Digital art courses can improve your drawing skills if you know where to look. Whereas learning such courses physically can be intriguing, there are way more advantages of taking them online.
But how and where do you find the right digital courses online without worrying about getting scammed? Well, this article will guide you through finding them.
We’ll take a look at why you need to take these courses online, discuss some of the best courses out there (both paid and free), and also answer some questions you might have about digital art courses found online…
Advantages of digital art courses
Firstly, because digital art takes on a different trajectory from traditional art, many consumers of such art are found online. There are way more possibilities online than any other place.
Also, because there are numerous online materials and classes, creative art lovers can begin to showcase their ideas and talents to the world in a better and faster way than ever before. There are reasons to believe that digital art will soon become the future of all art (arguably).
That belief may be strengthened by the fact that many online platforms are now offering courses, tutorials, and lessons in digital art. But why should you take a digital art course online? Well, here are some of the reasons:
1 – You get a chance to link with top digital artists: Doing courses online gives you a chance to interact with proven digital artists who understand what it takes to become a top digital creative.
Regardless of where you may be, you can get an opportunity to meet mentors in top companies and film studios all over the world. You can learn from these top creatives and get some tips into how to make it in the industry.
This is a pivotal opportunity in your digital art learning journey.
2 – You get to enjoy a flexible learning schedule: no matter what you think about online courses, there’s no doubt that this kind of learning allows you the freedom to plan your time effectively.
You can schedule your studies any time of day. This then allows you to attend to other commitments like work and family.
3- Fewer distractions and increased engagement: learning digital art needs dedication and an undisturbed learning environment. Online courses provide all these because there is less competition for the tutor’s attention.
It’s also easy and comfortable to ask questions in such a setting. This sets you up to become a pro digital artist.
Our favorite digital art courses
There are numerous digital art courses from different online platforms. Depending on which platform you’re familiar and comfortable with, you can start a course that could boost your digital art skills. Here are some of our favorites from well-known platforms:
Drawing and Painting on the iPad with Procreate – Udemy
This course gives you a chance to interact with one of the best digital drawing apps for the iPad.
You will have a deeper understanding of Procreate and learn how to create Speedraw videos, create custom brushes and import them, and many other things. You can easily post what you learn on your online platforms.
The course also gives you a key understanding of how to frame and create a painting.
Before you enroll for the course you will need to own either an iPad (a newer version is preferred) or a recent iPad Mini. You must have some familiarity with an iPad and also be able to download and install the Procreate app from the Apple Store.
Once you have checked everything here, you can then proceed on to the course and have fun learning how to pain on an iPad. There are plenty of drawing techniques on Procreate that will greatly aid your drawing skills – you will be able to draw different subjects from literally anywhere.
If you have been looking for an easy digital drawing course – even if you’re unsure whether you have the knack to become a digital artist – this is the course for you. It makes painting so much fun and easy.
The sessions are simple and easy to follow for anyone. The course has more than 20 video demonstrations that teach how to draw several features. You’ll be equipped with lots of simple painting and drawing techniques that you can easily include in your art.
Ink Illustration Techniques in Procreate – Skillshare
Here is another essential digital art course for anyone looking to add to their knowledge of digital art. In this course you will learn how to use painter more confidently and also create fantastic art pieces.
You will also learn how to use dots and ink lines to add shadows, depth, and highlights to your art. You will also learn several tips and techniques for hatching, stippling, and cross hatching.
You will also be taken through the process of adding bold colors to your linework (to add contrast) and variation to make your art stand out.
In this course you still get the chance to use Procreate (the ultimate program to design and create great art). You will need an iPad and an Apple pencil to use it effectively. You will also need inking pens, a stylus (Apple pencil), and pieces of paper.
Lighting your Illustration with Blending Modes in Photoshop – Pluralsight
If you love working with Photoshop or are curious about getting down some Photoshop concepts, this is the course for you. Here you will explore a number of blending modes that you can use to light illustrations.
You will experience first-hand the flexibility offered by layer and tool blending modes. These are incredible tools to have in your digital art collection. You will need Photoshop CC to undertake this course.
Digital art courses for beginners
If you are looking for where to start your digital art journey, these courses will guide you. Again, we have included courses from different platforms.
Complete Beginner’s Guide to Digital Art – Udemy
This is a great course if you are just starting to learn the basics of digital art. It’s a comprehensive course that will lift you from a digital art initiate to a pro with excellent skills. You will get a solid understanding of what you need in this space.
You will learn the basics of line drawing, about the relationships between shapes and lines, the nitty-gritty of any digital software, how to create a basic human figure, and how to create simple shapes.
You will also learn how to use shapes and lines to draw from observation, the basics of digital coloring, and how to use sketchbook pro.
For this course you will need a drawing tablet or computer, paper, and pencil. You don’t need to have any prior knowledge of art; you will learn everything here. The course is an introduction to general art and not just digital art.
It’s a great chance to become a pro in art with this course.
Getting Started in Digital Art (for Beginners) – Skillshare
Here is another great online course if you are looking to start your journey as a digital artist. It will be over before you know it and at the end you will have a bunch of skills to showcase to the world.
You don’t need any prior knowledge in digital art – your teacher will give you everything. You will probably need to be enthusiastic about drawing and nothing more.
You can use Photoshop with this class or any other software that you are comfortable with since the process is the same.
In this course you will learn how to set up Workspace and create the right canvas, basic tools and options, tool preset, basic layer options and arranging layers (examples will be given), sketching and cleaning up line drawing, adding colors blending, and adding details, and saving the final drawing.
You will need a desktop or laptop, Photoshop (CS6 or later) on your computer, if you can get a Graphic pen tablet it will be awesome as well. Otherwise you can use the computer mouse, but it might take time and the process may become harder.
Foundational Elements of Art for the rest of your Life – Pluralsight
In this course you will learn the fundamentals that will build up your creative skills as an artist (both traditional and digital art). You will learn about different types of lines and how to use them to communicate visually.
You will also learn the elements of shape and form and how to relate different shapes and forms (2D and 3D), along with the key principles of composition and how to use them to create visually appealing art.
You will also learn about the basic properties of color.
Best free digital art courses
Here are courses from different platforms that you won’t have to pay to access. You’ll probably only need to register and pay a small starter fee and that’s all.
Art Fundamentals – Building Blocks of Digital Painting – Udemy
This course is for those who want to take to take the first step to become digital artists. It’s a free course that will take you face to face with great digital artists.
The course is presented in a fun and engaging way. It goes over the core concepts and terminology used by professional artists. You’ll start thinking and speaking like an artist. You’ll also learn the secrets to success in your journey as a digital artist.
This is probably the first course that anyone with a passion for art should take. If you love art but don’t understand the concepts and terminologies, this is the course for you.
You’ll need to complete the Photoshop Fundamentals in One Hour course if you want to keep up with this course. The course includes one lecture that lasts for about 5 minutes, and then you’ll learn about the “Art Basics,” which lasts about 44 minutes and takes up the bigger chunk of the course.
The Procreate Class: Beginner Basics + Beyond – Skillshare
This class is for beginner digital artists who want to master Procreate.
The course walks you through the basics of Procreate and the best features used by Pros to make their paintings look amazing. Since Procreate is what you’ll be using most of the time to make your paintings on iPad, you need to learn the basics first.
The app keeps changing every time to accommodate new features and make it as streamlined as possible. If you can get your hands on this course, then you are staring at a great future in your art journey.
The class involves creating a document for web use or printing, using color palettes and color, importing custom brushes and editing the brushes in Procreate and using them in unique ways, using the Selection Tool and moving objects, adding and editing text, how to apply Transparency masks, clipping masks, and using layers effectively.
Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop – Pluralsight
This course involves a collection of lessons that will teach you basic terms, definitions, and workflows for digital painting in Photoshop.
The lessons begin from the very foundation, where you’ll learn how to create and save documents and how to navigate around inside the saved documents.
You will also learn how to use Photoshop’s two most important tools for digital painting – the brush tool and the eraser tool. You will also learn about layers, selections, and masks.
These will add a new perspective to your digital painting journey. You will also get a chance to paint a digital image. You will need Photoshop Cs5 installed in your computer or laptop.
Digital Art Bootcamp – CLASS 1.1 (FREE TUTORIAL) – YouTube
Rossdraws and Stella take you through a series of lessons where you can learn different skills to make your digital artist dream a reality.
It’s a 2.5 hour-long video but it will seem like nothing at all if you love getting new ideas.
Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate or even an advanced digital artist, this class will help you in ways that you never thought before. We all need a different perspective in our digital art journey because it gives us a chance to get better every day.
This course is practical and fun. Rossdraws and Stella have done an amazing job with this course.
FAQs
What is the best course for digital art?
It really depends with where you are at in your digital art journey.
There are those that are just starting. In that case the beginner courses will serve you well. However, even as a pro or intermediate, it doesn’t hurt to go back and repeat the basics once more.
Some platforms offer more lessons on different topics than others. Udemy has thousands of courses and probably hundreds on digital art alone. Skillshare isn’t too far behind either.
If you love watching videos, then head over to YouTube for a fun experience.
Is digital art hard to learn?
No. Not at all. Digital art is fun and very easy to learn. It will probably surprise you, but perhaps the only thing you need to understand digital art is the love of art.
It’s not “nerdy” in any way, it’s getting to understand the world around you better and expressing it as art. Although traditional art may do it as well, digital art makes it much easier and more fun because of the tech involved.
What degree do you need for digital art?
None. You don’t need a degree to be proficient in digital art. There are a lot of free courses online to get you started on your journey if you love art.
Many of them do not offer degrees, unless you need one, then you can apply. All you need is a good computer or tablet and a love for art to get you on your way.
To conclude…
Finding the right digital art courses online may not be the easiest thing you can do given that there are literally thousands of courses out there.
However, if you know what you are looking for and love digital art, you can find the right course for you. Different platforms offer these courses at a fair price. However, there are free beginner courses as well that can get you started if you are a novice in this field.
Find a course that you are comfortable with and one that addresses your needs and start your journey.
