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 your perfect fit today.

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.

Until recently, the only way to learn how to draw properly was to sign up for a local class. These days, there are countless drawing websites for beginners to check out. Here are a few of the very best, and what they do particularly well.

Draw Space

Abstract drawing of outer space

The biggest selling feature of Draw Space is that they have so many different classes available for all skill levels. No matter what a person wants to focus on in drawing, there is a class to help. Courses are available in a wide range of styles, including manga, anime, caricature, realism, and more.

They offer plenty of free classes for people to get a good understanding of the teaching methods they use. As for their classes that do require payment, it is overall a great value since you can get very detailed lessons on so many topics.

It’s a great starting place for true beginners, and even works for more seasoned drawing artists. They actually offer a test lesson on understanding talent so a person knows exactly what skill level they are starting out with.

Best features: many classes for all skill levels, professional instructors, personalized feedback, supportive community, reasonable pricing.

Drawing Coach

People who want to focus specifically on drawing cartoons and caricatures should consider Drawing Coach. This is the best way to learn how to draw comic strip cartoons, anime, people, intricate tattoos, clip art, and more.

Improving overall technique is the number one focus with all the tutorials. Instead of spending too much time on overall art theory, it is a great way to technically improve and create a solid drawing foundation. Learning the proper technique now can pay off big in the future.

After a few walkthroughs, it is encouraging to see a finished project if every step is followed. While most people aren’t going to put together a great looking comic strip on their first try, it’s a great start.

Best features: specialized focus on cartoons and caricatures, emphasis on technical improvement, and clear walkthroughs with finished project examples.

Drawing Now

Some people might prefer a website where they can learn drawing from other regular users out there. All a person has to do to get started at Drawing Now is to sign up for a free membership, and they can interact with other members.

Users can create their own tutorials, allowing for a lot of different teaching methods to be posted on the website. It becomes a competition amongst other members to have the best tutorials and be considered a go-to expert in the field.

Being able to reach out to other members with instant messaging and open chat is a great tool to have as well. Most are very open to providing advice and feedback on finished art.

Best features: user-generated tutorials, interactive community, instant messaging, open chat, valuable feedback on finished art.

Skillshare

Skillshare is a website dedicated to online learning, featuring thousands of video courses on numerous topics, including drawing. It is an excellent resource for beginners. Whether you are looking to improve your traditional drawing skills or learn how to use digital tools, there is a class to meet their needs.

The courses are taught by professional artists and designers, and many of them include assignments and feedback to help students improve their skills. Skillshare’s platform also allows students to interact with their peers, creating a supportive community of learners.

A significant benefit of Skillshare is that the subscription-based model provides access to all courses, rather than paying per course, making it a great value for those who want to take multiple classes. Additionally, students can choose to download courses for offline viewing, which is helpful for those who may not have constant internet access.

While there is a membership fee for Skillshare, they offer a free trial period to new users, allowing them to test out the platform before committing to a subscription. Overall, Skillshare is an excellent choice for those looking for a comprehensive and interactive learning experience in drawing and other subjects.

Best features: wide variety of drawing courses, taught by professional artists, interactive learning with feedback and community, all courses included in subscription, free trial period available.

YouTube

The great thing about YouTube for learning how to draw is that it offers a vast array of free tutorials. Whether you want to learn how to draw specific things like portraits or landscapes or just improve your overall technique, you can find a video tutorial that suits your needs.

One of the benefits of YouTube is that you can follow along with the artist in real-time as they create the artwork. You can pause, rewind and replay the videos as many times as you need to, making it a great resource for self-paced learning.

In addition, YouTube’s algorithm can suggest videos based on your viewing history, which can help you discover new artists and techniques that you might not have found otherwise. Some artists even offer live streams, allowing viewers to interact and ask questions in real-time.

However, with the abundance of content available, it can be overwhelming to sort through it all and find high-quality tutorials.

Best features: free, vast library of tutorials for all skill levels, specific search options, and different artists’ teaching methods available.

Drawing online can be a great way for beginners to learn how to draw. Here are some steps to get started.

  1. Choose a website or platform. There are numerous websites and platforms available to learn how to draw, such as Draw Space, Drawing Coach, Drawing Now, Skillshare, and YouTube. Choose the one that suits your needs and preferences.
  2. Get the necessary tools. Depending on the platform you choose, you might need some basic tools such as pencils, paper, erasers, and a digital drawing tablet.
  3. Choose a style. There are different drawing styles such as manga, anime, caricature, realism, and more. Choose the one that interests you and start practicing.
  4. Follow tutorials. Most platforms offer tutorials for beginners. Start with the basics such as lines, shapes, and shading, and gradually move on to more complex drawings.
  5. Practice regularly. Drawing is a skill that requires practice. Set aside some time every day to practice and hone your skills.
  6. Get feedback. Share your drawings with others and get feedback. This will help you identify areas where you need to improve and get tips on how to improve.

Remember, the key to learning how to draw is to enjoy the process and not be too hard on yourself. Keep practicing, and you will improve over time.

For novices, it’s best to start with a medium that feels comfortable and accessible. Pencil and paper are a classic combination that many beginners use to start learning how to draw. It allows for easy erasing and correcting mistakes, and is relatively inexpensive. Additionally, sketching with a pencil can help with hand-eye coordination and developing a sense of proportion and perspective.

However, if you are interested in digital art, there are also many beginner-friendly drawing tablets and software options available.

Ultimately, the best drawing medium for beginners is the one that you enjoy using and are motivated to practice with.