Best Online Art Classes for Kids

Best Overall: Sparketh

Why We Chose It: The free trial, flexible membership options, and huge selection of classes for kids of all ages make Sparketh our top choice for the best online art classes for kids. 

What We Like

- Offers a free 30-day trial

- Includes access to more than 1,000 art videos

- Membership includes two student accounts, and it’s easy to add more

What We Don’t Like

- Membership is more expensive than some other options we considered

Sparketh is an online learning platform that specializes in self-paced art classes for six- to 18-year olds.

Students can choose from more than 1,000 art class videos available on more than five art tracks. Membership comes with two student accounts and costs about $25 per month or roughly $250 when billed annually. If you have more than two kids or want to share an account with friends, you can add more students for around $5 per month, per student.

Classes can be searched by skill level (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), as well as by subject and course type. Then, students can choose from general art, drawing, painting, and baking classes. There are new virtual courses every week, and if you think something is missing, you can request new lessons. Students also get access to monthly one-on-one mentorship and can use their individual accounts to track their progress and save their art to a portfolio.

Best Mixed Media: Carla Sonheim Presents Kids Art Week

Why We Chose It: Carla Sonheim Presents Kids Art Week gives kids the opportunity to explore several unique art forms, making it our favorite option for mixed media art.

What We Like

- Classes are totally free

- Students can access content from past years

- Taught by a unique and experienced team of guest artists

What We Don’t Like

- Parents may not have all of the supplies on-hand

Carla Sonheim Presents offers free and paid art classes for both kids and adults through its website.

In addition to the paid courses offered for adults, parents could choose from six, free Kids Art Week classes that took place between 2016 and 2020. Classes are taught by guest teachers and cover a range of artistic styles, so kids get to experiment with different techniques and learn about what kind of art they enjoy the most.

Carla Sonheim Presents also features a free resource library that includes additional courses and exercises to keep kids entertained.

Best for Entertaining Crafts: The Kitchen Table Classroom

Why We Chose It: Kids and parents looking for simple and entertaining crafts will love The Kitchen Table Classroom because of its large selection of classes, extensive free options, and straightforward supply lists.

What We Like

- Large selection of crafts and activities

- Many activities, printables, and other resources are totally free

- Parents are more likely to have the necessary supplies on hand

What We Don’t Like

- Full course offerings are more limited

Offering classes and resources to kids, parents, and teachers, The Kitchen Table Classroom is an art and learning website created by a parent and art teacher. Users can choose projects from categories like printables, drawing, painting, paper arts, printmaking, and three-dimensional art. Many classes and activities are available for free, while others cost about $6 or more to download the corresponding printouts. 

Paid courses, which cost roughly $15 to $97, include everything from art history—like Kusama for Kids and Frida Kahlo for Kids—to drawing and digital design. There’s also a free resource library that parents can access by signing up for The Kitchen Table Classroom’s email list.

Best Watercolor & Drawing: Nature’s Art Club

Why We Chose It: Nature’s Art Club is our top pick for watercolor and drawing classes because of the in-depth, educational, and kid-friendly tutorials available to members.

What We Like

- Content is accessible to the whole family

- Classes can be adapted to all ages and skill levels

- Members get access to a private Facebook group

What We Don’t Like

- Parents may not have all of the supplies on-hand

Nature’s Art Club is a monthly art class membership offered through Lily and Thistle Creative Studio, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creativity.

Classes are appropriate for all age groups and students get extensive, on-demand training in both drawing and watercolor. Membership is intended for use by the entire family and costs about $25 per month or $199 for lifetime access. Prospective members can also watch previews of some of the tutorials before committing to a monthly or annual plan. 

Not only is Nature’s Art Club an excellent option for kids who want to learn to paint, but it’s also a great choice for groups of families, co-ops, or even teachers who want their kids to take classes together. It offers membership for groups of up to five, 15, and 30 families. You have to contact them to learn about pricing. Finally, if you’re a parent who wants to inject some creativity into your daily life, check out Lily and Thistle’s free course, The Art Habit for Moms.

Best Live Online Art Classes: The Art Studio NY

Why We Chose It: We chose The Art Studio NY because of the studio’s excellent reviews and dedication to providing a positive and encouraging learning environment for kids.

What We Like

- Classes are available for several age groups

- Students are exposed to skills like painting, drawing, and mixed-media

- Projects aren’t repeated so students will always create something new

What We Don’t Like

- Classes require early registration and may sell out

A popular and well-known source of art classes in New York City, The Art Studio NY also offers online art classes for kids, teens, and adults. Live group lessons teach skills including drawing, painting, and mixed media art, and are available for kids in kindergarten and first grade and for ages five to 14 and up.

Kids' courses start at $100 and cost depends on the age group, type of class, and number of sessions. Because courses are live and scheduled far in advance, you’ll need to register ahead of time; keep in mind that the popular classes may sell out. The Art Studio NY also makes it easy to prep for class by providing art supply bundles through its website.