Photo: Samuel Castro
As one of the most basics skills of any artist, drawing is an essential part of the creative process. Centuries later, we still remain fascinated by the sketches in Leonardo’s notebooks and Picasso’s poetic line art, each for their respective ability to show us the purest form of an artist’s skill. When you decide to learn something new, you must first have the right attitude and an open mind. You don’t necessarily have to attend art school in order to learn the basic drawing techniques. These days, if you want to learn how to draw—whether you are a beginner or an artist looking to refine your skills—there are a vast number of free drawing tutorials on YouTube to help you improve.
Think about it. It doesn’t matter where you learn to draw, just that you are able to progress your creativity. In fact, some of our favorite artists are self-taught, and these online drawing tutorials allow you to go at your own pace—for free! From learning the basics, like how to select the proper drawing tools and color theory, to more complex information on how to draw an eye, a little digging will turn up a wealth of information. Some videos are step by step tutorials, while others are time-lapse demonstrations that will allow you to see the process from start to finish. These videos are a fun way to learn to draw at your own pace.
Let’s look at some of the top art instructors on YouTube, who will help you learn how to draw in no time. And while you are at it, brush up on your knowledge of materials by looking at our selection of the best drawing pencils and the best colored pencils for beginners and professionals.
Here are some amazing artists on YouTube that will help you learn how to draw for free.
Emmy Kalia
Dan Beardshaw
Sycra
HamRib Art
Alphonso Dunn
Schaefer Art
The Drawing Database
My Drawing Tutorials
Kirsty Partridge Art
Arianne Jeri Art
Circle Line Art School
Zin Lim
Rapid Fire Art
Art by Ali Haider
Proko
Fine Art Academy
Draw with Jazza
Paintline
Mark Crilley
LethalChris Drawing
Art of Wei
Learn how to draw with My Modern Met’s step-by-step guides.
Check out our drawing tutorials that will guide you into sketching some of the most popular subjects.
How to draw a feather — If you’ve ever wanted to draw a bird, you’ll need to know how to depict feathers, too. With this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn the structure of a feather and tips for realistically rendering it.
How to draw hands — Many people shy away from drawing hands because they are notoriously tricky. Our guide shows you the anatomy of the hand and the basics you need to know.
How to draw a cat (in two styles) — Fancy yourself a cat lover? Learn how to sketch your favorite feline in two different ways. This tutorial demonstrates both a realistic style as well as a simplified way of drawing.
How to draw a dog — Wondering how to draw a dog step by step? Once you’ve mastered the art of sketching one canine, you can depict all kinds of breeds.
How to draw any flower — It’s an impossible task to learn how to draw every single type of flower. Luckily, you don’t have to! Our step-by-step guide reveals the technique you can use every time to render your favorite blooms.
How to draw a rose — Roses are one of the most popular flowers, but they’re also a challenge to draw because of their many layers of petals. Here, we simplify the process so you’ll be revealing a rose in no time.
How to draw a Monarch Butterfly — Once you have learned how to draw flowers, there is no better way to accompany a garden than with a beautiful butterfly.
How to draw any landscape — Whether you’re in the mountains, desert, or at the beach, this four-step tutorial will allow you to sketch any terrain you see.
How to draw koi fish — Have you always wanted your own koi pond? Why not put your dreams to paper by drawing the aquatic beauties?
How to draw a unicorn — This tutorial will guide you through the basic steps in drawing a horse before turning it into a magical unicorn.
How to draw a human nose — Noses are notoriously hard to draw, but this tutorial outlines how to get your proportions right.
How to draw eyes — Learn how to depict “the windows of the soul” with accuracy and expression.
How to draw a wolf howling at the moon — With this tutorial, you can learn how to draw a wolf howling at the moon.
How to draw a lion — The king of the jungle gets a royal rendition in this easy-to-follow drawing guide.
How to draw a tiger — Go through the steps of sketching this big cat, one of the most beautiful creatures in the world.
How to draw lips — Let your drawing speak for you with this step-by-step tutorial.
Learn to draw a sunflower — Drawing this large flower may seem tricky, however, you can create your own interpretation with this drawing guide.
Learn how to draw braids — How you wear your hair says a lot about your style. Draw a braid step by step.
How to draw a great white shark — Capture the great white on paper with this simple tutorial.
Want more? We also have recommendations for drawing books if you’d like to build your creative library and learn to sketch all the things.
Did you know that My Modern Met has a YouTube channel? Follow us for creative videos featuring today’s top artists.
This article has been edited and updated.
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