11 Best Free Online Painting Courses

Are you interested in painting and want to try your hands on it? Then this article on free online painting courses is the right one for you!

You will agree with me that at some point in our lives we once painted. Either as a toddler, in kindergarten, or for fun.  It was always fun to use crayons and bring blank pictures to life and make them look colorful and beautiful too. So whether you use a crayon or a paint, it’s still called a painting.

Although apart from painting, there are so many other things kids do for fun, and parents have taken it upon themselves to enroll these kids in fun activities such as drawing classes for kids as well as art classes for kids too.

Some have even gone as far as securing admission to schools that offer art courses so as to build their career in the art and design sector.

Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color, and another medium to a solid surface. The surface is called a matrix or support. The medium is normally applied to the base with a brush. But other implements such as knives, sponges, and airbrushes can be used.

Painting is an important form in the visual arts, bringing in elements such as drawing, composition, gesture, narration, and abstraction. Painting can be  naturalistic and  representational

Types of Painting

Allegory

Allegory communicates its message using symbolic figures, actions, or symbolic representation.

Bodegon

In Spanish art, a bodegón is a still life painting depicting pantry items, such as victuals, games, and drinks, often arranged on a simple stone slab, and also a painting with one or more figures, but significant still life elements, typically set in a kitchen or tavern.

Figure Painting

A figure painting is a work of art in any of the painting media with the primary subject being the human figure, whether clothed or nude.

Illustration painting

Illustration paintings are those used as illustrations in books, magazines, and theater or movie posters and comic books

Landscape Painting

Landscape painting is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, lakes, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition

Portrait Painting

Portrait paintings are representations of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant

Still life

A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects—which may be either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks, or shells) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, and so on).

Veduta

A veduta is a highly detailed, usually large-scale painting of a cityscape or some other vista.

Can I Learn to Paint Online?

Yes, you can learn painting online, whether you are interested in acrylic or oil painting or learning how to use watercolors, there is no shortage of excellent YouTube channels and other online interactive platforms to help you get started.

All you need to teach yourself to paint is a few materials, targeted practice, and the right frame of mind.

Below is a  list of 20  free online tutorials that you can engage yourself in if you want to learn painting online

  • Kelvin Oil Painting
  • The Art Sherpa
  • Proko
  • The Art of Aäron Blaise
  • Live Painting lessons.com
  • Virtual instructor
  • com
  • Artist Network.com
  • Guide to oil painting.com
  • Ryan O’Rourke
  • Feng Zhu FZD
  • Robin Slee
  • Ctrl+paint
  • Mark Crilley
  • New Masters Academy
  • Will Kemp
  • Draw and paint online
  • Learn squared
  • The Artist’s Journey
  • Jay Lee Painting

Benefits of Free Online Painting Courses

Choose your pace

The most talked-about benefit of online classes is being able to learn at your pace. Some people might learn new methods quickly and can move ahead without waiting for the rest of the group to finish the particular skill.

In contrast, some might have other commitments and can only learn art in their free time. Online art classes give you the freedom to choose how much you want to learn and at what speed.

Choose your course and trainer

Online art institutes have many professional artists as trainers who bring their expertise to teach different techniques. You can also select which lesson you are more interested in learning. You can customize the plan according to your suitability to gain the most out of the course.

Builds a personal connection

Online classes are trending now because they help students and guides build relationships on a personal level. The one-on-one meetings for lessons also allow the artists to gain more attention and personalized recommendations from their art teachers.

Accessibility

The virtual model of learning is an excellent option for those who live far away from the institutes. Also, you can access online courses on any device, and they are available on a wide variety of platforms.

The additional comfort of learning at your home in a friendly environment and being able to do it anytime are the extra perks of virtual art classes.

Flexible Packages

Most institutes that provide online platforms for their students to learn also avail the options of selecting different courses with varying degrees of technical difficulties. You are free to choose from the beginner’s level to the advanced professional levels.

You can also pick a program, even multiple programs, that align with your interests.

Schedule your plan

Virtual art courses, unlike physical classes, allow you to schedule them at your ease. Most online courses are opted by those with a job or a family to look after and cannot devote their entire time to the learning.

With the customization option, you can attend your lessons when you are free without worrying about missing a topic.

Saves time

There are many ways you can save your time through online art courses. You do not have to go to the actual institute for your lessons and save your traveling time. You can also access these stored lessons any time you are free.

Further, you can ask your questions directly or through emails and get an answer quickly.

Requirements to Join Free Online Painting Courses

Below are the requirements which are needed to join free online painting Courses.

  • An easel to hold your artwork
  • Canvas (for acrylic or oil painters) or paper (for watercolor painters)
  • A palette for color mixing
  • Brushes (suitable for your chosen medium)
  • Palette knives
  • Paints
  • Solvent (if oil painting); and.
  • Paper towels (for wiping your brush between strokes).

Free Online Painting Courses

Below are the various free online Painting courses available online

1.       The Secret to Your Painting’s Success

This course is offered by Udemy. It is one of the free online painting courses that teach you how to finish a painting successfully. It has a duration of 50 minutes with a total of 10 lectures.

You will need the following materials:

  • The primary colors and white (oils or acrylics)
  • A canvas or painting panel
  • Brushes – #6 bristle
  • Medium or white spirits
  • Paper towel
  • Pencil and A5 sketchbook
  • Black marker pen (thick wedge-shaped tip)

To get certified, you will have to pay for the certificate of completion. It isn’t free but the class is free.

Start class

2.       Kevin Oil Painting

Kelvin is a YouTuber since 2012. He has been posting free painting classes to his over 500,000 subscribers.

During his classes, you will learn the basics of painting, and how to sharpen your painting skills through different set forms such as acrylic painting, oil painting as well as scenery painting of mountains and nature.

Start class

3.       Wagara Decorative Painting for Beginners

This is a Japanese classic pattern that teaches Wagara Decorative Painting. This Wagara is a commonly used pattern for the Japanese cloth called Kimono.

The course is offered by Udemy and it is for anyone who wants to learn the craft and love oriental designs too.

It had a duration of 41 minutes with 9 lectures. It is one of the free online painting course’s on the internet today.

Start class

4.       The Art Sherpa

This is an art tutorial YouTube class taught by Cinnamon Cooney. In her class, she gives helpful tips to beginners as well as advanced painters in the field of art and craft.

As one of the best free online painting courses, she gives tips and tricks as well as an everyday online art class to beginners and intermediate-level painters.

Start class

5.       Rock Painting for Beginners

This is one of the free online painting course’s offered by Udemy. It teaches you how to create beautiful rock paintings with confidence.

More than 6000 students have enrolled already in the course and this shows how great the classes are. So if you want to learn the basics of stone and rock decorative painting, then don’t sleep on this!

The duration of the class is 40 minutes with a total of 22 lectures.

Start class

6.       Proko

This is a YouTuber channel class created by a California-based art tutorials teacher and painter Stan Prokopenko.

He gives insightful lessons on painting and sketching for beginners and art enthusiasts. He also gives tips and tricks as well.

His classes have a very high sense of humor and it is usually a DIY class.

Start class

7.       Level 1 Painting Tutorial

This is one of the free online painting course’s offered by Udemy to beginners who wish to learn the art of acrylic painting and how to paint beautiful pictures of fruits.

The course duration is 30 minutes with a total of 6 lectures.

Start class

8.       Changing colors – A Photo to Oil Painting Workshop

This is also one of the free online painting courses offered by Udemy that teaches you how to convert a picture into an oil painting.

During the course, of this class you will learn the following:

  • Learn to visualize a painting based on a photo
  • Learn to make value sketches and color sketches based on the photo
  • Learn to prepare an underpainting.
  • Learn the method of painting with oil colors (or any other opaque medium)

The duration of the class is 42 minutes with a total of 6 lectures.

Start class

9.       Virtual Instructor

The concept of the Virtual Instructor was formulated by Matt Fussell. He teaches art enthusiasts how to paint something as small as an eye to something as big as a tree.

He gives students insight on how to create amazing paintings. If you want to begin your journey in the art world, then Matt is the right coach for you. It is one of the free online painting courses available.

Start class

10.   Drawmixpaint.com

This class is taught by Mark Carder. He teaches intermediate and advanced level painters the concept of painting portraits that look like real pictures.

Therefore if you are looking for realistic portrait painting lessons, then this class is just the one for you.

Start class

11.   Guidetooilpainting.com.

This is a painting tutorial website where you will find everything you need to know about oil painting.

As one of the free online painting courses, the website has formulated a technique that involves steps starting with the materials required for painting and then finishing it with some exercises.

Although the owner of the website which is Bill Martin is dead, his high lessons live up to his name.

Start class

Online Painting Classes for Adults

Below is the list of online painting classes for adults;

  • Etchr Studio’s Online Workshops.
  • The Art Academy website.
  • The Artist’s Journey website.
  • The Barnes Atelier website.
  • Bridge House Art website.
  • Learn to paint with Dermot Cavanagh.
  • Claire Eastgate’s Online Workshops.
  • Hampshire Art Studio Online Classes
  • Will Kemp Art School
  • Watts Atelier of the Arts
  • Virtual Art Academy
  • Vilppu Academy Online School for Drawing
  • University of the Arts London
  • Tucson Art Academy Online
  • Surrey County Council Online Art Courses
  • Sotheby’s Institute of Art
  • Smart School
  • St Ives School of Painting
  • Shari Blaukopf Online Learning
  • Scottsdale Artists’ School
  • Schools
  • The Royal Drawing School
  • Sky Arts Portrait Artist of The Week
  • Realist Academy Walton Hall
  • Raw Umber Studios
  • Proko
  • Pascal Anson YouTube Channel – Ordinary Made Extraordinary
  • Norfolk Painting School
  • New Masters Academy
  • The New School of Art
  • MoMA
  • London Art College
  • London Fine Art Studios
  • London Drawing
  • Lavender Print School
  • Kimberley Bevan Art Classes
  • Kerry Bennett Zoom Art Classes
  • Jane Blundell Watercolour Artist Online Classes
  • Insight School of Art
  • The Henley School of Art
  • The Heatherley School of Fine Art
  • Hampstead School of Art
  • Hampshire Art Studio

Free Online Painting Courses – FAQs

Can I learn to paint on my own?

Yes, you can. There are a host of online painting classes including the ones listed above that you can lay your hands on and practice away!

What type of painting is best for beginners?

The best type of painting for beginners is acrylic painting.

What is acrylic painting?

Acrylic painting is a kind of painting that is done using acrylic paint and a set of synthetic brushes to paint a picture on a canvas.

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