Where to Find Free Art Education Online

About this article
It's possible to educate yourself about art online for free. Certain universities and websites offer courses in drawing, painting, visual and performing arts, and art history.
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Free Art Education Courses

If you're looking to learn about art but don't think you can afford it, then think about these free online courses we've listed for your benefit. Courses are found at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Utah State University, among other places.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT offers a studio seminar in color and visual design and a theatre production course. In the visual arts course, students will be responsible for projects on topics that include color history in the arts and color balance. The textbook for the course is The Art of Color by Johannes Itten. Assignments for the theatre course include design and production meetings. Students will use as resources an assortment of texts on technical theatre, lighting design, sound design, and costume design.

About University

About University offers free online instruction in painting and art history. Choose from a daily email of painting trivia or read through various articles on topics such as watercolor painting and abstract art. Some subjects allow you to test your knowledge with interactive quizzes. Articles on art history are also available for free, and they include areas of study like the Renaissance or Greek art.

Utah State University

This course centers around Roman and Greek drama. The text for the course is A Guide to Writing in History and Classics. The professor also recommends reading the handout Classical Drama and Society: A Select Bibliography.

Drawspace

This website offers 450 lessons in drawing, at all levels of expertise. Some lessons are interactive, while others can be accessed as an eBook.

Larry's Art

This website offers free online watercolor lessons. Choose from subjects like color mixing and perspective.

Free Online Art Education Courses At a Glance

Course & School Program Level Format Assignments Quizzes & Exams Downloadable
Art of Color course from MIT Undergraduate Text Yes No Yes
Theatre Arts course from MIT Undergraduate Workshop/meetings/performance Yes No Yes
Painting courses from About University Beginner Emailed/articles No Yes No
Art History courses from About University Beginner-advanced Articles No No No
Classical Drama and Theatre course from Utah State University Undergraduate Text Yes Yes No
Drawing lessons from Drawspace Beginner-advanced Varies; interactive lessons, eBooks No No Yes
Watercolor lessons from Larry's Art Beginner-advanced Text/video lessons No No No

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (NITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in STEM (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in STEM (NITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
      • B.S. in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Christian Education
      • B.S. in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in STEM
      • B.S. in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Teaching Reading
      • BS in Early Childhood
      • B.S. in Behavioral Health Science with an Emphasis in Infancy and Early Childhood Studies
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction: Online Teaching and Learning
      • DME: Doctor of Music Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Secondary Education
    Certificate
      • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction
      • CTG: Higher Education Administration
  • Campus and Online Programs
    3. Pacific Oaks College

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
      • Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • AAS Early Childhood Education
    Certificate
      • Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma
  • Campus and Online Programs
    5. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
  • University of Maryland Global Campus

  • Online Programs Available
    7. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • Master: Education (for Practicing Teachers: K-12)
      • Master: Higher Education - Online College Teaching
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Administration
  • Online Programs Available
    8. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Western Governors University

Featured Schools

The schools and programs listed below are popular educational options, and tuition varies based on program and location

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
  • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction: Online Teaching and Learning
  • DME: Doctor of Music Education
  • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction
  • CTG: Higher Education Administration

What is your highest level of education?

Pacific Oaks College

  • Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
  • Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential

What is your highest level of education completed?

Bryant & Stratton College

  • AAS Early Childhood Education
  • Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

The Chicago School

  • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning

What is your highest level of education completed?

University of Maryland Global Campus

Purdue Global

  • M.S. in Health Education
  • Master: Education (for Practicing Teachers: K-12)
  • Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Administration

Which subject are you interested in?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?