Free Online Drawing Courses: Best for Beginners, Kids & Adults

Free drawing platforms evaluated: 4 ·
Total lessons across platforms: 100+ ·
Courses with certificates: 3

The table below compares the platforms based on course count, certificate availability, and suitability.

What are the best free online drawing courses?

Four platforms stand out for offering genuinely free access without hidden paywalls. The trade-off is in depth and certification.

Top free drawing courses for beginners

• Cursa – 19 free drawing and painting courses, including Drawing Lessons for Beginners. Self-paced via app. (Cursa (education platform))
• Alison – Free sketching courses like Comic Book Creation for Beginners and Drawing Anime Characters. (Alison (online learning provider))
• Coursera – Free preview of first module in many courses; beginner skills include line work, shading, perspective, observation. (Coursera (MOOC platform))
• YouTube – Free 60-day drawing course for kids & beginners, starts with basics and ends with human anatomy. (YouTube (video platform))

Courses with certificates

• Cursa – Offers a free certification upon completion of its courses. (Cursa (education platform))
• Alison – Free courses with optional paid certificate upgrade. (Alison (online learning provider))
• Coursera – Free audit access; certificate requires payment or financial aid application. (Coursera (MOOC platform))

Platforms like Drawabox and Alison

While Drawabox is often recommended by Reddit communities, our research notes do not include a sourced URL for it, so we focus on Alison and Cursa for structured exercise-based learning.

The implication: For pure fundamentals, Cursa’s exercise sets and Alison’s genre-specific courses give you a clear path without cost.

Are there free online drawing courses with certificates?

Yes, but “free certificate” often comes with strings attached.

Platforms offering certificates

• Cursa explicitly says learners can earn a free certification upon completing a course. (Cursa (education platform))
• Alison provides free courses but charges for the printed certificate. (Alison (online learning provider))

How to get a free certificate

• Cursa – Register, complete course, receive free digital certificate.
• Coursera – Apply for financial aid to get full access and certificate at no cost. (Coursera (MOOC platform))

Limitations of free certificates

It is unclear whether free certificates hold weight with employers. The pattern: certificates from major universities (on Coursera) carry more credibility than platform-branded ones.

Where can I find free online drawing courses for beginners?

Beginners need clear progression. Here are three solid entry points.

YouTube beginner series

• The “FREE 60-Day Drawing Course for KIDS & BEGINNERS” starts with basic shapes and builds up to human anatomy. (YouTube (video description))
• Lillian Gray’s “Free Online Drawing Course” playlist also covers start-to-finish drawing basics. (YouTube (Lillian Gray channel))

Coursera beginner courses

• Coursera lists “How to Draw: A Beginner’s Guide Pt 3 – Drawing in Practice” as a foundational option. (Coursera (MOOC platform))
• Learners can preview the first module for free to test the level.

Alison illustrated lessons

• Alison describes sketching as “a quick way of graphically demonstrating an image, idea, or principle” and offers courses covering that range. (Alison (online learning provider))

The pattern: YouTube’s visual approach suits self-starters, while Cursa and Alison offer a more guided structure.

Which free online drawing courses are suitable for kids?

Young artists need age-appropriate content and pace.

YouTube channels for kids

• Art for Kids Hub is widely popular (though not sourced in our research notes).
• The “FREE 60-Day Drawing Course for KIDS & BEGINNERS” is explicitly designed with children in mind. (YouTube (video description))

Structured courses for children

• Some courses on Alison, like Comic Book Creation for Beginners, are suitable for older kids. (Alison (online learning provider))

The implication: For younger children, the YouTube course is the most accessible; for older kids, Alison’s topic-specific courses can spark interest.

How do free pencil drawing classes compare to full courses?

Pencil drawing is often the foundation, but full courses include color, composition, and digital tools.

Pencil drawing specific resources

• Alison’s sketching courses emphasize line, shading, and proportion – core pencil skills. (Alison (online learning provider))
• Coursera’s beginner courses cover line work and shading. (Coursera (MOOC platform))

What full courses cover

• Coursera also offers courses in surface pattern design and collections specialization, going beyond basic pencil skills. (Coursera (MOOC platform))

Is pencil drawing a good start?

Yes – pencil classes focus on foundational techniques like shading and line weight, which transfer to any medium. Free options on YouTube and Alison are abundant.

The pattern: Free pencil classes are great for building muscle memory, but full courses give you a broader toolkit.

The catch: Free certificates often lack industry recognition, so daily practice matters more than the credential.

How to choose the best free online drawing course for you

Follow these steps to find your match.

1. Define your goal – Hobby, portfolio piece, or professional skill?
2. Check the curriculum – Does it cover fundamentals (shading, perspective, anatomy) like Coursera’s beginner list? (Coursera (MOOC platform))
3. Look for certificate options – Cursa offers free cert; Alison charges; Coursera has financial aid.
4. Test the format – Video (YouTube), app (Cursa), or web (Alison).
5. Read community reviews – Reddit’s r/learntodraw recommends Brent Eviston’s course for absolute beginners, though it’s not free. (Reddit user (via research notes))

The implication: Your learning style and end goal should drive the choice — no single platform wins for everyone.

What learners say about free drawing courses

“For absolute beginners, Brent Eviston’s course is the best. Even though it’s not free, the structure is worth it if you can save up.”

– Reddit user in r/learntodraw (via research notes)

“Sketching is a quick way of graphically demonstrating an image, idea, or principle.”

– Alison (online learning provider)

“Drawing learners can preview the first module of many drawing courses at no cost.”

– Coursera (MOOC platform)

If you’re interested in other free learning resources, check out our guide on where to learn languages for free. For those looking to combine drawing with travel, our article on Spanish language classes in Dublin might be useful.

For someone in New Zealand starting to draw, the choice between Cursa’s structured certification path and Alison’s topic-specific focus depends on whether you want a portfolio token or targeted skill building. Free certificates often lack industry recognition, so your daily practice matters more than the paper. The implication is clear: pick a course, draw every day for 60 days, and build your skills regardless of the credential.

For those just starting out, platforms like Cursa and Alison offer excellent free online drawing courses for beginners, making it easy to build foundational skills without spending a dime.

Frequently asked questions