Try to avoid these videos if you can because they’re like sugary candy for aspiring artists. Fun to watch, but not useful for internalizing the techniques required to draw on your own.
Best Free YouTube Channels For Teaching Yourself How To Draw
All the basic concepts of drawing and painting can be found online. But they’re often scattered across many different channels on YouTube, which can be annoying and difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for.
New artists can get frustrated easily so it’s important to have resources available that’ll help you improve. That’s why I’ve collected this list of YouTube channels that offer free art tutorials & advice.
You’ll probably recognize some of these names but others will be completely new. If you’re just getting started then this list will definitely get you on the right track without spending a dime.
Stan Prokopenko
Everything that you’d ever want to learn can be found on the Proko YouTube channel. Stan Prokopenko launched the Proko brand in early 2012-2013 and it has seen a meteoric rise in subscribers.
His videos are produced with high quality lights, cameras, and sound equipment to give a genuine professional feel. He produces the best tutorials you will ever find covering gesture, portrait drawing, and anatomy, with more topics on the way.
There is simply no better place to start than with Proko videos. His teaching method is spot-on and perfect for a beginner.
And if you find his lessons useful I recommend his premium courses which have 3x-4x the amount of content. He includes lengthier videos with more examples and lots of user critique videos. All of his premium content is worth the money but start with his free stuff first to see what you think.
Sycra
The Sycra YouTube channel is also well known by artists who are teaching themselves. Sycra does a lot of varied videos that cover drawing, painting, general tips, resources, inspiration, basically everything related to learning art.
He does not have the same video quality as Proko. But it’s still very good. You just don’t see as much off-screen because his videos are recorded using screen capture.
Sycra’s channel is worth browsing if you’re looking for specific intro videos. His content is really not made to be a study guide, nor does it give you a progression of content to follow.
It’s more like a fun way to practice and to learn about some generic topics like perspective and color theory. I still think the Sycra videos come in handy for new artists. But take the content with a grain of salt because not all videos will be relevant to your practice.
Get Access to Free Art Lessons for Kids
Our belief that every child needs art has led us to build a comprehensive program for kids in elementary school, grades K-5 and middle school. We also are active in our support of Northwest artists through our curated online art gallery. A commission from all artwork sold benefits our non-profit, ensuring we can continue to deliver the best free art education for students. Here are some of the ways art is so important in a child’s education.
Giving children access to free art education is fundamental to the mission of Golden Road Arts. Through our collaborations with working Northwest artists, we provide a diverse range of instructional content that meets state educational guidelines. Art literacy is key to helping students think creatively, encouraging them to develop skills transferable throughout their academic journey. By applying a child-friendly approach, we can begin to introduce artistic concepts, movements and styles into their learning. When introduced at a young age, art literacy provides many benefits, including increased confidence, improved social skills and better academic outcomes. Art in the classroom – whether through virtual lessons or in-person instruction – will give kids a deeper understanding of the value of art that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Art Plays a Role in Childhood Development
One of the best ways a parent can help their child is by encouraging creativity from an early age. Art can play a significant role in childhood development, helping a child with creative expression, problem-solving, critical thinking and emotional intelligence. By introducing art at home, a child can gain a sense of accomplishment and be inspired to continue developing their skills. Unfortunately, lack of resources or limited artistic knowledge prevents many parents from teaching art at home. This is where Golden Road Arts can help, with a broad range of programs that children and parents can work on together. Through video art instruction, kids can have fun and also take their first steps into art literacy.
- Make a financial donation that allows us to continue our mission.
- Artists can donate their artworks for sale in our online gallery.
- Businesses and organizations can sponsor events or programs.
- Art lovers can invest in artwork from our gallery.
- Individuals can volunteer their time and skills.
- Spread the word to parents and educators who could benefit from art education.
Art Helps Kids Develop Essential Skills
It is not uncommon for art education to be sidelined in favor of other subjects. However, art has repeatedly been shown to offer a wide range of benefits for individuals and communities. For a young child, art encourages creativity that translates to other aspects of learning and social interactions. When techniques and concepts are introduced the right way, a child won’t feel like they are studying and they will naturally pick up an understanding of art literacy.
Children also develop motor skills and visual learning techniques through focused learning. The application of these new skills across many education platforms is a key reason why kids need art. In many cases, children miss out on opportunities due to limited access to art education. However, our free training makes art accessible to anyone who needs it.
Common Questions About Art for Kids
Proceeds from the curated artwork sales are split between the artist and the gallery. All income received by the gallery is then invested into our art education programs and classroom art materials.
What are some examples of art lessons taught by Golden Road Arts?
We have a wide range of video lessons, including child-friendly instruction on making a collage, drawing faces, portrait painting and drawing animals. We also introduce the different artistic styles of painters like Piet Mondrian and Mary Cassatt.
Do you hold in-person art events in the community?
Yes. We run workshops and lessons in schools, libraries and other locations. Make sure to check our website for the latest event announcements.
