You’ve always wanted to learn how to draw. Maybe you’ve doodled in the margins of your notebooks for years or have been inspired by amazing works of art. Whatever the reason, your interest is piqued, and you’re ready to dive in. The good news is that nowadays, the resources for learning how to draw are endless. You don’t need an art degree or expensive private lessons.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore some of the best free and paid online drawing classes for beginners to help you learn the fundamentals, find your artistic style, and ignite your passion for creating visual art. Sharpen your pencils – your journey into the world of drawing awaits!
Why Take Online Drawing Classes?
Why take online drawing classes? There are so many benefits to learning art from the comfort of your own home.
- Online classes allow you to learn on your own schedule. No need to commute to a physical classroom. You can take lessons anytime day or night, on weekends or weekdays – whatever works for you.
- Online courses are often much more budget-friendly than in-person classes. Many are free or offer affordable monthly subscriptions. You’ll save on expenses like transportation and materials.
- Learn at your own pace. With online video tutorials and downloadable reference materials, you can go as fast or as slow as you want. You can rewatch lessons as many times as you need to master new skills.
- Connect with a community. While online, you can still interact with instructors and other students. Share your work, ask questions, and give and receive feedback. You’ll build connections with like-minded artists.
- Develop your skills. Online drawing classes cover the basics as well as more advanced techniques. Learn everything from shading and perspective to digital illustration and cartooning. Build up your talent and increase your knowledge over time.
- Gain confidence in your abilities. With the support and guidance of accomplished instructors, you’ll gain the confidence to experiment, strengthen your craft, and develop your own unique artistic voice.
Online learning has opened up so many opportunities to study drawing from anywhere. All you need is an Internet connection and the desire to create. Why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and a fun new hobby to gain!
What to Expect From Fantasy Room’s Beginner Drawing Courses
Fantasy Room offers live, interactive drawing classes over video conference. An experienced instructor will guide you and up to 20 other students through fundamentals like line art, shading, perspective, and more. You’ll get real-time feedback and can ask questions as you go.
- The beginner courses focus on basics like holding a pencil properly, making different kinds of lines (thick, thin, curved), and simple exercises to help you get comfortable.
- You’ll start with basic shapes like spheres, cubes, cylinders and cones before moving on to simple subjects like fruit, plants or basic cartoon characters.
- Learn techniques like shading to add depth and contouring to make your drawings pop off the page.
- Get familiar with concepts like foreshortening, scale, and point of view.
- Share your work and progress with your fellow students and build your confidence in a supportive environment.
While practice makes perfect, the guidance of an skilled instructor helps accelerate your learning. Fantasy Room’s beginner drawing courses provide an interactive, hands-on experience to ignite your passion for art. In just a few short weeks, you’ll be creating drawings you never thought you could! Why not give it a try?
Essential Supplies for Your Online Drawing Class
To follow along with your online drawing class, you’ll need a few essential supplies. Stock up on these basics so you can start sketching right away.
Drawing Pencils
Invest in a set of drawing pencils in different hardnesses, ranging from 6H (hardest) to 6B (softest). The softer pencils, like 2B to 6B, are great for shading and capturing subtle gradients. The harder pencils, HB to 6H, are better for sketches and outlines.
Erasers
Both a kneaded and plastic eraser come in handy for fixing mistakes and experimenting. A kneaded eraser can be molded into different shapes to erase small areas. A plastic eraser quickly removes larger mistakes.
Sketchpad
Look for a pad of high-quality drawing paper that is thick enough to handle various drawing pencils without bleeding through. A pad with detachable sheets allows you to easily archive or share your work.
Other Useful Items
- Sharpeners to keep your pencils ready
- Blending stumps for smoothing shading
- Rulers and curves for straight lines and shapes
- Fine-tip pens for outlines
- A desk lamp for extra lighting
Don’t worry if you don’t have all these supplies right away. The basics—a set of pencils, a sketchpad, and erasers—are really all you need to get started with your online drawing class. You can build up your toolkit over time as your skills develop. The most important thing is just getting drawing! Sign into your online class, gather your supplies, and start unleashing your creativity.
Drawing Classes for Beginners: Your Questions Answered
So, you’ve decided to dive into the world of online drawing classes. That’s great! Drawing is a fun and rewarding hobby, but getting started can be intimidating. Here are some answers to common questions beginners have about online drawing classes.
What skills will I learn?
In beginner drawing classes, you’ll learn the fundamentals:
- Basic shapes like spheres, cubes, and cylinders
- Perspective and proportion
- Shading and lighting techniques to make your drawings look more realistic
- The basics of human anatomy and portraiture
The skills you gain will provide a solid foundation for any style of drawing.
What supplies will I need?
For most beginner classes, you’ll only need a few simple supplies:
- A sketchpad or drawing paper
- Pencils (2B, 4B, and 6B)
- Erasers
- Blending stumps (optional)
Some classes may require additional media like charcoal or colored pencils. Your instructor will provide a supply list for their specific class.
How much time will it take?
Beginner drawing classes are usually structured as:
- Multi-week courses: Meet for 1-2 hours a week over 4 to 8 weeks. Requires 5 to 10 hours of practice time outside of class.
- Intensive workshops: Full-day or multi-day workshops. Requires several additional hours of homework.
- Self-paced: Follow along at your own pace. Plan on at least 2 to 3 hours a week of practice to make progress.
Still have questions? Don’t hesitate to contact the instructor. They want you to succeed and will be happy to help you get started. Now, grab your supplies and get ready to unleash your creativity! Drawing is a skill that takes practice, so dive in and has fun with it.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it – a whole new world of creative possibilities at your fingertips. With the resources and online classes available today, you have everything you need to unlock your inner artist. All that’s left is for you to take that first step. Sign up for one of the beginner drawing courses that sparks your interest, grab some basic supplies, and start doodling. Before you know it, you’ll be improving your skills, developing your own style, and creating art that brings you joy. Don’t be afraid to start simple – every masterpiece begins with a single stroke. Now get out there and start drawing! The journey of an artist is meant to be enjoyed.
