Explore the 10 best online art courses on Udemy, covering everything from digital painting to character design, ideal for all skill levels
- The Ultimate Digital Painting Course: Comprehensive 27-hour course covering form, perspective, and color theory with 60+ projects.
- Digital Sketching: A 6-hour beginner-friendly course adaptable to any digital art software.
- Character Art School: Learn coloring and painting techniques for comics, manga, and anime.
- Portrait Drawing: Step-by-step lessons for creating lifelike portraits, from basic proportions to advanced shading.
- Learn to Draw and Paint Comics: Focus on figure drawing, anatomy, and storytelling through comic art.
- The Art & Science of Drawing: Dynamic Mark Making: Master expressive linework and shading techniques.
- How to Draw Heads from Any Angle: Over 50 exercises to perfect facial anatomy and dynamic perspectives.
- Improve Your Creature Design Drawings: Create fantasy creatures using Procreate and design principles.
- Digital Art Tools: Learn essential tools across 6 popular digital art programs like Procreate and Krita.
- Learn Marvelous Designer: Dive into 3D clothing simulation for film, games, and digital art projects.
Why Choose Udemy?
- Affordable: Frequent discounts make courses budget-friendly.
- Flexible: Lifetime access lets you learn at your own pace.
- Diverse Options: Courses for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced artists.
Quick Comparison Table:
| Course Name | Duration | Skill Level | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate Digital Painting Course | 27 hours | Beginner-Advanced | Digital painting fundamentals |
| Digital Sketching | 6 hours | All Levels | Sketching with any digital software |
| Character Art School | 19.5 hours | All Levels | Coloring for comics/manga/anime |
| Portrait Drawing | 19.5 hours | All Levels | Lifelike portrait drawing |
| Learn to Draw and Paint Comics | 15.5 hours | All Levels | Comic art techniques |
| Dynamic Mark Making | 5 days | All Levels | Expressive linework |
| Drawing Heads from Any Angle | 11+ hours | Beginner-Intermediate | Facial anatomy and angles |
| Creature Design | 6-8 hours | Beginner-Advanced | Fantasy creature design |
| Digital Art Tools | 10 modules | Beginner-Advanced | Digital art software basics |
| Marvelous Designer | Self-paced | Beginner-Advanced | 3D clothing simulation |
These courses provide structured lessons, hands-on projects, and expert guidance to help you grow your artistic skills. Whether you’re starting out or refining advanced techniques, Udemy offers something for everyone.
Alternative Options for Art Education: Online Courses and Learning Platforms
1. The Ultimate Digital Painting Course for All Levels
The Ultimate Digital Painting Course on Udemy is a go-to choice for aspiring digital artists, regardless of experience. Taught by Jaysen Batchelor and Austin Batchelor, the course is designed to take students from the basics to more advanced techniques through a well-structured learning path.
Students work on over 60 projects that cover key topics like form, perspective, light, and color theory. The course dives into various subjects such as still lifes, landscapes, and portraits. Additional lessons include advanced skills like photo-realism and character design. Plus, it offers practical advice on creating a professional portfolio and catching the attention of art directors.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Instructors | Jaysen Batchelor & Austin Batchelor |
| Total Duration | 27 hours |
| Number of Projects | 60+ |
| Student Rating | 4.5/5.0 (15K ratings) |
| Total Enrollments | 98K |
| Skill Level | Beginner to Advanced |
“This was my first experience of digital art and Jason and Austin have walked me through the whole process, breaking it down so as not to be too daunting. It isn’t easy teaching an old dog (me aged 60) new tricks but I really enjoyed the challenge and would highly recommend this course.”
With a 30-day money-back guarantee, students can explore the course risk-free while honing their skills through hands-on projects and expert instruction. If you’re looking for a solid foundation in digital sketching, the next course might be just what you need.
2. Digital Sketching: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Beyond
Led by Austin Batchelor, this course has earned a 4.6/5.0 rating and attracted over 35,000 students. With 6 hours of structured lessons, it bridges the gap between traditional and digital sketching. Plus, it works with any digital art software, making it accessible no matter what tools you use.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Instructor | Austin Batchelor |
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Student Rating | 4.6/5.0 |
| Total Enrollments | 35,000+ |
| Skill Level | All Levels |
| Software Requirements | Any digital art program |
The course focuses on building confidence in digital art by teaching foundational skills. You’ll learn how to sketch from both life and imagination, as well as explore advanced techniques. By the end, you’ll be equipped to create concept art suitable for professional portfolios or projects – ideal for industries like game design or film. With hands-on projects and guidance from the instructor, it’s a great fit for both beginners and those looking to refine their abilities.
For those wanting to dive into character art and advanced coloring, the next course is designed to take your skills to the next level.
3. Character Art School: Learn Coloring and Painting Techniques
Scott Harris, an experienced illustrator and concept artist, leads this 19.5-hour course focused on creating character art in styles like comics, manga, and anime.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Instructor | Scott Harris |
| Duration | 19.5 hours |
| Student Rating | 4.6/5.0 |
| Total Enrollments | 35,000+ |
| Additional Resources | 12 articles, 15 downloadable resources |
| Skill Level | All Levels |
This course dives deep into essential topics like color theory and light dynamics, giving students hands-on experience with both digital and traditional tools. Whether you’re just starting or looking to sharpen your skills, the structured lessons cater to all levels.
One of the highlights is the extensive resource package. With 12 articles and 15 downloadable materials, students gain extra tools to practice and apply the concepts taught in the course.
The lessons start with basic coloring techniques and gradually move to advanced painting methods. Along the way, students learn to work with different coloring styles while understanding how light and color interact in character design.
If you’re looking to take your portrait drawing and human feature skills to the next level, you’ll find the next course tailored to your needs.
4. Portrait Drawing: A Step-by-Step Course for Beginners to Advanced
Taught by an experienced portrait artist, this course has received an impressive 4.6/5.0 rating from over 54,839 student reviews.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Duration | 19.5 hours |
| Rating | 4.6/5.0 |
| Total Students | 450,000+ |
| Resources | 12 articles, 15 downloadable materials |
| Skill Level | All Levels |
This course begins with the basics, such as simplifying key lines and understanding facial proportions. It then moves into more advanced techniques like shading, blending, and highlighting to create lifelike portraits. The lessons focus on hands-on practice, offering structured exercises and in-depth tutorials to help students develop their skills step by step.
With 15 downloadable resources, you’ll have plenty of practice materials and reference guides at your fingertips. The 12 additional articles dive deeper into specific concepts, giving you a solid understanding of portrait drawing. These techniques can also be applied across different artistic mediums, from digital art to traditional illustration.
Designed for both beginners and advanced artists, this course offers valuable tools to either start your journey or refine your existing skills. The clear instructions and practical exercises make it a favorite among students.
Once you’ve mastered drawing realistic portraits, you can take your creativity further by exploring the dynamic world of comics and illustration in the next course on our list.
5. Learn to Draw and Paint Comics
This course takes the fundamentals of portrait drawing and applies them to the exciting world of comic art. Perfect for artists who want to blend storytelling with visual creativity, it provides detailed training in creating comics from start to finish.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Duration | 15.5 hours |
| Resources | Downloadable materials |
| Skill Level | All Levels |
| Software | Adobe Photoshop for digital techniques |
| Main Topics | Figure drawing, cartoons, anatomy, digital painting |
The lessons cover everything from the basics to more advanced techniques, focusing on human anatomy, expressive characters, and storytelling through visuals. Students will work on figure drawing, lighting, and expressions, all tailored to comic art. The course also includes hands-on practice with both traditional drawing methods and digital tools.
Taught by an experienced comic artist, the program covers essential skills like character creation, shading, and digital coloring. It also dives into understanding 3D shapes and lighting to help students create more dynamic and engaging comic scenes.
What makes this course stand out is its balance of traditional and digital approaches. You’ll build a solid foundation in drawing while learning how to adapt those skills to digital platforms. The course also offers:
- Downloadable resources to support your learning
- A community of artists for feedback and collaboration
- Step-by-step exercises to help you improve at your own pace
This course is a great starting point for beginners and a valuable resource for seasoned artists aiming to refine their comic art skills or explore advanced techniques like dynamic mark-making.
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6. The Art & Science of Drawing: Dynamic Mark Making
This popular course (rated 4.8/5 by 5,500 students) takes your drawing skills to the next level by focusing on expressive linework. Taught by Brent Eviston, an instructor with two decades of teaching experience, it introduces techniques often reserved for private art academies.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 days (10 sections, 56 lectures) |
| Skill Level | Suitable for all levels |
| Price | $60 |
| Main Focus | Expressive mark making, line techniques |
| Resources | Daily video lessons, practice exercises |
This course explores how to use linework to convey emotion and meaning in your drawings, drawing inspiration from masters like Da Vinci and Rembrandt. Key techniques covered include:
- Varying line thickness to highlight important elements
- Creating depth through atmospheric perspective
- Adding texture to make drawings feel tactile
- Using shading to build dimension
“Every line is an opportunity to express an opinion, belief, philosophy, or feeling about your subject.”
What makes this course stand out is its emphasis on helping you develop your own drawing style. Brent offers step-by-step guidance on pencil techniques and line adjustments, breaking down advanced ideas into easy-to-follow lessons while still challenging seasoned artists.
If you’re new to drawing, it’s recommended to follow the full 8-part series in order. Experienced artists, however, can pick courses that align with their goals. Once you’ve mastered these expressive line techniques, the next step in the series focuses on drawing heads from any angle.
7. How to Draw Heads from Any Angle
This course dives deep into the art of drawing heads from various perspectives, offering over 11 hours of video content packed with practical exercises. It’s designed to help artists improve their understanding of facial anatomy and expressions through hands-on practice.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Duration | 11+ hours |
| Projects | 50 practical exercises |
| Skill Level | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Main Focus | Head drawing, facial anatomy |
| Resources | Video lessons, worksheets, reference images |
The lessons start with the basics, such as facial proportions, and gradually move into more advanced topics like facial structure, angles, and dynamic expressions. Each session is structured to help students build their skills step by step, making it easier to create realistic portraits while understanding the anatomy behind them.
To support your practice, the course includes downloadable materials like reference images and worksheets. You’ll also have access to instructor feedback through forums and messaging. Whether you prefer working digitally or with traditional tools, the techniques taught here are adaptable to both methods.
This course lays the groundwork for drawing realistic portraits and designing imaginative characters. Once you’ve mastered drawing heads from different angles, you’ll be ready to explore the next step: creating unique creature designs in a follow-up course.
8. Improve Your Creature Design Drawings Step by Step
This course dives deep into the art of fantasy creature design, blending digital tools like Procreate with essential design principles. With a 4.6/5.0 rating from over 3,000 students, it offers a step-by-step approach suitable for artists of all skill levels.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6-8 hours |
| Skill Level | Beginner to Advanced |
| Main Focus | Creature Design, Digital Art |
| Software | Procreate |
| Resources | Video tutorials, downloadable materials, community access |
Starting with thumbnail sketching, the course gradually introduces Procreate tools and techniques. It focuses on practical skills, such as designing creatures from multiple angles – essential for professional projects. The instructor, with industry experience, ensures you grasp both the technical and artistic aspects of creature design.
What makes this course stand out?
- Access to downloadable resources, a supportive community, and direct feedback from the instructor
- Exercises to sharpen your skills and refine your techniques
- A vibrant community on Udemy’s platform for interaction and guidance
9. Digital Art Tools: Learn the Basics
This course, rated 4.5/5.0 by over 10,000 students, is led by a seasoned digital artist with more than 10 years of experience. It focuses on teaching essential tools and techniques for digital art, laying the groundwork for creating professional-quality artwork in various styles and industries.
| Course Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 modules |
| Skill Level | Beginner to Advanced |
| Software Covered | Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Procreate, Gimp, Corel Painter, Paint Tool Sai |
| Resources | Video tutorials, downloadable materials, community forum access |
| Key Focus Areas | Digital canvases, brushes, selections, color theory |
The course is structured to build skills step by step. It starts with workspace basics and gradually moves into more advanced techniques, ensuring students gain a solid understanding of digital art fundamentals.
By covering six widely-used digital art applications, this course offers flexibility and cross-platform knowledge. Students can apply what they learn through hands-on exercises and guided projects, such as creating digital paintings and illustrations.
A standout feature is the community forum, where students can share their work, get feedback, and engage with others. This collaborative space fosters growth and provides ongoing support, enriching the overall learning experience.
To address common challenges, the instructor includes clear explanations and practical solutions based on feedback from real students. Regular updates and active instructor support ensure the course stays relevant for both beginners and those looking to sharpen their skills.
Once you’ve mastered these tools and techniques, the next course dives into Marvelous Designer, helping you take your creative projects to the next level.
10. Learn Marvelous Designer for Digital Art
This course, praised by thousands of students, focuses on teaching Marvelous Designer – a 3D clothing simulation software widely used in the film and gaming industries. You’ll learn how to create lifelike clothing and fabric simulations for your digital art projects.
| Course Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Length | Self-paced modules |
| Skill Level | Suitable for beginners to advanced users |
| Software Required | Marvelous Designer |
| Key Topics | Interface basics, fabric simulation, garment creation |
| Included Resources | Step-by-step video tutorials, downloadable content, community forum |
The course walks you through everything from mastering the interface to creating advanced clothing simulations. The instructor, an experienced 3D modeling professional, breaks down complex topics and shares practical workflows used in the industry.
You’ll gain hands-on experience with real-world projects, learning how to design garments for professional 3D applications like films, games, and other digital art forms. Key skills include interface navigation, fabric behavior, advanced garment modeling, and simulating realistic cloth movement.
Here’s what makes this course stand out:
- Project-based learning: Apply what you learn to practical projects.
- Community support: Access forums for feedback, collaboration, and additional resources.
- Up-to-date content: Regular updates ensure the course reflects the latest software trends.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to add 3D garment creation to your skill set, this course provides the tools and knowledge to take your digital art to the next level. Marvelous Designer opens up new creative possibilities, making it a must-learn for any digital artist.
Conclusion
Udemy has made online art education more reachable and budget-friendly, offering a wide variety of courses for artists at every level. When choosing a course, think about your current abilities and what you want to achieve. Advanced artists may find courses like “Character Art School” or “Improve Your Creature Design Drawings” particularly useful.
“Udemy is a decent place for learning digital art – it has tons of different online courses that you can take on any topic related to art and design, from the basics of perspective drawing all the way up to advanced 3D modelling” [1]
Frequent discounts – sometimes as much as 90% off [1][2] – make these courses a great opportunity to grow your skills without breaking the bank. To get the most out of your learning, set aside focused time, work on hands-on projects, connect with fellow learners, and try out new techniques.
Whether you’re diving into digital painting, character design, or 3D modeling, these courses provide the guidance you need to improve. By picking the right course and sticking with regular practice, you can grow your artistic skills with Udemy’s expert-led lessons.
