cost You?
CreativeBug offers a free trial and then monthly plans starting from $7.95 per month.
Pros
- Affordable
- Excellent for beginners and regular art enthusiasts
Cons
- Few advanced courses
- No accreditations
Our Final Thoughts
While the websites we’ve covered above are some of the best places to learn art online in their own right, you should keep in mind that there are hundreds of other options to choose from. This is especially true if you’re looking for a particular style or niche of whatever creative pursuit you’re interested in.
The path of creativity is a long but rewarding one, so here’s hoping that you’ve found a good place to make your first steps!
