Quick Access:

• Beginners: Basics, Perspective, Proportion & Composition
• Realism: Anatomy, Architectural Sketching, Portraits
• Cartoons: Doodling, Manga, Caricatures, for Kids, Stippling

Whether it’s anatomy, perspective, cartoon or architecture that you want to draw, online courses can get you started. If you’re a beginner, keep reading, and if you’re more than a beginner, you can still learn something new!

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I started by drawing cartoons, and later on manga. Drawing is one of – if not the most – important part of my life. Having been self-taught, I lack some techniques, but online courses help me brush up on those. I can’t think of myself without drawing.

In this Best Courses Guide (BCG), I’ve selected the 12 best free drawing online courses for you from the 1300+ drawing courses on our catalog by following a well-defined methodology that you can find below.

Click on the shortcuts for more details:

• Top Picks
• What is Drawing?
• Courses Overview
• Why You Should Trust Us
• How We Made Our Picks and Tested Them

Here are our top picks

Related Guides

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Procreate
• SketchUp
• Blender

Handpicked Guides

• Figma
• 2D Animation
• Autodesk Maya
• Zbrush
• Creative Writing

Trending Guides

• Digital Art
• Graphic Design
• Chess
• AutoCAD
• American Sign Language (ASL)

What is Drawing?

Drawing is a creative activity that involves using pencils, pens, or other tools to make marks on paper or other surfaces. It can be a way to express ideas, emotions, or observations through visual representation. Drawing can be done in a variety of styles, from realistic to abstract, and can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as art, illustration, design or communication.

Drawing can be a fun and relaxing hobby or a professional skill that requires years of practice and training. It can also be a way to document ideas, sketch out plans, or develop visual concepts. Some people use drawing as a form of therapy or meditation, while others use it as a way to communicate complex ideas or tell stories. Whatever the purpose, drawing can be a rewarding and enriching activity for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Why are Drawing Skills Important?

• Drawing can improve communication skills by allowing individuals to express their ideas and thoughts visually
• It can help in developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
• Drawing can serve as a stress-reliever and a form of therapy
• It can also enhance creativity and imagination by allowing individuals to visualize and create new concepts
• Drawing is used in various fields: architecture, engineering, fashion design, and advertising, making it a valuable skill to have
• It can help in improving observation skills and attention to detail, which are important in many professions
• Drawing can be a fun and enjoyable hobby, providing a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction
• It can be a useful tool in brainstorming and problem-solving, allowing individuals to visually map out ideas and solutions.

Courses Overview

• All courses are free or free-to-audit
• The most-represented course provider is YouTube, with 9 courses
• The drawing subject is followed by over 15.2K learners on Class Central.

Best Free Drawing Basics Course for Beginners (Proko)

No matter what you want to draw, it’s absolutely important that you first learn the basics. And that’s why I’ve put Drawing Basics – Proko at the top of this guide. This free course will teach you the very basics of drawing, starting from how to hold your pencil, shapes and shading, and ultimately more complex techniques so that you can draw anything easily.

In this course you’ll learn:

• Fundamentals of pencil grip and control for precise drawing
• Understanding and application of basic elements: shape, value, color, and edge
• Techniques for shading, creating light and form, and drawing gestures
• Strategies for applying contrast, aerial perspective, and developing form and perspective in drawings
• Insight into choosing the right drawing supplies and avoiding common drawing mistakes
• Advanced shading techniques and measuring methods to draw accurately
• Tips for simplifying shape design, enhancing shading, and utilizing various types of lines for expressive drawings.

“These videos were very good, and very helpful. I learned a lot about shading, and gesture lines, different types of lines and how they’re useful. I learn how to sharpen different types of pencils, how to use charcoal, and to draw with different types of pencils.” Javon Dugas

Best Free Perspective, Proportion & Composition Drawing Course (SchaeferArt)

Learn to Draw guides beginners through the essentials of drawing, from the very basics to more intricate techniques. Led by artist Brandon Schaefer, known for his drawing, pen, and ink tutorials, this free course is designed to build your confidence and make learning to draw a fun experience.

Schaefer’s thorough explanations ensure a solid foundation for novices, emphasizing the importance of practicing with real-life subjects for more realistic results.

In this course, you’ll learn:

• Essential drawing concepts and techniques for beginners
• How to select and use materials for drawing effectively
• Simplification of objects, shading techniques, and perspective creation for dynamic artwork
• Real-life sketching and edge observation for realistic drawings
• Compositional guidelines to elevate your artwork.

Best Free Human Anatomy Course for Artists (Proko)

If you’re looking to draw human figures, the first thing you’d need to learn is anatomy. The more you know about anatomy of the human body, the more realistic your figures will look. Anatomy of the Human Body for Artists is an extensive, free course that will guide you through the different parts of the human body and how to draw them perfectly. You’ll also get useful tips and look at critiques of student work.

You’ll learn:

• The language of anatomy and detailed studies of body parts
• Drawing muscles accurately, including pecs, abs, obliques, shoulder and back muscles
• Techniques for drawing hands in perspective and creating a perfect fist
• Leg anatomy, including bones, feet, and buttocks
• Effective strategies for studying anatomy, and correcting proportion mistakes.

Best Free Perspective Drawing Course (Dan Beardshaw)

Perspective is another important aspect of drawing you need to learn, especially if you’re drawing architecture and landscape. Perspective Drawing is a free course that will teach you the different types of perspective drawing such as one, two, and three-point perspective, as well as useful techniques and drawing different shapes and forms.

You’ll learn:

• Fundamentals of perspective drawing, including understanding horizon lines and vanishing points
• Techniques for one, two, and three-point perspective drawing to create depth and dimension
• Methods for division and duplication, scaling, and rotating objects in perspective
• Skills for constructing grids, inclined planes, drawing ellipses, complex forms, and organic shapes
• Techniques for drawing shadows on objects to enhance realism and depth.

Best Free Doodling Art Course for Beginners (Shayda Campbell)

If you like to draw cute doodles SUPER EASY BEGINNER LEVEL ART is for you. This free course will teach you how to draw simple and sweet doodles like flowers and animals using brush pens, markers and watercolors. The tutorials are easy to follow, and you’ll end up with fantastic looking art pieces that are more than just doodles.

You’ll learn:

• Drawing fundamentals for creating sweet doodles of flowers and animals using brush pens, markers, and watercolors
• Techniques for decorating your sketchbook with creative art journal prompts and designing cute bullet journal spreads
• How to illustrate loose florals using markers and brush pens
• How to engage in relaxing art projects as a means to de-stress and enjoy the process of creating art.

Best Free Manga Drawing Course (Whyt Manga)

Good news for all the manga lovers out there! If you’re looking to improve your drawing skills and create characters for your anime, manga, or webtoon series, this New How to Draw Series is perfect for you. By the end of this free course, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to create characters that are both expressive and visually stunning.

You’ll learn:

• Techniques for drawing faces, eyes, and female body proportions to enhance character design
• How to depict different angles of the face, adding depth and personality to your characters
• Strategies for practicing drawing effectively, including artist-specific warm-up exercises.

Best Free Caricature Drawing Course (Proko)

Want to draw your favorite personalities in a fun and cartoony way? Then this Art of Caricature is for you. With this free course, you’ll be able to draw caricatures using different techniques like exaggeration, abstraction and shading, and playing with head shapes and sketching different body types. And the fun part is you’ll learn all this by drawing caricatures of real people you know!

You’ll learn:

• Caricature drawing techniques, including exaggeration, thumbnail sketching, and the Reilly Method
• Drawing faces, eyes, and bodies with a focus on caricature-specific challenges
• Traditional and digital drawing methods, including painting in Photoshop
• Developing a personal style and using creative approaches like spirit animals for drawing faces
• Career tips for caricature artists and how to avoid common digital painting mistakes.

Best Free Cartoon Drawing Course for Kids (Udemy)

Drawing for Beginners: How to Draw 25 Cartoons Step-by-Step is great for anyone, regardless of age, who wants to learn how to draw. By organizing shapes and lines together, young artists will learn how to create cute cartoon animals. This free course is designed to give kids the tools they need to begin their artistic journey and explore self-expression, reflection, and creative thinking.

This course will help you (or your kids):

• Create over 25 stunning cartoon drawings while developing critical thinking skills
• Hand-eye coordination, and self-expression
• Explore your artistic side, regardless of your skill level or prior experience.

Best Intro to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors and Design (University for the Creative Arts)

Introduction to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors and Design will give you a solid understanding of sketching and drawing in a 3D design context. It’s suitable for anyone interested in 3D design who wants to prepare for further study at an undergraduate level or those with little drawing or sketching experience, or for those looking to refresh their skills.

In this course, you’ll learn:

• The basics of freehand drawing for architecture and product design
• Differences between constructed and observational drawings and how to use them in your work
• Techniques to assess design briefs and create impactful sketches for clients
• Fundamentals of design composition, line drawing, and perspective principles
• How to compile a sketch design sheet and create a professional layout for a beginner’s portfolio.

Best Free Realistic Portraits & Objects Course (Dan Beardshaw)

Realistic Drawing will teach you how to draw realistic portraits and objects in a couple of hours.

You’ll learn:

• Techniques for drawing realistic hair, skin, facial features, textures, and clothing
• Mastery of shading, blending, and outlining to enhance the realism in your artwork
• Understanding of pencil grades and how to utilize them effectively in your drawings
• Practical experience through a step-by-step realistic drawing process, including using a digital grid for portraits.

“Dan: your tutorial videos are the best for learning how to sketch. I liked your video and appreciate your time and sharing the knowledge. With this video you are not just an individual showing the technique, but you are an institution. Thank you.” Shaider Riz, YouTube learner.

Best Free Intro to Stippling Drawing (Ms. Cooper’s Art Class)

Stippling Drawing is all about stippling drawing. Stippling drawing is basically a drawing technique that uses only dots to create an effect of shading and textures, and can be used to create patterns and images. Within less than an hour, you’ll be able to learn the basics of stippling and get started with simple stipple drawings.

In this free course, you’ll learn how to:

• Draw using dots and practice stippling
• Make stippled nature drawings and portrait drawings
• Use overlapping shapes in stippling drawing
• Draw circular stippled doodles.

Why You Should Trust Us

Class Central, a Tripadvisor for online education, has helped 60 million learners find their next course. We’ve been combing through online education for more than a decade to aggregate a catalog of 200,000 online courses and 200,000 reviews written by our users. And we’re online learners ourselves: combined, the Class Central team has completed over 400 online courses, including online degrees.

I (Archisha) am a Guided Project Instructor and a Beta Tester at Coursera, having tested many courses before they’re officially launched. I have taken over 50 online courses in various subjects. My experience as an online learner and teacher has given me some perspective on what to look for in an online course. I used my experience to evaluate each course in this list.

How We Made Our Picks and Tested Them

Trying to find “the best” can be daunting, even for those of us who live and breathe online courses. Here’s how I approached this task.

First, I combed through Class Central’s Catalog and the internet to find a variety of free and paid open courses, some with certificates. You don’t need to enroll in a university to learn about drawing.

When choosing courses, I considered the following factors:

• Renowned Institutions: I looked for recognized institutions in drawing
• Instructor experience: I sought instructors with extensive experience in drawing and engaging presentation styles
• Popularity: I checked numbers of enrollments and views to find popular courses
• Course content: I examined courses that covered a range of topics and presentation styles, including the basics and more advanced topics. I watched some course videos to sample courses I hadn’t already taken
• Learner reviews: I read learner reviews (when available) to get a sense of the quality of each course, leveraging the Class Central database with its thousands of course ratings and reviews written by our users as well as available course provider reviews.

Then, I defined the scope for these recommendations. A drawing course can cover various topics, so I chose top courses from a range of sub-fields.

Ultimately, I used a combination of data and my own judgment to make these picks. I’m confident these recommendations will be a reliable way to learn about drawing.

Fabio revised the research and the latest version of this article.