Skillshare Drawing Courses (2024): Which Ones Are The Best? (2024)

Art and drawing have been with us since the beginning of human civilization - from ancient cave paintings to the great masters of the Renaissance and modern pop art trends, many marvel at what can be created by humans. And those who wish to become the next Da Vinci can look no further - with these hand-picked Skillshare drawing courses anyone can learn to create their own masterpiece in no time.

You might be surprised how many different drawing techniques there are. Each comes with its own nuances and tricks that make every creation unique. With that in mind, there are thousands of Skillshare drawing coursesto choose from that give you all the building blocks you might need to start creating.

Out of their wide repertoire, we selected seven Skillshare drawing classes that can help elevate your artistic skills to new heights:

• Become A Better Artist: Drawing Essentials
• Pen and Ink Illustration: The Basics for Creating Magical Drawings
• Color Theory for Illustrators: A Fun Beginner’s Guide to Creative Color
• Drawing Made Easy: Observational Drawing and Watercolor Exercises for Everyone
• Digital Illustration for All: Discover, Cultivate and Share Your Unique Personal Style
• Drawing as Self-Discovery: 5 Ways to Start

Before jumping into all of these wonderful Skillshare art classes, let’s take a moment to learn more about why you should consider taking up art as a hobby and why you should start with Skillshare.

We are constantly surrounded by art. Whether it's in memories of us finger painting a portrait of a beloved family pet or enjoying works of art in galleries and museums, art and drawings are a source of positivity and inspiration.

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That being said, it’s self-explanatory that drawing can be incredibly beneficial in our daily lives as well. Multiple studies have shown that art therapy can help those suffering from both physical and mental illnesses.

According to Harvard, drawing and creative expression can reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression.[1]Not only that, but art therapy can also aid dementia and Alzheimer's patients regain their memories and connection with relatives.

With so many benefits, it’s easy to wonder why drawing is not a more common hobby among adolescents and adults. Tanner Christensen, an independent developer and published author,thinks this can be linked with people settling into routines and jobs in non-creative environments that simply don’t leave any time for art.

This drift away from art and creative expression often feels discouraging, even if we wish to start drawing again.

That’s where Skillshare comes in. Since being founded in 2010, the online learning platform offers more than 5 thousand drawing classes for users to choose from. Hosted by skilled professional artists, these Skillshare drawing courses can teach you everything from the basic tools and drawing techniques to advanced tricks you can use to let your creativity flourish.

With Skillshare, drawing for beginners is no longer a daunting unknown territory. By following detailed video content and easy-to-understand tutorials, you can rest assured that Skillshare drawing courses are some of the best out there.

So, before ados are in any way furthered, let’s get started!

Become A Better Artist: Drawing Essentials (Enroll Here)

• Duration: 48 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: Beginner
• Apply HERE.


Just like every drawing starts with a single idea, every great artist that has their work immortalized in the Louvre started as a beginner. And every great artist started with the same basic principles that can help you build your creations from a few lines to a whole masterpiece.

Become A Better Artist: Drawing Essentials is a Skillshare drawing course designed specifically to give you the basic knowledge you might need to start experimenting with art and drawing. From introducing you to the most essential tools - the all-mighty graphite pencil - to walking you through your first drawing project, this course is where artists are born.

Because drawing can’t really be learned by just reading books on how to hold pencils and what basic shapes can be used, this Skillshare illustration class focuses on actual drawing exercises that allow students to practice their new skills. Drawing fundamentals are taught in a step-by-step manner, leading up to the final task - a still life.

This Skillshare drawing course consists of 8 videos, each one covering a different part of creating your first piece. This easy-to-follow tutorial focuses on pencil drawing only and is perfect for beginners that are looking for a simple drawing basics class to follow along to.

If you are worried that you don't have enough time to take an art course, fear not. This Skillshare drawing class is less than an hour-long - only 48 minutes to be exact - and can be taken one video at a time, making it an ideal choice even for those with the busiest schedules.

It is important to note that most Skillshare art classes - those mentioned in this article and not - are usually around 2 hours long or even shorter. Because of this, you can cross the worry of not having enough time for art right off of your list!

When it comes to pricing, Skillshare cannot be beaten. The platform offers a premium membership for as little as $9.7 per month which grants you unlimited access to all available courses. And - yes, it gets even better - your first 2 weeks are completely free, during which you can cancel your subscription at any time. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Skillshare also has many courses available for free, so you can try the platform out without any commitment. This drawing class is not one of them, however, you can enroll for free during the first 14 days of your premium membership.

Those eager to begin their journey as an artist can look no further, as this Skillshare drawing course is the best place to kick it off!

Start the course NOW.

Pen and Ink Illustration: The Basics for Creating Magical Drawings (Enroll Here)

• Duration: 29 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: Beginner
• Apply HERE.


When we hear the word “drawing”, many different visuals come to mind. Some imagine simple pencil sketches, others see watercolor landscapes, and some see intricate black and white ink illustrations. Even though ink drawings might seem to be some of the easier ones to create, the truth is that it takes a lot of practice to work with the medium.

But don’t worry - anyone can learn to draw with ink!

Pen and Ink Illustration: The Basics for Creating Magical Drawings is a Skillshare drawing course that focuses on the ins and outs of using simple black lines to create detailed and mesmerizing illustrations. From getting to know your tools to manipulating the marks on the paper, this course is the place to start.

Like most Skillshare illustration classes, this program focuses on hands-on tasks that help students hone in on their artistic skills one class at a time. This course contains both mini-projects, focusing on different inking techniques, and a final project that brings everything you’ve learned together. Needless to say, by the end of the course, you will know everything there is about ink illustration.

This Skillshare drawing class consists of 9 lessons, each one covering a different aspect of pen and ink illustration. Because the program is created with beginners in mind, each topic is covered separately, starting with brushes and pens and ending with texture and pattern exercises.

Out of all the programs mentioned in this article, this course is the shortest one - in only 29 minutes you will learn all of the basic building blocks you might need in your future ink illustration endeavors.

Skillshare offers hundreds of free courses that anyone can try whenever they like. That being said, this program is not one of them. However, you can still take it free of charge during the first two weeks of your premium membership and continue learning more for only $9.7 per month.

Those taking the course will be going over the fundamentals of pen and ink illustration and will learn:

• What supplies you might need and how they act while drawing;
• The difference between various lines, shading techniques, and how you can use them to depict texture and depth;
• Tips and tricks that will help you take your art to the next level.

If you are curious about the intricacies of the simple yet sophisticated art of ink illustrations, this Skillshare drawing program is the one for you.

Start the course NOW.

Color Theory for Illustrators: A Fun Beginner’s Guide to Creative Color (Enroll Here)

• Duration: 57 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: All levels
• Apply HERE.


Art and color often go hand in hand. However, many artists struggle when it comes to incorporating color into their drawings out of fear of ruining the piece. Time to leave those fears behind!

Color Theory for Illustrators: A Fun Beginner’s Guide to Creative Color - a Skillshare drawing class designed to teach you how to masterfully use color in your art with confidence.

This Skillshare art course covers everything you need to know about color theory and how to use it in your drawings to bring them to life. Starting with the basics such as tone and hue and ending with how to create your own color palettes, the program can be taken by both beginners and more experienced artists.

What makes this Skillshare drawing course unique is that the main project of the program comes with a twist. Students that post their final creations under the program can enter a contest. Projects posted before the 14th of July will be eligible for a giveaway of one free year of Skillshare premium. Enticing, isn't it?

As color theory is a very broad topic, this Skillshare art course consists of 16 lessons. That being said, completing the course will only take you 57 minutes, making it a program packed full of useful information.

Even though the learning material is densely packed into less than an hour-long course, you should not worry about not being able to keep up with the pace of the lessons. As with any other Skillshare drawing program, the material is taught one topic at a time, making it easy to take on board at your own speed.

If you are interested in taking this online art class for free, you can enjoy it and many more during the first two weeks of your premium membership, after which you would only need to pay less than $10 per month. And if you are looking for more free courses, Skillshare has many options for you to choose from.

If you decide to dive into the vibrant depths of color theory while taking this course you will learn:

• Why some colors work together and how to pair them in your artwork;
• How to overcome the most common stumbling blocks when it comes to incorporating color into your drawings;
• How color can be used for shading, setting the mood of a scene, and much more.

Those who are looking to bring their art to life with color can end their search for the perfect Skillshare drawing course here.

Start the course NOW.

• Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: All levels
• Apply HERE.


Sometimes, while looking at a drawing, we can't help but wonder “how did they do it?” We are curious to know the many stages a piece of art goes through before it shows up as a finished project for us to marvel at. And it can seem that much more daunting if we wish to learn the skills necessary to turn an idea into a piece of art.

Well, this Skillshare drawing program does exactly that. is a crash course designed to teach you the A to Z of creating incredible artwork.

This art course is designed to cover all stages of drawing, from brainstorming your ideas to refining the final result with subtle color nuances. Focused on practice over polish, this Skillshare art class is a balanced mix of the basic art knowledge and unique tips that can be used by beginners and more seasoned artists alike.

On top of that, the program encourages students to draw with meaning, thinking about the inspiration, emotion, and message behind their work, and share their thoughts and experiences with the group. It is safe to say that this course builds a community, as well as art skills.

This Skillshare drawing class is, admittedly, one of the most in-depth courses covered in this article. Consisting of 15 lessons in total, the program focuses on every step of drawing, with several videos covering each phase of the creative process. Those taking this course are guaranteed to find the material to be of excellent quality and easy to understand.

Because this program covers enough material for several mini-classes, it’s understandably going to be longer. But don’t worry, you won’t need to stay up late sketching, inking, and coloring. The course is only 2 hours and 11 minutes long, making it one of the most convenient boot camps out there that anyone can find time for.

Those worried about the cost of such an extensive course can rest assured, as this program is priced the same as most Skillshare illustration classes. The classes can be taken an unlimited number of times for free during the first two weeks of your premium membership, which will only come out to be less than $10 per month after the two-week free trial is over.

If you ask us, that is a deal worth taking!

Those enrolled in this Skillshare drawing course will be learning many skills that will be useful in all future art endeavors, including:

• Brainstorming and getting your mind running even when you feel like you’re stuck;
• Sketching to refine the ideas you would like to bring to life;
• Inking and bringing depth and contrast to your work;
• Elevating your artwork with the use of color.

If you would like to become an incredible artist in only a few hours, you have found the perfect Skillshare art class for you!

Start the course NOW.

Drawing Made Easy: Observational Drawing and Watercolor Exercises for Everyone (Enroll Here)

• Duration: 1 hour 32 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: All levels
• Apply HERE.


Watercolor is one of those mediums that is widely misunderstood. Associated with childhood and school projects, these paints are rarely recognized as the sophisticated art tool that they are. With layering and a little bit of patience, watercolor can be used to create anything from simple illustrations to more intricate landscape paintings.

Drawing Made Easy: Observational Drawing and Watercolor Exercises for Everyone is a unique Skillshare drawing course that brings watercolor outside of the studio and encourages students to face the often intimidating drawing of realistic scenes.

This art course is unique in its goal to teach students to draw without fear of making the finished piece perfect. The learning material is designed to encourage creative expression and working in unusual environments without any inhibitions. Those who have ever doubted their artistic abilities and shied away from live scene sketching should definitely consider taking this Skillshare illustration class.

Composed of 13 lessons, the course covers every step of bringing art outside, from learning to see the different angles that surround us to translating depth and contrast onto a piece of paper with just watercolor and a paintbrush.

The end goal of the course is to provide you with all the necessary skills and knowledge to create your own urban sketch.

This Skillshare drawing program is only 1 hour and 32 minutes long, making it the perfect course to bring it with you to a local park for an art session.

As all other Skillshare illustration classes mentioned in this article, this course can also be taken free of charge during the first two weeks of a premium membership subscription, which would only cost you $9.7 per month after the free trial is over. And, like all Skillshare courses available, can be revisited as many times as you want.

The students who decide to beat their fears of urban sketching and enroll in the program will learn:

• The nuances of drawing real scenes not from a photograph;
• How to draw even the details that you can’t see;
• How to layer watercolor to bring realism and life to a simple sketch.

So, what are you waiting for? The world is waiting for you and your art to show everyone a different way of seeing life!

Start the course NOW.

• Duration: 1 hour 44 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: Intermediate
• Apply HERE.


As our world evolves and new technologies are being developed, it’s no surprise that art is slowly turning digital too. And no wonder - digital art is convenient and exciting, with every possible tool and color available at your fingertips at all times.

However, with so many people sharing their digital creations online it’s easy for your own art style to seem like something you’ve seen many times before. But, how do you develop your own art style?

The answer is simple - by taking this Skillshare drawing course!

Digital Illustration for All: Discover, Cultivate and Share Your Unique Personal Style is a Skillshare art class focusing on creative digital expression and the development of an individual style.

By focusing on different sources of inspiration and ways of experimenting with various pre-existing styles, this program is designed to teach students to incorporate their own personality and view of the world into their art. The material touches not only the creative process of digital art but different techniques you can use to create unique visuals with a personal twist.

With 15 lessons of helpful advice and interesting learning content, this Skillshare art class walks you through developing your style with the help of photo references and eventually, after taking the training wheels off, sharing your unique artwork with everyone in your class.

The program aims to promote individuality and the courage to publicly be unique, which makes it a worthwhile course for everyone.

Being one of the more advanced Skillshare art classes, the course consists of 1 hour and 44 minutes of in-depth content, including a quick guide on how to set up Adobe Illustrator - your main tool - for learning.

Just like other programs discussed in this article, Digital Illustration for All can be accessed by those with premium membership for less than $10 per month, and if you enroll within the first two weeks of your subscription, the course will be completely free to take!

Those who decide to develop their own art style with this course will learn:

• How to develop your freehand skills by using photos as references;
• How color palettes are made and how to create your own to give your work a personal touch;
• How to use the many different sources of inspiration that are around you.

Let your personal style flourish and inspire others by taking this Skillshare drawing program!

Start the course NOW.

Drawing as Self-Discovery: 5 Ways to Start (Enroll Here)

• Duration: 40 minutes
• Price: Free
• Certificate: NO
• Level: All levels
• Apply HERE.


As mentioned at the beginning of this article, art and drawing can be much more than just a creative pastime. Many scientific studies have shown that drawing can be successfully used as a form of therapy, as it allows patients to express subconscious thoughts and emotions easier than with words.

That being said, unfortunately, art therapy is not easily accessible to everyone who would like to delve deeper into themselves. While drawing therapy can be a lengthy process, we are positive that this is one of the best places to start.

Drawing as Self-Discovery: 5 Ways to Start, an extraordinary Skillshare drawing course, is designed to give students all the necessary tools to begin their journey of healing and growth.

This program stands out from the rest because of its unique content joining art and holistic healing. Each one of the 10 classes introduces a new exercise meant to unlock a mental door that might be stopping you from discovering yourself and your needs.

The material is not focused on the fundamental techniques and perfecting drawing skills - instead, the goal of this Skillshare drawing class is to teach students how to channel their emotions into art in a constructive and creative way.

With the material taking only 40 minutes to cover, this course is perfect for those who want to find a simple way to relax after a busy day and relieve some of that pent-up stress.

If you are wondering how much this Skillshare course will cost you, you need not worry about spending a fortune. Even though the class is not free of charge, you can still take it during the first two weeks of your premium membership for absolutely free, and have unlimited access to the material for only $9.7 per month afterward!

If you decide to enroll in this program, you will learn:

• Ways to connect your emotions with your artwork and creative expression;
• What can be targeted during art therapy and how you can use basic knowledge in the future;
• Simple drawing techniques and exercises that will build your confidence for future endeavors.

Don’t wait around for a better opportunity than this to grow while drawing. This is the best Skillshare drawing course for those looking to create art with meaning!

Start the course NOW.

Conclusions

After reading this article, you might be wondering - would we recommend Skillshare drawing classes to start your venture into the world of art?

Yes, we absolutely would!

All of the Skillshare art classes mentioned are perfect for building essential drawing skills that can help you take your work and creativity to the next level. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have already dabbled in art before, Skillshare is here to help your creativity shine.

Now, if you are worried that you don’t have enough experience to try these courses out, you have nothing to fear. Even if you’ve never picked up a pencil before, with Skillshare, drawing for beginners can be as easy as ever.

Of course, you might not have found the perfect course for you on this list. In that case, you can always check out other online learning platforms, such as edX, that offer some of the best art classes on the market.

Thank you for reading this article on the best Skillshare drawing courses, and we wish you the best of luck in your future artistic endeavors!

Scientific References

1. Harvard Health Publishing, "The healing power of art", 2017