As human beings, we are often drawn to art because it is a way for us to channel our creativity. Some people are talented with a paintbrush while others prefer other mediums. Today's technology creates even more opportunities to express ourselves artistically. Digital art, including digital painting, is gaining popularity and opening up a whole new world of possibilities. The best thing is that anyone can learn some basic art skills by following tutorials and taking free online classes from the comfort of home.
Flipbook
You don’t have to be Picasso to create a flipbook. In fact, it is one of the easiest art projects ever, because you can work with a simple stick figure. A flipbook consists of several sheets of paper with drawings on them. When you flip through them, it looks like a cartoon. This simple way to create animations is fun, simple, and requires few tools. At the same time, you can make them as intricate and as complicated as you want. There is no limit to what you can do! This 12 step guide will teach you everything you need to know.
Painting with Bob Ross
A set of brushes, a palette full of paints, and a blank canvas can be intimidating. But there are tricks and tips to creating a great painting. No one knows this better than Bob Ross! His Afro and easy-going demeanor have made his videos timelessly popular. Basically, he has turned painting into an accessible hobby. What was once a TV show is now available online for free! You can watch every single Bob Ross art class on YouTube.
Pencil Drawing
It is amazing what you can do with just a pencil and paper. Shading, different pencil strokes, perspective, and everything else that goes into this art form can be difficult to tackle all at once. This is why taking a few classes can help you hone your skills and get started. Kline Creative is a great place to start, with easy-to-follow classes. Another great resource is the SchaeferArt YouTube channel. He teaches various forms of art including drawing and has great videos where he discusses topics such as overcoming fear of failure while he draws. These two resources will definitely help you to take your doodles to a higher level.
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Digital Art
It is 2020, and one no longer needs paper or canvas to create works of art. The technology exists for us to unleash our artistic creativity digitally. One of the more popular ways to get started is with Procreate from the Apple App Store. There are many free tutorials and classes on how to get a handle on Procreate and use it to create beautiful designs. For Android users, a great place to start is with Adobe Illustrator Draw. Skillshare is a great platform to find free online digital art classes, whether you are using Procreate or Adobe.
Watercolor Painting
There are many different forms of painting that require different types of paints, paper, brushes, and more. Watercolor is a popular and affordable way to get started. PaintBasket is another great YouTube channel that offers in-depth, free classes. This particular video is a two-hour class on how to paint flowers in watercolor. The channel offers many other great classes and has almost 100,000 subscribers.
Calligraphy
Art doesn’t just have to be about drawing landscapes, flowers, or cute animals. Calligraphy is a great way to be creative while learning something practical. With just a few tips you can develop better handwriting plus impress family and friends when you send them cards. Calligraphy is popular all over the world and has a deep-rooted history in certain cultures. Contemporary calligraphy, on the other hand, is the art of giving form to script in an expressive, harmonious, and skillful matter. Skillshare is a great place to find free calligraphy classes to get you started.
Digital Painting
This emerging art form combines modern technologies with traditional painting techniques. Digital painting is different from general digital art because it requires specific types of virtual tools. This results in modern digital pieces looking like classic paintings. You can create stunning digital paintings using Photoshop on your computer. Check out this five minute YouTube guide with great tips on how to get started. Imad Awan has other great art tutorials on his channel , and he works with all sorts of mediums.
Sharpie Mug
Finally, a really simple art project that can bring a lot of joy is decorating your favorite coffee cup with a sharpie. All you need is a sharpie, a ceramic cup, and an oven. When you draw a sharpie design on a cup, it normally comes right off. But if you wait for it to dry for 24 hours and then bake the cup in the oven, it will create a permanent design! Check out this tutorial with photos and great tips on how to customize your cups.
Bonus Podcast
Is art just a hobby, or is it a profession? Can it have a deeper effect on a person’s health? NPR has a great 21-minute podcast where Girija Kaimal, a professor at Drexel University and a leading researcher in art therapy, discusses this topic. She outlines the steps of making art a habit in one’s life and explains how it can benefit your health.
Art is a great way for people to express themselves and have a bit of fun. You don’t have to have special skills to learn the basic forms of painting, drawing and digital art. It can be therapeutic to sit down and draw a stick figure to create a simple, silly flipbook animation! A little bit of patience can improve your calligraphy and allow you to turn your favorite quotes into little works of art. There is no limit to what we can learn, and art is no exception. A few simple online classes can turn absolutely anyone into an amateur artist!
Photos: Shutterstock / Photomontage: Martina Advaney
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