The 6 Best Online Art Classes

Best Overall: New Masters Academy

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Key Specs

• Cost: $36 to $79 per month
• Class Length: Varies; 1 to 5+ hours
• Availability: Open registration
  

Why We Chose It

New Masters Academy is our top choice because members get unlimited access to the platform’s extensive offering of drawing and painting classes, plus a community forum.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Students can sign up for a free 7-day trial
• Access to more than 2,500 hours of streaming art instruction videos
• Community forum lets students network and learn from each other

Cons

• Does not include courses for other skills like photography or fiber crafts

Overview

As an online learning academy intended to replace expensive art school classes, New Masters Academy offers drawing and painting classes that cover a range of topics and experience levels.

Courses range from art theory and drawing to painting, sculpture, and digital art. Classes are tailored to artists of every skill level, so it’s easy to find lessons that will match your experience and needs. Beginner-friendly lessons include color mixing, a 24-part introduction to landscape painting, and two-hour portrait painting classes.

The Library Plan costs about $49 for a month-to-month membership (or roughly $36 per month when billed annually). Membership includes unlimited streaming access to more than 2,500 hours of instructional videos taught by true masters. Students can also make connections, share work, and solicit feedback in online community forums.  

Alternatively, aspiring artists can join the Library+ plan for about $79 for a month-to-month membership (or $59 per month when billed annually). In addition to standard features, Library+ members get access to an extensive library of reference images to support daily practice and make it easy to find inspiration.

Note that student reviews are excellent and highlight the quality of instructors and the affordability of courses compared to traditional art schools.

Best Drawing: Proko

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Key Specs

• Cost: Free, billed per class, or billed per course ($27 to $139 each)
• Class Length: Varies; 5 minutes to 1+ hours
• Availability: Open registration

Why We Chose It

Proko stands out because it offers a comprehensive collection of free videos and paid premium courses that are both informative and enjoyable.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Students can watch hundreds of free courses via YouTube or through the Proko website
• Course bundles make premium courses more affordable

Cons

• Premium courses are more expensive than some other options

Overview

Proko is an online art education platform that was created by talented artist and teacher Stan Prokopenko.

Premium drawing courses include Anatomy of the Human Body, Figure Drawing Fundamentals, Portrait Drawing Fundamentals, and Art of Caricature. These individual courses are priced at $65 to $139 each. Also, there are Model in Motion video sets which are priced at $27 each. 

There are also hundreds of free videos available on the Proko website and YouTube. Not only can you learn from these videos, but they can also help you decide whether you like the instructor’s teaching style before committing to a premium class.

Satisfied students report that the courses are informative, enjoyable, and worth the cost.

Best Painting: Skillshare

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Key Specs

• Cost: $13.75 per month (billed as $165 annually)
• Class Length: Varies; 15 minutes to 7+ hours
• Availability: Open registration

Why We Chose It

Offering a wide range of classes for every skill level at an accessible price point, Skillshare is our favorite platform for online painting classes.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Gives students the opportunity to explore numerous paint mediums
  
• Membership costs as little as roughly $13.75 per month when paid annually
• Students can join and preview courses for free

Cons

• Courses are not as in-depth or advanced as some platforms

Overview

Skillshare is an online learning platform that features courses on everything from web development and graphic design to illustration, fine art, and painting.

The site really stands out for painting classes, however, students can explore a wide range of mediums, including watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and oil. This makes it an excellent option if you want to get into painting but aren’t sure where to start. The availability of more advanced painting classes also makes it a great choice for artists who want to expand their skill set. 

Premium memberships cost $13.75 per month ($165 billed annually). Not only do Premium members get access to thousands of classes, but they also have the ability to download those classes to their iOS and Android devices for convenient viewing anytime.

Best Ceramics: The Ceramic School

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Key Specs

• Cost: $29 per month or $290 per year
• Class Length: Varies; 5 minutes to 2+ hours
• Availability: Open registration

Why We Chose It

The Ceramic School offers on-demand classes and live online workshops for a reasonable price and is solely centered on ceramics.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Students can choose from on-demand classes and live online workshops
• Individual courses and workshops are available for about $39 each
• Membership offers unlimited access to workshop replays

Cons

• Students cannot search for classes by skill level

Overview

The Ceramic School is an online learning platform and community centered around ceramics. Individual courses and workshops are about $39 each and cover introductory topics like wheel throwing for beginners and more advanced lessons like hand-constructing large vessels and carving a double-walled vase.

Membership is also available for roughly $29 month-to-month or $290 for an annual membership. The Ceramic School’s membership option includes access to two live workshops each month, all of the workshop replays, and monthly meetups with a global community of artists. 

Students can also download The Ceramic School mobile app and join one of the school’s online communities to interact with other artists. The Ceramic School's blog is particularly helpful, too, as it covers more business-oriented topics like “Should I Sell on Etsy?” and “How to Design a Logo for Your Pottery Business.” If you’re ready to take the next step, you can also sign up for The Ceramics MBA, a 12-week intensive to help you start selling your ceramics online.

Best Photography: International Center of Photography

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Key Specs

• Cost: $35 to about $1,000
• Class Length: 3 to 5 hours
• Availability: Registration available by semester

Why We Chose It

We chose the International Center of Photography for its wide selection of beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses taught by passionate and talented faculty.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classes are easy to search based on skill level
• Students can sign up for a mentorship with specific faculty members
• ICP members get a solid discount on all classes

Cons

• Classes are more expensive than other platforms we considered
  

Overview

Founded in 1974, the International Center of Photography (ICP) is an institution dedicated to promoting photography through exhibitions, education, and community outreach and programming.

Online students can choose from more than 250 courses ranging from photography fundamentals, like light and subject matter, to street photography and portraiture. The cost of online courses varies by topic and skill level but generally ranges from $35 up to about $1,000. If you are or are looking to become an ICP member, you'll receive about $25 off all courses.

Beyond ICP’s courses and workshops, students can opt to join the center’s full-time Creative Practices or Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism certificate programs, which take one year to complete.