Photo credit: Bubbers BB / Shutterstock
If you’re looking to boost your creativity and learn new skills, then instructor-led classes are a great way to do so. Learning a completely new medium, for instance, can alter your artistic path in ways you never thought possible. Or, by becoming acquainted with software, you can streamline parts of your process. But not everyone has the time or resources to attend the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom setting. Here’s where the internet comes in handy. Through creative online classes, you can take your work to new heights.
If you’re a photographer, artist, or maker, there are a number of online creative classes that are tailored just for you. From learning to sew to learning new painting techniques to finding the right kind of camera gear, you’re sure to find a topic that interests you. And above all, these lessons can help hone your skills.
There are a variety of online sources—including Skillshare, Lynda, and Craftsy—that are constantly adding classes to their extensive catalogs. Check out some of the best online creative classes to try this week. If you’re apprehensive about trying them, many offer up to a month free subscription.
Art
Color Fundamentals: This class will give you an overview of color principles and how to apply them in your work.
How To Sell and Showcase Your Work Online: Tools and tricks for presenting, selling, and promoting your work online.
The Essentials of Sketching Architecture: Sketch any building—wherever you go.
Spontaneous Landscape Watercolor Workshop: Learn to create your own spontaneous painting, step by step.
Step-by-Step Photorealistic Colored Pencil Portraits: Draw a colored pencil portrait that resembles a photograph.
Hand Embroidery, Craftsy
Craft
Intro to Weaving: Learn three essential techniques to create a woven wall hanging.
Hand Embroidery: Get started in the world of hand embroidery.
Embroidered Typography: Create a unique embroidered typography pattern from start to finish.
Mixed Media for Every Project: Infuse your journal, scrapbooks, and more with eye-catching effects.
Quilled & Sculpted Cards: Create 3D cards using quilling and die-cutting techniques.
Organic Wire-Wrapped Pendants: Take a spin with wire-wrapped jewelry designs.
Simply Stunning Art Journals: Turn your blank journal pages in colorful designs.
Photography
Family Photography, Modern Storytelling: Learn how to capture emotional images of families.
Get to Know Your Lenses: Know the difference between camera lenses to get the results you want.
Photo Gear Weekly: Learn the latest and greatest in new gear each week.
How to Shoot with your First Flash: When you control your light, you enhance your photos. This class will show you how.
Fine Art Conceptual Photography from Shoot through Post Processing: Understand what it takes to make your conceptual images come to life.
Mobile Photography, Perfect Photos in Your Pocket: Make the most of your smartphone camera.
The Art of Travel Photography Six Expert Lessons: Take magazine-worthy photos and capture your adventures at the same time.
Photoshop Selections: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques: Make your photos that much better by learning the nitty gritty in Photoshops tips and tricks.
Create a Themed Collection, Skillshare
Illustration and Design
Design Your Own Font: Turn your hand-drawn alphabet into something you can use on the computer.
Universal Principles of Design: The unspoken rules and theories of design, revealed.
Illustration for Beginners: Create a Themed Collection: Create a series of custom postcard stamps.
Illustrating Characters and the Stories They Tell: Learn how to create characters as way to develop stories.
Logo Design Techniques: This course shows you how to identify components and design techniques of the most successful logos, and how you can implement that in your own design.
Drawing Vector Graphics Laboratory: Updated weekly, this course shows new methods, tools, and resources to “stretch your creative muscle” when it comes to vector graphics.