Photo: Desk of an artist from Halfpoint / Shutterstock.com
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For many people, school is out for the summer and they won’t even think about learning for the next couple of months. But if you wish you could be back in the classroom, getting there is easier than you think. Creative online classes allow you to learn new skills or refresh yourself on some of your favorite subjects like drawing, photography, and much more. Best of all, you can complete them on your own time from the comfort of your own home.
Wondering where to begin? Sites like Craftsy, CreativeBug, and CreativeLive are chock-full of classes for you to try. Each has its specialty; Craftsy is great for drawing and painting courses, while CreativeBug is ideal for all things craft. And if you’re an aspiring photographer, CreativeLive has no shortage of classes that will take you from amateur to pro with some of the best instructors around.
Check out our picks of the week below, and visit our classes category to see what else we’ve selected for you in the past. Now’s as good a time as any to get started learning—and don’t delay! Craftsy is having a sale where all their classes are under $20.
Try creative online learning today with 15+ classes, below.
Photo: Alexandru STAVRICĂ
Photography
Composition-Beyond the Rule of Thirds, CreativeLive: You might know the rule of thirds. Now, take it to the next level in this class.
Photoshop This 2018, CreativeLive: Watch how some of CreativeLive’s expert instructors retouch the same image as “the seconds tick away.” This free class is sure to amaze and inspire you.
The Professional Photographer’s Digital Workflow, CreativeLive: Optimize your workflow to be able to shoot more photos of things you love. This class covers everything you need to know for streamlining your post-production processes.
Photoshop Power Tips and Tricks, CreativeLive: Photoshop is full of amazing features, but where are they and how do you use them? Instructor Jesús Ramirez will show you his techniques and tricks.
Posing, Styling, and Lighting for Beauty Photography, CreativeLive: Photographer Lindsay Adler demonstrates how to create three “drastically different beauty shots” by making some simple tweaks. She’ll also go through considerations like the styling, lighting, and more.
Darkness in an Urban Environment: Managing Light on the Streets, CreativeLive: See how photographer Joe McNally scouts locations, preps his gear, and directs models on the streets of New York City. By understanding his processes and procedures, you’ll learn how to do the same in an urban environment.
Photo: Raw Pixel
Art & Crafts
Acrylic Painter’s Toolbox, Craftsy: Before you begin building your painting portfolio, learn 20 essential acrylic techniques like glazing, dry brush, and impasto.
Drawing the Draped Figure, Craftsy: Master your depiction of the draped form with this drawing class taught by artist Matt Weigle.
Simple Techniques for Better Portraits, Craftsy: Learn to capture better likenesses when you understand proportion and where to correctly place facial features—both things you’ll know after completing this class!
Botanical Illustration with Watercolor & Colored Pencils, Craftsy: In this course, you’ll come away with an understanding of how to paint your favorite blooms in a vibrant watercolor wash.
Paint Better Portraits: Realistic Skin Tones, Craftsy: Once you know how to compose a portrait, bring it to life by learning to mix the best skin tones for your subject.
Punch Needle Embroidery Workshop, CreativeBug: Punch needle embroidery is taking the craft world by storm. Be on top of this trend in a workshop lead by Arounna Khounnoraj.
Innovative Book Structures, CreativeBug: Bookmaking is about more than just your standard front and back covers. Faith Hale will show you incredible sculptural possibilities with the basic bookbinding tools.
Photo: Raw Pixel
Creative Careers
Finding and Winning Commercial Clients, CreativeLive: As a photographer, how do you find clients and price your product? This class will cover marketing yourself, estimating a job, and how to present your images so that you land your dream clients.
Releases, Contracts, and Waivers for Photographers, CreativeLive: Don’t land in hot water for not having the proper legal documents. Rachel Brenke, aka TheLawTog, will help you understand how to read contracts and what releases and waivers you should be using.
Freelancing 101: Turning Your Side Hustle into Cash, CreativeLive: Take your skills and monetize them! This class will empower you to do so by giving you the tools you’ll need to price your services and land that next deal.
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