Curating a Creative Community-10 FREE online art course for you!
Picture this: a cozy corner of the internet where artists gather, sharing tips, tricks, and heaps of encouragement. Being a full-time artist working from home can sometimes seem like an isolating and lonely experience, but I've had the honor of being a part of some amazing online art communities over the past few years, and it never ceases to amaze me of how artists are such kind, generous, helpful and encouraging souls.
And just to prove my point, in this blog post I'm sharing ten amazing free online art courses for you to dive into. This list was generously shared with me by my artist friend, Shay Kent. But it's not just about the courses—it's about the vibe. It's about feeling the love and support from our fellow artists that have generously offered these labors of love to spur on creativity.
So, grab your art supplies and join me on this journey. Let's explore this variety of online creativity, soak up some inspiration, and bask in the color, creativity and love of our amazing artist community.
1. Gratitude Heart Journal Mini Course by Alison Wells. In this mini art course, Alison walks you through her Playful Gratitude HeArt Journal video tutorials, where she shares her popular Mixed Media Collage techniques, the supplies she uses, anda whole lot of HeArt & Gratitude.
2. Fringe Flip Book by Brooke Henry. Let Brook teach you how to make a flip book from start to finish! Using supplies that you most likely already have on hand, she will teach you how to create a custom art journal. She’ll be showing you how to make customizable flip outs and pockets giving you all of the ingredients you need to make tailor-made journals to your unique style!
3. Fabric Recipes by Jayne Emerson. Permission to play with fabric via a series of prompts! Play the Fabric Recipes game anytime you need inspiration. In this course you will learn more about Jayne’s playful, open approach to fabric.
4. Fragments by Francisca Nunes. Gather the pieces that inspire you to create. Fragments is a free art class for mixed media creatives. Create an art journal with the fragments that inspire you and get ready to be inspired every time you open it to create.
5. Mini Muse Makers by Delight Rogers. Join Delight to explore the magic of mixed media layering and dive into a new world of creative possibilities! In this project, you will discover firsthand how bits of paper, fabric, lace and jewels can become the starting point for whimsical and magical little muses.
6. Collage Kickstart with Catherine Rains. Create 7 types of collage papers from a place of playful experimentation, and then use them to easily make a collage series that all works together.
7. Build Your Creativity:Board Book Basics with Drew Steinbrecher. Board books are so much more interesting than a typical sketchpad. Aaaand, they’re a total blast! With just a few tips Drew can help you learn the ins and outs to collaging in board books.
8. The Essence of Landscape with Susan McCreevy. Join Susan in the world of Collage Papers, inspired by stunning landscapes and intricate textures. Venture into the heart of nature, drawing inspiration from rock formations and wave patterns on the shores. Create unique prints with tactile elements like sand, strings, and fabric, and let your creativity capture the magic of nature in captivating works of art.
9. Toolkit for Artful Collaborations by Emily Mann. Emily’s new Artist’s Guide to Working with Art Consultants + Interior Designers is jam-packed with info that will get you well on your way to working within this niche. Let’s get your art out into the world!
10. Wholeness Found by Shay Kent. In his class, Shay helps the artist to find self-love in their practice by making art feel approachable, open and free.
And don't forget my FREE Inspiration Look Book Course. If you struggle some days to find inspiration for your paintings, are you still trying to develop your own unique style, then join me in this online course as we take a look at my process for collecting inspiration, experimenting with mixed media techniques and playing with ideas. I'll show you how to create your own Inspired Look Book that will help you grow as an artist and motivate you to create on a regular basis.
Reach out to these artists as you join them in their courses and thank them for generously giving back to the creative community!
Do you have free art courses I need to add to this list? I'd love to see it grow-comment and let me know!