YouTube Channels for Learning to Draw & Paint

Updated: 14 Jan 2024

Recommended YouTube channels for learning to paint

After a thorough analysis of viewing countless current YouTube videos, I found and recommend the following channels and instructors for learning to draw and paint.

Drawing and painting are crafts that anybody can learn!

Passion for learning, hard work and dedication, will produce results.

Categories:

Beginners Painting Tutorials

Tutorials for beginners are aimed for learning to take the first steps in actual painting.

1. Kevin Hill

Kevin Hill YouTube channel for learning to paint

As the website-name says: "paint with Kevin", Kevin Hill takes you step by step through the painting process.

This tutorial channel is suitable for artists who want to get down to painting, and produce their first landscape artwork in oil paints or acrylics.

YouTube channel: KevinOilPainting

Recommended video: 3 Secrets To Creating DEPTH OF FIELD In A Painting!

2. Paint Basket

Dennis and Nolan Clark YouTube painting channel

The Paint Basket painting channel runs by Dennis & Nolan Clark, father and son.

A great place to start for beginners in acrylics, oil painting, watercolor, pastels, pen sketching and pencil drawing.

YouTube channel: Paint Basket

Recommended video: Color Wheel Tutorial - How to Mix Paint

3. Mural Joe

Mural Joe YouTube painting channel

While these tutorials are quite advanced, Joe Cornelius aka Mural Joe, is doing a great job in keeping it simple.

Here you can expect to learn the technique and knowledge for the crafts of drawing and painting, with focus on all the important factors like perspective, color mixing and much more.

Joe is famous for his wall paintings (murals), using acrylic paint. That said, his oil paintings are just as amazing.

YouTube channel: muraljoe

4. Jerry Yarnell

Jerry Yarnell YouTube painting channel

Jerry Yarnell is a painter, instructor and owner of the Yarnell School of Fine Art. He is also known from the television show "Paint This with Jerry Yarnell".

In these tutorials, Jerry teaches some basic understanding of the painting process, including painting rocks, reflections, and other landscape related subjects.

YouTube channel: 1addyrae

Recommended video: Painting Rocks with Jerry Yarnell

5. Paint Coach

Paint Coach channel by Chris Fornataro

The channel Paint Coach, by Chris Fornataro, is a place for beginners in oil painting.

Chris makes it easy to understand by simplifying the painting process, with focus on the essential fundamentals.

YouTube channel: Paint Coach

Techniques & Equipment

These YouTube channels deal with technical stuff, and go deeper into the fundamentals of drawing and painting.

Find out how to mix colors, which oil painting supply to use, how to create depth, and much more.

6. Bill Martin

Bill Martin YouTube painting channel

A renowned painter and instructor, Bill Martin's (1943 - 2008) YouTube channel is arguably the best way to start for beginners.

These video tutorials will enrich and improve your understanding of realistic drawing and painting.

YouTube channel: Bill Martin's Guides

In addition to video tutorials, Bill Martin has two HUGE articles about drawing and oil painting.

Recommended video: Elliptical Perspective

7. Draw Mix Paint

Draw Mix Paint YouTube channel

Draw Mix Paint is a channel dedicated to introducing the key factors for fine art oil painting. The highly regarded artist Mark Carder runs it.

Leading artists like John Singer Sargent and Diego Velázquez influenced Mark Carder painting style.

Mark manufactures his own unique oil paints, which are available at his website.

YouTube channel: Draw Mix Paint

Recommended video: How to Match Any Color with Oil Paint

8. Proko

Proko drawing and painting YouTube channel

Entertaining, yet serious, the artist and teacher, Stan Prokopenko aka Proko, focuses on technical instructional videos including shading, form, and anatomy.

These tutorials may seem quite advanced, but they are aimed and structured for all levels.

The huge team behind this channel are doing a remarkable job.

YouTube channel: Proko

Recommended video: Top 5 Drawing Mistakes

Stan teamed up with master instructor Marshall Vandruff to create a visual draftsmen podcast, where they talk in-depth about art. It is highly recommended.

Marshall Vandruff from the draftsmen podcast

YouTube channel: Draftsmen

9. Jason Walcott

Jason Walcott painting YouTube channel

When it comes to understanding the different types and brands of pigments for oil painting, Jason Walcott will guide you through this ocean of variety.

This art channel is full of in depth reviews and tutorials for equipment and supplies for oil painting, pastels, and other art materials.

YouTube channel: Walcott Fine Art

10. Cesar Santos

Cesar Santos painting YouTube channel

The admired and appreciated painter, Cesar Santos, creates stunning fine art in his own unique way, while communicating with classic art as a solid foundation.

In his YouTube channel, Cesar takes you behind the scene of painting, and the art world.

YouTube channel: Cesar Santos

11. SLEW

Slew drawing and painting YouTube channel

A fresh channel by a talented artist who shares his artistic journey step-by-step.

This is a rare glimpse on how to succeed as an artist in this new generation of online opportunities.

YouTube channel: Slew

Advanced Painting Tutorials

Once you have some knowledge and experience in the craft of painting, these channels will help take your art to the next level.

12. Andrew Tischler

Andrew Tischler realistic painting YouTube channel

Andrew Tischler is a talented oil painter who specializes in realistic painting.

The tutorials in this channel are advanced, and aimed for the audience who already know how to paint, but want to take their art to the next stage, when it comes to realism.

YouTube channel: Andrew Tischler

Recommended video: How to paint a seascape

13. James Gurney

James Gurney painting YouTube channel

James Gurney is an illustrator, plein air painter and the author and illustrator of the popular illustrated book series, Dinotopia.

In this YouTube channel, Gurney offers all kinds of tips and tricks for creating original art.

In his tutorials, James uses oil paints, watercolor and gouache.

YouTube channel: James Gurney

Recommended video: How I Paint Dinosaurs

14. Jill Poyerd

Fine art YouTube channel by Jill Poyerd

The painter Jill Poyerd has exceptionally informative videos about important aspects of fine art.

These video tutorials will enrich your painting knowledge, with many examples from the old masters.

YouTube channel: Jill Poyerd Fine Art

Recommended video: The Forgotten Masters

Pen & Pencil Drawing Tutorials

The craft of drawing is super important by itself, or as a basis for painting.

The following channels will help you get better at drawing, using pencils and pens.

15. Paul Priestley

Drawing channel for beginners - Paul Priestley

If you are a beginner, this channel is for you.

Paul Priestley does a great job using simple techniques to get you started with actual drawing.

YouTube channel: Paul Priestley Art

Recommended video: Draw with Curves

16. Michele Webber

Drawing and watercolor tutorials by Michele Webber

Here you will find excellent drawing tips by the artist, and art instructor, Michele Webber.

In addition, her channel is full of watercolor tutorials and other art related guides.

YouTube channel: In the Studio with Michele Webber

Recommended video: Drawing Tutorial (AVOID these 10 Beginners' Mistakes!)

17. Darrel Tank

Darrel Tank drawing YouTube channel

Darrel Tank is a master when it comes to drawing realistic portraits.

This channel is packed with top-quality tutorials for all levels.

YouTube channel: Drawing With Darrel Tank

18. Kirsty Partridge

Kirsty Partidge YouTube channel

Kirsty Partridge, a talented artist that focuses on realism, runs this YouTube channel.

For beginning artists, these tutorials are very detailed, and easy to understand.

Besides pencil drawing lessons, you will find here colored pencils and watercolor tutorials.

YouTube channel: Kirsty Partridge Art

Recommended video: BIGGEST TIPS for GUARANTEED Realistic Drawings

19. Matt Fussell

Matt Fussell YouTube channel

The Virtual Instructor by Matt Fussell is a channel, which is specially designed for beginners, covering lots of the stuff every beginning artist should know.

Tutorials include pencil drawing, watercolor, pastels, acrylics, colored pencils, gouache, and much more.

YouTube channel: Drawing & Painting - The Virtual Instructor

Recommended video: How to Draw a Portrait with Pen and Ink

20. Alphonso Dunn

Alphonso Dunn pen drawing YouTube channel

For pen and ink drawing, Alphonso Dunn offers many video tutorials in his drawing channel.

YouTube channel: Alphonso Dunn

21. smoothie77

smoothie77 drawing YouTube channel

Another great YouTube channel for learning realistic pencil-drawing, with focus on landscape.

This channel includes lots of painting demos, and some supply and equipment reviews.

YouTube channel: smoothie77

22. Love Life Drawing

Figure drawing YouTube channel by Kenzo and Mayko

The Love Life Drawing channel runs by Kenzo and his mum Mayko, two passionate artists.

Here you can find many tutorials that will help you understand the "how", and the "why", especially for figure drawing.

YouTube channel: Love Life Drawing

Perspective Drawing Tutorials

Linear perspective is an important fundamental of drawing.

Unlike drawing from observation, perspective is a set of rules that help you draw from imagination.

You can read my article on how to draw in perspective, for the basics.

The following YouTube channels and tutorials will help you dive deeper into perspective.

23. Circle Line Art School

Circle Line Art School YouTube channel

Circle Line Art School is devoted to learning to draw in perspective.

The artist and instructor, Tom McPherson, presents these tutorials.

Simple to understand and therefore recommended for beginners.

YouTube channel: Circle Line Art School

Recommended video: How to Draw a Room in 1-Point Perspective

24. Dan Beardshaw

Dan Beardshow YouTube channel

Dan Beardshaw has some helpful perspective tutorials.

These tutorials are advanced; they require basic knowledge in perspective.

YouTube channel: Dan Beardshaw

Recommended video: The Horizon Line & Vanishing Points EXPLAINED

25. The Drawing Database

The Drawing Database with Marc Leone

While The Drawing Database is dedicated to drawing in general, it has a huge focus on anatomy and perspective drawing.

Professor Marc Leone presents these video tutorials in an easy and understandable way.

YouTube channel: The Drawing Database

26. Scott Robertson

Scott Robertson YouTube channel for perspective

Scott Robertson is a master of perspective drawing, and an amazing instructor.

He is a highly regarded author for drawing books. Some of his tutorials are quite advanced.

YouTube channel: Scott Robertson

27. Modern Day James

Modern Day James YouTube channel

Modern Day James is a channel with detailed tutorials for learning to draw.

You will find here many guides on perspective, figure drawing, and other basics. Some in traditional drawing, while others using computer graphics.

YouTube channel: Modern Day James

Recommended videos: A six-part introduction to drawing in perspective: I, II, III, IV, V and VI.

Illustration & Digital Art Tutorials

Drawing and painting are essential for many industries like computer games, film (especially fantasy and science fiction), animation, and comics.

To be a concept artist or a product designer, you have to master these crafts (drawing and painting), in order to draw from imagination.

28. Spencer Nugent

Spencer Nugent YouTube channel

Spencer Nugent is a skilled designer. His channel (Sketch-A-Day) has many tutorials for product design in perspective, both in classic style, and in computer graphics.

It includes live streams, which you can watch later, if you missed them.

YouTube channel: Spencer Nugent

Recommended video: What the heck is the degree of an ellipse?

29. Swatches

Swatches YouTube channel by Clint Cearley

Swatches is an excellent place for advanced instructions for digital art. It runs by the talented concept artist Clint Cearley.

While it offers countless helpful videos with challenges and critics, I suggest scrolling through the videos, and watch ALL videos about art fundamentals.

YouTube channel: Swatches

Recommended video: Best Art Advice on Drawing Faces

30. Mark Crilley

Mark Crilley YouTube channel

Mark Crilley is a renowned author and illustrator of manga books.

This channel includes many manga drawing lessons, and some outstanding tutorials about drawing in perspective.

YouTube channel: Mark Crilley

Recommended video: How to Draw Backgrounds (1-point Perspective)

31. BaM Animation

BaM Animation YouTube channel

Brent Noll (a background designer) and Maximus Pauson (a character designer), are both industry professional artists.

Here you will find guides and tips for animation, computer games design, illustration, comics, cartoons, and other digital art related topics.

Their tutorials are fun to watch and easy to understand.

YouTube channel: BaM Animation

Recommended video: Perspective Drawing in Photoshop! Grids and Tips

32. Ross Draws

Ross Draws YouTube channel

Ross Tran is an illustrator and a concept artist.

Besides some amazing tutorials, he draws many characters in his own inspiring style.

YouTube channel: Ross Draws

Recommended video: Illustration Master Course - Ep. 3: PORTRAITS

33. David Finch

YouTube drawing channel by David Finch

David Finch is a professional comic book artist.

His channel is full of valuable tutorials for drawing figures, shading, and perspective.

YouTube channel: David Finch

Recommended video: Dynamic Figures: Why Your Figures Are Stiff

34. Marco Bucci

YouTube art channel by Marco Bucci

Marco Bucci is a professional artist, with 15 years of experience.

He works with some of the biggest studios in the industry, including Disney, Marvel, Lego, Lucasfilm, and more.

YouTube channel: Marco Bucci

Recommended video: Draw Better Hands Now

35. Trent Kaniuga

YouTube art channel by Trent Kaniuga

Trent Kaniuga is a concept designer and a video game director, who worked for titles such as Fortnite, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, League of Legends, and more.

In his channel, Trent offers guides, advice and tips for drawing concept art, and getting ready for the game industry.

YouTube channel: Trent Kaniuga

Recommended video: Sketching Heads One Piece style

Summary

As previously stated, anybody can learn to draw and paint.

Hard work & practice are essential but, in order to improve, one has to learn constantly.

YouTube channels and instructors, books and articles, are great for learning.

Participating in drawing and painting classes are just as important.

Where to Go Next?

I always emphasize to my students the importance of learning to draw before (or alongside) learning to paint.

Here is my guide for realistic pencil drawing.

In my guide for painting realism, you will learn about the 8 key factors to achieve realistic results.

In any case, the world is three-dimensional, but your paper (also canvas, wall, computer screen) is two-dimensional. Therefore, you need to create an illusion of depth and space.

To create that illusion, read about the 15 proven ways to draw the illusion of depth (with MANY examples).