Discover the Best Life Drawing Classes Online
You have probably seen life drawing in both classical masterworks and bold contemporary artwork. The practice of drawing a live model in a pose or gesture or capturing a still life of arranged objects never goes out of style.
Life drawing is sometimes known as figure drawing or gesture drawing. It can be highly detailed and representational, or a loose and expressive sketch. A gesture drawing quickly captures the essence of a model.
Practicing life drawing develops your skills as an artist. When you understand the muscles and skeleton of the body, You can draw a human figure more accurately and with more expression when you understand the muscles and skeleton of the body. When you draw from life you draw what you really see, not a generic image that already exists in your mind.
Why You Should Learn Life Drawing Online
When your mind is absorbed in really seeing what you are drawing, it nourishes the creative side of your brain and encourages a zen state of thinking. The technical challenge of conveying living gestures in two dimensions improves your artistic skills and your problem solving ability. Plus, it’s a great way to meet people who share your love for art.
To cultivate your artistic vision, explore art clubs, galleries, museums, and art shows in your community. Look for online forums and social media where you can connect with artists around the world and enrich your visual library.
If you want a career in art, start by creating a portfolio to show off your work. Network with other students in your classes and professionals in the field, build a social media platform, and attend industry shows and events. Many artists sell their work at festivals and galleries or online. The median annual wage for fine artists is $50,000.
Virtual Life Drawing Classes
When you take an in-person life drawing class, you quickly gain new skills from real-time lessons with a professional artist. You’ll get advice on your technique, materials suggestions, and access to live models. You’ll have classmates who share your love for art, and you’ll make connections in the art community.
Unfortunately, life drawing classes may not be available in your area. You can still hone your drawing skills, though, by taking virtual classes. When you take a virtual life drawing class, you can choose courses from professional artists no matter where you live, without leaving your home.
You may need to provide your own materials when you take an online class. You’ll receive a complete supply list from your instructor before your class begins, and you can shop online or locally and continue practicing when your class is over. Explore these online life drawing classes you can take through CourseHorse.
You’ll discover creativity, connection and community in Beginner’s Drawing in 90 Minutes at The Art Studio NY. Whether you are a total beginner or a more experienced artist, this drawing foundation class strengthens your drawing skills and takes your artwork to the next level. You’ll practice shading, line, tone, mark marking, and cross hatching while you draw from still life, landscape, or whatever inspires you most.
Online Drawing with Graphite 101 led by Pastimes for a Lifetime is designed for beginners or students seeking a refresher. This fun and informative class focuses on measuring and drawing skills and honing hand sensitivity. You’ll complete unique projects created to improve your hand-to-eye coordination, and you’ll sketch and shade with graphite pencil to produce dimension, perspective and texture on paper.
Fear-Free Beginner's Drawing 101 from The Art Studio NY will unleash your inner artist. Beginning drawing students receive one-on-one expert instruction on using charcoal and pencil. You’ll explore still life, realism, abstraction, landscape, and portraiture drawing, and learn techniques like shading, expressive line, mark-making, composition, contour drawing, quick sketches, 3-D effect, and dimension. The instructor hosts a private art-loving Facebook group for class students only.
Online Drawing with Graphite 102 takes your drawing skills to the next level. This is an intermediate level class that continues where Drawing 101 leaves off. It covers measuring, sketching and shading skills using tinted paper and larger formats, and more challenging subject matter like still life.
Private Online Group Life Drawing Classes
You may face a challenge finding an engaging activity for your business retreat, team-building session, or private event. You have an easy solution, though, when you book through Coursehorse. Coursehorse has life drawing classes for private groups that they deliver virtually to you.
Virtual Group Drawing & Sketching Class guides your group members through creating a graphite still life drawing. You’ll learn hatching and cross hatching techniques and how to build value and create depth in your drawing. Your drawing project will build objects using basic shapes and use dynamic composition to make a beautiful drawing. Choose from still life, landscapes, botanical, faces, or another drawing style you like to customize your art experience. The only materials you need are a graphite pencil and drawing paper. For just $150, customize your course with an added game or second event, all materials included. This class accommodates up to 255 people.
If you don’t see the class you’re looking for or you want a completely custom experience, Coursehorse will create it for you. Click on the Contact Us button on their website to begin planning your group experience. Booking a class with CourseHorse is simple. Get started with an estimated number of people in your class, and let them know the final number up to one week before your class. There’s not a booking fee or any extra charges, and you’ll receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your reservation.
CourseHorse recommends joining your class on Zoom, but they can accommodate Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx. If you’d like an in-person activity, some courses can even come right to your office or home.
Online vs. In-Person Life Drawing Classes
There are advantages to both online and in-person life drawing classes. If in-person life drawing classes are offered in your community, it’s a great way to quickly improve your skills and become part of the local art community. Many people learn faster when they have in-person help and feedback, or the instructor can even demonstrate techniques on their own drawing.
You might not have access to in-person classes in your area, though. You’ll find many tutorials online, or books that explain drawing techniques, but then you don’t have anyone to ask questions of. Fortunately, now you can take high quality classes from professional artists without leaving home. Online classes connect you with expert teachers who support your artistic journey. Plus, you’ll get to know your online classmates who live around the country.
When you choose a life drawing class, take into account the experience and artistic style of the instructor. Check whether they send you materials or you need to buy them yourself, and make sure the time fits your schedule. Consider whether you have a workspace for a project that might get messy, and where you won’t be interrupted by family or pets. You’ll need a web-connected device to join a class online.
Can I Learn Life Drawing for Free Online?
There are many free resources online for life drawing. You can find tutorials, videos, and even printed lessons for sale. You’ll probably pick up some helpful tips that will help you improve your drawing. But if you really want to master life drawing and you want comprehensive instruction that covers all of the techniques, taking a structured class with an instructor will help you learn better and faster.