Online Art Classes
Jan 27th, 2008 by Jean Littman
For those wishing to learn art online via a less structured and formal method, there are many online art courses offering innovative ways to learn painting and drawing. Typically, these are not places to learn about preparing for an “art career”, but more for the fun and love of art.
The main aim is for students to engage in creative art activity and develop their artistic ability. This type of program usually offers no career advice or counselling and is not a degree or diploma granting institution. Online art classes vary greatly. Budding artists can download instructional e-books (an electronic book which you can open and read on your computer), watch videos, or participate in innovative classroom style sessions.
One example of this is the Interactive Art School, where students use a digital camera (supplied in their student sign-up kit along with textbooks, art supplies and materials) to take digital photos of their completed lesson artwork for each lesson. The student sends those photos as email attachments to the teacher who draws, paints and comments on the work, then posts a “how-you-could-have-done-it-better” critique of each lesson on the students personal web folder.
This is available 24/7 for review on the internet. Most of the study for each lesson is done away from the computer after lesson assignments are received from the school web site. Topics covered include composition, color theory, perspective drawing lessons, drawing the human form, landscape drawing and painting. Art critiques are cumulative, printable and remain on the website at the online art school for three years.
Students also receive a CD-ROM copy of all critiques upon graduation. Art critiques can also be placed in a common area where other students can learn from them. Another example of innovation in online art education is the Cyber Art Learning site, where students can select from a variety of learning styles such as:
- * Live web cam
- * State of the art virtual classroom
- * Audio and text chat room
Art students get access to a special program which corrects their art digitally, thereby helping to ensure a better learning experience. Students simply power up their computer and tune in to the Cyber Art Learning site.
The only hardware requirement is sound attached to the computer. All instructors are fully certified, and the instructor’s work is available for viewing by the student before they enrol. This is important as it allows potential students to feel comfortable with the style that will influence them. If the instructor’s work is appealing chances are this will rub off on the student.
Many of the painting styles are very similar to those that appear in the Art of the West and Southwest Art magazines that can be found at any large bookstore. There are a multitude of online art programs available on the internet, each offering different learning methods and art types.
A good way to check a few of them out is to open your favourite search engine (eg. Google, MSN, Yahoo, etc), then type in “online art courses” as your search term. You will find several pages of quality art courses, art schools and online art institutes displayed - you’re sure to find a course to suit your particular needs.
Art school online is a revolutionary idea whose time has finally come. Whether budding artists are seeking a career-oriented art degree or diploma, or simply want to develop their artistic ability, online art schools can be the start of a wonderful new educational experience. Many students love not having to drag their art materials to a one-day class that costs the same as several classes of online instruction, all in the comfort of their own home studio.
For these students, enrolling in art school online is definitely the way to go!
