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12 Best Free Drawing Courses for Beginners for 2024

Take your drawing skills to the next level and draw like a pro with the best drawing online courses out there.


Key Takeaways:


Whether you want to learn to draw anatomy, perspective, cartoons, or architecture, online courses can help you get started. All courses are suitable for beginners but even if you have some experience, you can still learn something new!

In this guide, I’ve selected the 12 best free drawing online courses for you from the 1150+ drawing courses on our catalog by following a well-defined methodology that you can find below.

Here are my top 12 picks. You can click on a course to jump to the corresponding section:

Course Workload In Brief
1. Drawing Basics | Proko (Proko) 4-5 hours Best course to learn the basics of drawing
2. Learn to Draw (SchaeferArt) 4-5 hours Best course to learn different drawing techniques and sketching
3. Anatomy of the Human Body for Artists | Proko (Proko) 23 hours Best course to learn to draw human anatomy
4. Perspective Drawing (Dan Beardshaw) 2-3 hours Best course to learn perspective drawing
5. Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101 (University of Newcastle) 18-36 hours Best university course to learn to draw nature
6. SUPER EASY BEGINNER LEVEL ART (Shayda Campbell) 3 hours Best course to learn different types of doodling
7. New How to Draw Series (Whyt Manga) 2-3 hours Best course to learn to draw manga
8. Art of Caricature (Proko) 8 hours Best course to learn to draw caricatures
9. Drawing for Beginners: How to Draw 25 Cartoons Step-by-Step (Udemy) 2 hours Great course to learn to draw cartoons
10. Introduction to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors and Design (University for the Creative Arts) 6 hours University course to learn 3D drawing for architecture, interiors and design
11. Realistic Drawing (Dan Beardshaw) 4-5 hours Best course to learn realistic portraits and objects
12. Stippling Drawing (Ms. Cooper’s Art Class) < 1 hour Short course for beginners to learn the basics of stippling

What is Drawing?

Drawing is a creative activity that involves using pencils, pens, or other tools to make marks on paper or other surfaces. It can be a way to express ideas, emotions, or observations through visual representation. Drawing can be done in a variety of styles, from realistic to abstract, and can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as art, illustration, design or communication.

Drawing can be a fun and relaxing hobby or a professional skill that requires years of practice and training. It can also be a way to document ideas, sketch out plans, or develop visual concepts. Some people use drawing as a form of therapy or meditation, while others use it as a way to communicate complex ideas or tell stories. Whatever the purpose, drawing can be a rewarding and enriching activity for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Why are Drawing Skills Important?

Drawing skills are important for a variety of reasons:

  • Drawing can improve communication skills by allowing individuals to express their ideas and thoughts visually.
  • It can help in developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
  • Drawing can serve as a stress-reliever and a form of therapy.
  • It can also enhance creativity and imagination by allowing individuals to visualize and create new concepts.
  • Drawing is used in various fields such as architecture, engineering, fashion design, and advertising, making it a valuable skill to have.
  • It can help in improving observation skills and attention to detail, which are important in many professions.
  • Drawing can be a fun and enjoyable hobby, providing a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
  • It can be a useful tool in brainstorming and problem-solving, allowing individuals to visually map out ideas and solutions.

What is My Experience with Drawing?

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I was mostly drawing cartoons which later transformed into manga. Drawing is an (if not the most) important part of my life. Being self-taught, I lack some techniques, but online courses help me brush up on those. I can’t think of myself without drawing.

My (incomplete) drawing of Violet Evergarden from early college days

Besides that, I am a Guided Project Instructor and a Beta Tester at Coursera, having tested many courses before they’re officially launched. I have taken over 50 online courses in various subjects.

My experience as an online learner and teacher has given me some perspective on what to look for in an online course. I used my experience to evaluate each course in this list.

Find your next course on Class Central

Course Ranking Methodology

I built this ranking following the now tried-and-tested methodology I used in previous rankings (you can find them all here). It involves a three-step process:

  1. Research: I started by leveraging Class Central’s database with 100K online courses and 200K+ reviews. Then, I made a preliminary selection of 1150+ drawing courses by rating, reviews, and bookmarks.
  2. Evaluate: I read through reviews on Class Central, Reddit, and course providers to understand what other learners thought about each course and combined it with my own experience as a learner.
  3. Select: Well-made courses were picked if they presented valuable and engaging content and they have to fit in a set of criteria and be ranked accordingly: comprehensive curriculum, release date, affordability, ratings and enrollments.

The end result is a unique selection of courses that combines a decade of Class Central data and my own experience as an online learner to try to get the best of both worlds. So far, I’ve spent more than 10 hours building this list, and I’ll continue to update it.

Course Ranking Statistics

Here are some statistics regarding this course ranking:

  • Combined, these courses have accrued over 240.2K enrollments.
  • All 12 courses are free or free-to-audit.
  • The most-represented course provider in the ranking is YouTube, with 9 courses.
  • All 10 courses are in English.
  • The drawing subject is followed by over 11.1K learners on Class Central, and accounts for over 1150 courses in Class Central catalog.

So without further ado, let’s get to my picks for the best drawing online courses.

1. Drawing Basics | Proko (Proko)

Stan Prokopenko, instructor

My first pick for the best drawing online course is the free course Drawing Basics | Proko, offered by Proko on YouTube.

No matter what you want to draw, it’s absolutely important that you first learn the basics. And that’s why I’ve put this course at the top of the list. This free course will teach you the very basics of drawing, starting from how to hold your pencil, shapes and shading, and ultimately more complex techniques so that you can draw anything easily.

What You’ll Learn

In this course you’ll learn how to hold and control your pencil, and explore the basic elements of shape, value, color, and edge. You’ll cover shading light and form, how to shade a drawing, draw gestures, and apply contrast, aerial perspective, form, perspective, details and overlapping forms.

After that, you’ll also cover the drawing supplies required for longer drawings and get insight into the top shading and drawing mistakes to avoid. You’ll learn realistic shading tricks, steps to draw anything, and explore drawing measuring techniques.

Finally, you’ll be introduced to sketchbooks and paper, and learn pencil sharpening techniques. You’ll learn how to improve your shape design by simplifying, enhance your shading, and use different types of lines and to create beautiful and expressive drawings.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 23 videos. Each video involves about 5 to 10 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Proko
Provider YouTube
Instructor Stan Prokopenko and others
Level Beginner
Workload 4-5 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Prokopenko is an artist and teacher.
  • His YouTube channel is a resource for artists to get good art instruction videos.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

2. Learn to Draw (SchaeferArt)

Brandon Schaefer, instructor

My second pick for the best drawing online course is the free course Learn to Draw, offered by SchaeferArt on YouTube.

This course will teach you the methods and techniques involved in drawing, sketching, shading, lines, perspective, proportions, values, edges and more. It is designed for beginners who have never drawn before and will help them gain confidence and have fun while learning. The course starts from the very beginning and explains each step in detail.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn the basics of drawing and the materials needed to get started. You’ll discover techniques for simplifying objects, shading, and creating perspective. There are also lessons on sketching from life and observing edges for realistic renderings.

The course also covers topics such as compositional guidelines, sketchbook tours, and improving your drawing abilities and skills. By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid foundation in drawing and the tools to continue improving your skills.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 23 videos. Each video involves about 5 to 15 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel SchaeferArt
Provider YouTube
Instructor Brandon Schaefer
Level Beginner
Workload 4-5 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • The creator of SchaeferArt is an artist focused on drawing videos and pen and ink content.
  • The channel gives drawing tips, drawing lessons, art tutorials, advice and mindset topics, artist struggles, sketchbook tours, book reviews, and videos about creativity.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

3. Anatomy of the Human Body for Artists | Proko (Proko)

Stan Prokopenko (left), instructor, and Skelly (right)

My third pick for the best drawing online course is the free course Anatomy of the Human Body for Artists | Proko, offered by Proko on YouTube.

If you’re looking to draw human figures, the first thing you’d need to learn is anatomy. The more you know about anatomy of the human body, the more realistic your figures will look. This extensive, free course will guide you through the different parts of the human body and how to draw them perfectly. You’ll also get useful tips and look at critiques of student work.

What You’ll Learn

This course covers the language of anatomy to specific body parts like the spine, pelvis, rib cage, and shoulder bones. It delves into drawing muscles, including the pecs, abs, obliques, shoulder and back muscles, and hands, including how to draw hands in perspective and draw a perfect fist.

The course also teaches you leg anatomy, including the bones, feet, and buttocks, and provides tips on how to study anatomy correctly and fix proportion mistakes. Critiques of student work are also included.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 121 videos. Each video involves about 5 to 15 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Proko
Provider YouTube
Instructor Stan Prokopenko
Level Beginner
Workload 23 hours
Certificate Not available

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

4. Perspective Drawing (Dan Beardshaw)

Division and duplication

In this free course, Perspective Drawing, offered by Dan Beardshaw on YouTube, you will learn that perspective is another important aspect of drawing, especially if you’re drawing architecture and landscape. This course will teach you the different types of perspective drawing such as one, two, and three-point perspective, as well as useful techniques and drawing different shapes and forms.

What You’ll Learn

The first few lessons introduce the basics of perspective drawing, such as the horizon line and vanishing points. The lessons progress to cover one, two, and three-point perspective, which are techniques used to create depth and dimension in drawings.

Other lessons cover useful techniques such as division and duplication, scaling and rotating objects in perspective, and constructing grids and inclined planes. They also cover drawing ellipses, complex forms, and organic shapes, as well as techniques for drawing shadows on objects.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 22 videos. Each video involves about 6 to 10 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Dan Beardshaw
Provider YouTube
Instructor Dan Beardshaw
Level Beginner
Workload 2-3 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Beardshaw is a 26 years old creator with nearly 500,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel where he shares tutorials on how to draw perspective, anatomy and realistic drawing.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

5. Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101 (University of Newcastle)

Bernadette Drabsch (left) and Andrew Howells (right), instructors

Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101, offered by University of Newcastle on edX, is an extensive free-to-audit course that covers the fundamentals of natural history illustration, from observing a subject in the field to replicating it in the studio. It is suitable for both aspiring scientific or medical illustrators and those who enjoy drawing nature. Whether you are looking to pursue illustration seriously or just explore a passion, this art and culture course is for you.

What You’ll Learn

This course aims to introduce students to natural history illustration techniques, starting with observational drawing and field sketching. The first week is an introduction to the course and the historical and contemporary practices of Natural History Illustration.

During the second week, students will learn observational drawing methods, and in the third week, they will be introduced to field sketching and recording techniques. The fourth week will focus on understanding the structure of flowers and leaves.

The fifth week will be about understanding animal anatomy, specifically the structure of mammals and birds. Finally, in the sixth week, students will learn how to create finished artworks through rendering.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 6 weeks. Each module involves about 3 to 6 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, readings and quizzes.

Institution University of Newcastle
Provider edX
Instructor Andrew Howells, Bernadette Drabsch
Level Beginner
Workload 18-36 hours
Enrollments 143K
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • Drabsch focuses her research on prehistoric art in society, art creation as a ritual process and indigenous rock art of Australia.
  • In his thesis Howells developed a tool for the visual assessment of the body condition of Asian Elephants.
  • You can read an in-depth learner review of this course here.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

6. SUPER EASY BEGINNER LEVEL ART (Shayda Campbell)

Shayda Campbell, instructor

If you’d like to draw cute doodles in your spare time, then SUPER EASY BEGINNER LEVEL ART, offered by Shayda Campbell on YouTube, is for you. This free course will teach you how to draw simple and sweet doodles like flowers and animals using brush pens, markers and watercolors. The tutorials are easy to follow, and you’ll end up with fantastic looking art pieces that are more than just doodles.

What You’ll Learn

This course will teach you how to draw flowers and animals with brush pens, markers and watercolors. You’ll also find some creative art journal prompts to decorate your sketchbook, and make a cute bullet journal spread.

You’ll also learn easy beginner doodles, as well as how to illustrate loose florals using markers and brush pens. Finally, there are some relaxing art projects that you can do to unwind and de-stress.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 18 videos. Each video involves about 10 to 15 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Shayda Campbell
Provider YouTube
Instructor Shayda Campbell
Level Beginner
Workload 3 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Campbell is a Canadian artist and content creator with over a million subscribers to her YouTube channel where she shares videos and tutorials about watercolor, doodling, sketchbook, bullet journal and much more.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

7. New How to Draw Series (Whyt Manga)

Anime faces

Good news for all the manga lovers out there! If you’re looking to improve your drawing skills and create characters for your anime, manga, or webtoon series, this free course New How to Draw Series, offered by Whyt Manga on YouTube, is perfect for you. By the end of the course, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to create characters that are both expressive and visually stunning.

What You’ll Learn

This course covers topics such as how to draw faces, eyes, female body proportions, and different angles for the face. There are also tips on how to practice drawing effectively and warm-up exercises for artists.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 7 videos. Each video involves about 15 to 20 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Whyt Manga
Provider YouTube
Level Beginner
Workload 2-3 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Whyt Manga YouTube channel has over a million subscribers with content specific for manga and comic artists where they can learn about drawing, coloring, and writing their stories.
  • Whyt Manga is a professional manga artist with published Manga in printing and digital media.
  • You can read some of Whyt’s latest work here.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

8. Art of Caricature (Proko)

Caricature of Beet Man (Stan Prokopenko)

Want to draw your favorite personalities in a fun and cartoony way? Then this free course Art of Caricature, offered by Proko on YouTube, is for you. With this course, you’ll be able to draw caricatures using different techniques like exaggeration, abstraction and shading, and playing with head shapes and sketching different body types. And the fun part is you’ll learn all this by drawing caricatures of real people you know!

What You’ll Learn

The course covers several tutorials on caricature drawing, including lessons on exaggeration, thumbnail sketching, and using the Reilly Method. You’ll learn how to draw faces, eyes, bodies, and sketching exercises for artists.

You’ll also cover both traditional and digital drawing techniques, and explore painting in Photoshop, developing personal style, and using spirit animals to draw faces. Career tips for caricature artists and common digital painting mistakes are also covered.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 52 videos. Each video involves about 5 to 20 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Proko
Provider YouTube
Instructor Court Jones
Level Beginner
Workload 8 hours
Certificate Not available

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

9. Drawing for Beginners: How to Draw 25 Cartoons Step-by-Step (Udemy)

Em Winn, instructor

Drawing for Beginners: How to Draw 25 Cartoons Step-by-Step on Udemy, is perfect for anyone, regardless of age, who wants to learn how to draw. By organizing shapes and lines together, young artists will learn how to create cute cartoon animals. This free course is designed to give new artists the tools they need to begin their artistic journey and explore self-expression, reflection, and creative thinking.

What You’ll Learn

This course aims to help you create over 25 stunning cartoon drawings while developing critical thinking skills, hand-eye coordination, and self-expression. It also provides an excellent opportunity to explore your artistic side, regardless of your skill level or prior experience.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 9 sections. Each section involves about 10 to 20 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos and readings.

Provider Udemy
Instructor Em Winn
Level Beginner
Workload 2 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Winn loves to teach art to children.
  • She has over 20 years teaching experience in the elementary classroom and in the art studio.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

10. Introduction to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors and Design (University for the Creative Arts)

3-point perspective

Introduction to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors and Design, offered by University for the Creative Arts on FutureLearn, will give you a solid understanding of sketching and drawing in a 3D design context. It’s suitable for anyone interested in 3D design who wants to prepare for further study at an undergraduate level or those with little drawing or sketching experience, or for those looking to refresh their skills.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn the basics of freehand drawing for architecture and product design. You’ll explore what constructed and observational drawings are and how they differ, and learn to assess future briefs to create high-quality sketches to impress prospective clients.

You’ll understand the elements of design, including line drawing, design composition, and perspective principles. You’ll produce a sketch design sheet and create a professional layout. By the end of the course, you’ll have built a beginner’s portfolio of product design sketches.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 3 weeks. Each week involves about 2 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, readings and quizzes.

Institution University for the Creative Arts
Provider FutureLearn
Instructor Stephen Davies
Level Beginner
Workload 6 hours
Enrollments 1.6K
Rating 4.9/5.0
Certificate Paid

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

11. Realistic Drawing (Dan Beardshaw)

Dan Beardshaw, instructor

This free course, Realistic Drawing, offered by Dan Beardshaw on YouTube, will teach you how to draw realistic sketches in a matter of just a couple of hours. You’ll learn to draw realistic hair, skin, facial features, textures and clothing using different techniques such as shading, blending and outlining, and understand pencil grades, and finally, apply all this to create realistic portraits and objects.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn how to draw hair, skin, facial features, textures and clothing. You’ll cover shading, blending, outlining, and proportions, and also use a grid and understand pencil grades. You’ll also take a look at a realistic drawing process of Kendrick Lamar and draw a realistic portrait using a digital grid.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 29 videos. Each video involves about 7 to 10 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Institution Dan Beardshaw
Provider YouTube
Instructor Dan Beardshaw
Level Beginner
Workload 2-3 hours
Certificate Not available

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

12. Stippling Drawing (Ms. Cooper’s Art Class)

Stippled portrait

This short free course, Stippling Drawing, offered by Ms. Cooper’s Art Class on YouTube, is all about stippling drawing. Stippling drawing is basically a drawing technique that uses only dots to create an effect of shading and textures, and can be used to create patterns and images. Within less than an hour, you’ll be able to learn the basics of stippling and get started with simple stipple drawings.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn the absolute basics of stipple art, how to draw using dots, and how to practice stippling. You’ll also learn how to make stippled nature drawings and a stippled portrait drawing. Finally, you’ll understand how to use overlapping shapes in stippling drawing and how to draw circular stippled doodles.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 7 videos. Each video involves about 3 to 6 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Institution Ms. Cooper’s Art Class
Provider YouTube
Instructor Ailysh Cooper
Level Beginner
Workload < 1 hour
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Ms. Cooper’s Art Class provides art tutorials for drawing, painting, doodling, and more.
  • Cooper is an award-winning art teacher in the United States.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

Archisha Bhar Profile Image

Archisha Bhar

I am a Civil Engineer from India. Other than engineering, I take interest in art, music, computer, psychology and creative writing.

Comments 7

  1. Mireya

    This was really helpful!!
    Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Pvs Sudhakar Rao, Hyderabad, India

      I want to learn drawing sketching portraits painting from basics. Am able to do drawing to some extent.
      Am a retired person having strong penchant to become a good artist.
      Will be grateful I am taught.
      Thanks and regards.

      Reply
  2. Pais Reiz

    Amazing and actually helpful list! Recommended 10/10 thank u!

    Reply
  3. Sanchita

    I want to learn portraits

    Reply
  4. Aye Thandar Hlaing

    How do I receive a certificate after completing the online course?

    Reply

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