The Best Online Arts Classes To Try At Home

Lisa King Drawing Classes

Recommended by creatives and those in the know, print designer Lisa King creates stylish womenswear pieces, accessories and homeware alongside running weekly online art classes and courses via Zoom. Lessons vary from week to week, and are based on a theme with an accompanying playlist. In each class, Lisa will guide you through the basics and help you develop your technique, whether printing, painting or drawing. The classes are designed for all abilities and ages, so you don’t need any prior experience to get involved. The next two-day course takes place on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th March from 10am-11.30am, were Lisa will show you how to create abstract drawings using watercolours. All you need is some basic drawing equipment and a set of watercolour paints to get started. 

Classes start from £15.

Visit LisaKingLondon.com

ClassBento

Class Bento have hundreds of online classes to choose from, including cocktail making, floral arranging, cookery workshops and photography masterclasses. They also have a great selection of arts and crafts classes for the whole family. Kids can get in on the action with fun painting experiences at home, while adults can enjoy a range of painting and sketching sessions. Each class is let by an artist and most include all the equipment you need, which can be sent to you in the post ahead of time. Don’t miss the ‘Mother’s Day Special’ on Sunday 14th March at 11am where mothers and daughters can learn how to paint vintage flowers using a special DIY craft kit. 

Classes start from £7.

Visit ClassBento.co.uk

Make Your Own

Make Your Own have a range of creative arts and crafts classes to choose from every month. Whether you want to learn how to paint or embroider, there’s something for everyone. The website regularly adds new classes to its timetable, so it’s worth checking the website every now and then to see what’s new. Bookmark Thursday 25th March at 6pm for an online watercolour session taught by illustrator, Abby Hobbs. Once lockdown is lifted, Make Your Own will also reopen their studio in Borough where you can take part in IRL art classes, creative off-sites, and other events. 

Prices from £10

Visit MYO.place

Sunny Art Centre

If you’re serious about learning how to paint, Sunny Art Centre provide online arts courses led by world-leading tutors. There are several courses to choose from, all of which are taught via Zoom, from basic techniques and portrait painting, to life drawing and calligraphy. The classes will teach you how to handle every medium including oil, acrylic, and watercolour, and sessions are available every day, including weekends. If you don’t want to commit to a full course, the Sunny Art Centre also run short three-day masterclasses where you can learn about various techniques used by some of the most famous artists, including Degas, Turner and Michelangelo. 

Prices are available on request.

Visit SunnyArtCentre.co.uk

St Ives School Of Painting 

St Ives School of Painting has one of the most extensive selections of art classes to choose from on this list. Ranging from one-hour webinars and short workshops to courses spanning several weeks or months, each live session is also recorded to watch on demand. From getting started with watercolours to learning how to use oil paints, there’s a number of classes to choose from, each of which are suitable for all abilities. On Friday 26th March, tune into a recorded webinar on how to paint the beautiful St Ives Harbour in watercolour. Once restrictions are lifted, students can also head down to their studio in Cornwall to take part in their weekend art courses – a must for beginners and pros alike. 

Classes start from £12.

Visit SchoolOfPainting.co.uk

London Drawing Group

London Drawing Group is an all-female art and teaching collective that’s been running since 2016. The team usually run a selection of unique classes all over London, collaborating with major institutions and galleries, but have since started a series of online classes to try at home. There are several to choose from every week, from self-portrait masterclasses to life drawing lessons. On Wednesday 24th March at 6.30pm, tune into the workshop on mindfulness and plant drawing led by writer and art curator Anna Souter. 

Free, donations welcome

Visit LondonDrawingGroup.com

Art-K

If you want to get little ones involved, Art-K host Zoom classes and recorded tutorials for families and children. As part of a monthly subscription, you’ll get access to one tutorial a week, all of which are tailored to your child’s age group. Kids can learn about famous artists, then put their skills to the test with a series of classes that will teach them how to create animal shapes, how to blend and create illusion, and how to create 3D images. Art-K also host adult-only sessions too, with a new focus every month. Make use of the free trial first before signing up.

Subscriptions cost £25/month

Visit Art-K.co.uk

Mindful Art Club

Since the start of the pandemic, Mindful Art Club have been offering weekly art classes online. The group, which is normally based in Plymouth, has a range of sessions to choose from, all of which aim to improve mental health and boost social interaction during lockdown. In each class, you can practise mindfulness, create unique art and chat to other likeminded people. The club runs a weekly Zoom class every Tuesday at 10am, along with a short, guided mindfulness session, followed by a simple art activity suitable for all abilities. 

Sessions start from £3.

Visit MindfulArtClub.co.uk

London Art Classes

Learn how to draw and paint like a pro with London Art Classes, the south London-based group offering a range of online sessions led by tutor Nick Malone. During lockdown, Nick is offering one-hour private art classes, as well as online portfolio sessions which take place over Zoom or Skype. The sessions are designed for those with previous artistic ability and aim to take your skills to the next level. It’s one of more expensive options on this list, but it’s a worthwhile investment for those looking for professional expertise. Students can learn about contemporary watercolour and acrylic technique, the rules of perspective, and how to create abstract artwork.

Sessions cost £100 each

Visit LondonArtClasses.com

SocietyX 

Having only launched in January 2020, SocietyX has quickly become one of the go-to places for creative classes online. As well as hosting educational talks from creatives and writers, they also host a number of virtual art events via Eventbrite. Their signature therapeutic art workshops are designed for those wanting to learn about the restorative benefits of art where you can learn new techniques on mindfulness and painting. They regularly add new events to their page, so it’s worth signing up for notifications so you don’t miss out.

Free, donations welcome

Visit TheSocietyX.com