6 Best Drawing Websites for Beginners
Discover the best drawing websites for beginners and improve your skills in no time. From professional instruction to user-generated tutorials, find the right option for how you want to learn.
Being able to draw, and do it well, is a skill that many people wish they had. Drawing can potentially lead to art careers, such as graphic design. While simple doodling can be fun, taking it to another level is more difficult.
A local art class was once the obvious way to learn how to draw properly. Today, there are countless drawing websites for beginners to check out. Here are six of the best and what they do particularly well.
Top Drawing Sites
1. Proko
Proko is the best overall drawing website for beginners. Its Drawing Basics course is intended for true beginners and progresses through lines, shapes, perspective, values, edges and drawing from observation.
More than 50 Drawing Basics lessons are available for free. Learners can complete assignments, watch demonstrations and critique lessons, and post their work in the course comments for community feedback. Full access to the much larger course requires payment.
Proko ranks first because it combines an ordered fundamentals course with engaging video instruction and enough free material to make genuine progress before paying.
Best features: more than 50 free beginner lessons, working artists as instructors, progressive course sequence, assignments, demonstrations, critiques, community feedback.
2. Drawspace
Drawspace stands out for the size and range of its catalogue. More than 500 self-directed art lessons, along with guided courses, serve absolute beginners through advanced artists. Topics include manga, caricature, realism, portraits and more.
Free programs allow people to get a good understanding of the teaching methods. Drawspace also offers paid lessons and guided courses, including weekly assignments.
Drawspace is a great starting place for true beginners and also works for more seasoned artists. A free Getting Started With Drawing course includes an Understanding Talent lesson, guidance on drawing supplies and beginner projects.
Best features: more than 500 lessons, courses for different skill levels, experienced artists and educators, guided and self-directed study, free beginner programs.
3. Drawing Coach
People who want to focus on cartoons and caricatures should consider Drawing Coach. Step-by-step lessons are also available on portraits, people, tattoos, flowers, trees, perspective and drawing techniques.
Improving overall technique is the main focus of the tutorials. Instead of spending too much time on art theory, the lessons aim to help learners improve technically and create a solid drawing foundation. Learning the proper technique early can pay off in the future.
After a few walkthroughs, it is encouraging to see a finished project if every step is followed. Most people will not put together a great-looking comic strip on their first try, but it is a worthwhile start.
Best features: free step-by-step tutorials, a focus on cartoons and caricatures, technique and perspective lessons, finished-project examples.
4. DrawingNow
Some people might prefer a website where they can learn drawing from other users. A free account at DrawingNow lets members create tutorials, draw online and save work to a gallery.
Users can create their own tutorials, allowing different teaching methods to be posted on the website. DrawingNow also has contests, forums, polls and galleries where members can share their work.
Community areas give beginners a place to see finished drawings, read comments and compare approaches.
Best features: free step-by-step tutorials, user-created lessons, online drawing tools, contests, forums and member galleries.
5. Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning website featuring thousands of video classes on numerous topics, including drawing. It is an excellent resource for beginners. Whether you want to improve your traditional drawing skills or learn how to use digital tools, there is likely to be a class that meets your needs.
Classes are taught by artists and designers, and every class must include a project component. Projects, class discussions and feedback help students apply what they learn and interact with teachers and peers.
A significant benefit of Skillshare is that a subscription provides unlimited access to its classes rather than requiring payment for each one. Members can also download lessons for offline viewing through the iOS and Android apps.
Skillshare charges a membership fee after its free trial. Payment details are required, and the subscription begins automatically unless it is cancelled before the trial ends. Skillshare is a comprehensive choice for people who want to study drawing and other creative subjects.
Best features: thousands of classes, project-based learning, discussions and feedback, unlimited class access with a subscription, offline viewing in the mobile apps, free trial.
6. YouTube
YouTube offers a vast array of free drawing tutorials. Whether you want to learn how to draw specific subjects such as portraits or landscapes or just improve your overall technique, you can find a video tutorial that suits your needs.
One benefit of YouTube is that you can follow along as the artist creates the artwork. You can pause, rewind and replay videos as many times as needed, making the site a useful resource for self-paced learning.
YouTube’s recommendation system can suggest videos based on your viewing history, which can help you discover new artists and techniques. Some artists also offer live streams, allowing viewers to interact and ask questions in real time.
An abundance of content can make it difficult to sort through the options and find high-quality tutorials.
Best features: free access, a vast library of tutorials for all skill levels, specific search options, different artists and teaching methods.
FAQ
How to draw online for beginners
Drawing online can be a great way for beginners to learn how to draw. Here are some steps to get started.
- Choose a website or platform. Options include Proko, Drawspace, Drawing Coach, DrawingNow, Skillshare and YouTube. Choose the one that suits your needs and preferences.
- Get the necessary tools. Depending on the platform, you might need basic supplies such as pencils, paper and erasers or a digital drawing tablet.
- Choose a style. Drawing styles include manga, anime, caricature, realism and more. Choose one that interests you and start practising.
- Follow tutorials. Most platforms offer tutorials for beginners. Start with basics such as lines, shapes and shading, and gradually move on to more complex drawings.
- Practise regularly. Drawing is a skill that requires repetition. Set aside time each day or week to improve your skills.
- Get feedback. Share your drawings with others to identify areas for improvement and receive useful tips.
Enjoying the process and not being too hard on yourself are important parts of learning how to draw. Keep practising, and you will improve over time.
Which drawing medium is best for beginners?
For novices, it is best to start with a medium that feels comfortable and accessible. Pencil and paper are a classic combination for learning how to draw because marks are easy to erase and correct, and the supplies are relatively inexpensive. Sketching with a pencil can also help develop hand-eye coordination and a sense of proportion and perspective.
Beginners interested in digital art can instead use one of the many entry-level drawing tablets and software options available.
Ultimately, the best drawing medium for beginners is one that they enjoy using and feel motivated to practise with.
