Painting Lessons Reviews

Best Painting Lessons of 2026

We've analyzed the best Painting Lessons to help you find the right solution for your needs.

2026 Painting Lesson Reviews

Where is the Best Place to Take Painting Lessons?  Painting is a beautiful, creative, artistic outlet. It gives you the ability to see a stunning nature scene and recreate it, use your own style to capture a moment in time, or pour your emotions into a project and make a visual representation of what is inside of you. It's one of the most calming and soothing hobbies you can take part in, leaving your mind and body grounded.

5.0

EXCELLENT

1

Best Option

  • $13.30/month or $67.90/year
  • Learn to draw or paint
  • Beginner and intermediate/advanced material

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EXCELLENT

5.0

On the The Virtual Instructor website

The Virtual Instructor offers on-demand and live art lessons for students. You can subscribe for just $13.30/month or $67.90/year to access all the drawing and painting lessons available here or buy single courses outright. There are options for beginners and intermediate/advanced painters with hours of material and ebooks to help cover all learning styles. The Virtual Instructor offers a 7-day free trial of their platform and a 30-day money back guarantee to ensure you are happy with your courses. People say that it's well worth the money to access painting lessons from this site, so The Virtual Instructor has earned our top spot.

4.5

GREAT

2

Great

  • Starting at $11.99
  • One-time payments
  • Some free courses

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GREAT

4.5

On the Udemy website

Udemy hosts a broad range of skills and topics that people can sign up for and learn from home. The amount of content and learning opportunities here are nearly endless, which is truly exciting. They have thousands of painting lessons that you can purchase at a one-time cost and have lifetime access to. Most courses are a few hours long with 15 or so lessons that you can explore before signing up. Udemy offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you're unhappy with whatever purchase you make. Unfortunately, many people have experienced frustration with their customer service, so it may not be easy to actually get your money back or deal with technical issues if they arise. But, since the individual course ratings are high and we like the format and options here, Udemy has still earned one of our top ratings.

4.0

VERY GOOD

3

Very Good

  • Monthly subscription for $39.99 or yearly for $395
  • Over 73 lessons available
  • Free mini-lessons

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VERY GOOD

4.0

On the Painting Lessons with Marla website

Painting Lessons with Marla provides a variety of opportunities for people to improve their painting skills. You can do a monthly subscription with access to new lessons on different subjects and skills, or pay for lifetime access to workshops with hours of content with a variety of mediums and subjects. We like that you have a lot of options here, all of which are reasonably priced. You could also try out Marla's free mini-lessons before paying for anything else to see if you like her teaching style. This platform has been rated highly by students, so we recommend giving it your consideration.

3.5

GOOD

4

Good

  • $20/month
  • Pay monthly or by individual class
  • Acrylic and oil painting

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GOOD

3.5

On the My Painting Club website

My Painting Club is a website based around the instruction and works of Richard Robinson. He has created over 150 videos with hours of instruction to help students paint things they are interested in. With a monthly membership, you get full access to everything or you can pay per class and have lifetime access instead. Videos are not downloadable, but they're accessible with an internet connection. You can do a 7-day trial here before signing up and even get your money back on a membership later if you're unsatisfied. My Painting Club allows you to find your own way along your painting journey, so it's not strictly structured but provides solid content. Their reviews are few and far between, so this is probably not the most popular place to turn for painting lessons, but a free trial could give you insight to whether or not it's the right place for you.

3.0

AVERAGE

5

Average

  • $249 one-time payment
  • Lifetime access to content
  • Oil painting course

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AVERAGE

3.0

On the Learn & Master website

Learn & Master has valuable teaching materials for people trying to learn a variety of new skills. Their painting lessons include over 20 lessons with instructional videos and a workbook. It's designed for beginners who want to take their training in oil painting to the next level. This painting course is a one-time purchase and is mailed to you on DVDs. The quality is a little grainy and out of date since these were filmed so long ago, but the content is impressive and you get it all for a one-time cost of $249. If you don't mind the format of Learn & Master, there is a lot you can learn here. They also offer a 60-day money-back guarantee. However, since this is oil-painting specific, it may not cater to everyone and some people might prefer new, more modern lessons, so Learn & Master has earned an average rating.

2.0

SUBPAR

6

Subpar

  • Pay monthly ($8.50) or yearly ($102)
  • Stream on phone, TV, computer, or phone
  • Some free videos

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SUBPAR

2.0

On the Artist's Academy website

Artist's Academy has tons of videos on different skills and techniques needed for learning how to paint or draw. But, unless you pay extra (on top of your membership fee) for a specific class, you'll be shuffling through jumbled videos that all seem disconnected and random. It's hard to know which videos match your skill level, so Artist's Academy would be a really hard starting place for new painting students. Their $8/month membership fee seems like a steal of a deal, but people complain that after your first year, prices go way up and they make it difficult to cancel or get refunds. We don't feel like Artist's Academy gives any solid direction, so we can't recommend their painting lessons.

1.9

SUBPAR

7

Subpar

  • $9/month or $50/year
  • Hundreds of free classes
  • Beginner drawing and painting lessons

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SUBPAR

1.9

On the Online Art Lessons website

Online Art Lessons has hundreds of paid and free art lessons. Each of the videos can be hours long and cater to beginner painters, with some for more advanced ones as well. The pricing is extremely confusing and a little contradictory in some places too. You'll get ads for random products on this site, and it's clear that the company needs a lot of organization help. However, there are a lot of free videos here, so rather than trying to figure out membership details, we recommend using Online Art Lessons as a supplement to your other training and taking advantage of the free videos they offer.

1.5

WEAK

8

Weak

  • Daily emails with tips and tricks
  • 2 free workshops
  • Free downloadable workbook

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WEAK

1.5

On the Online Painting Lessons website

Online Painting Lessons by Katie Jobling Art is a website that Jobling uses to sell her artwork, offer some free workshops in return for your name and email, and drive traffic to her social media accounts and videos where she makes most of her money. Jobling provides insights that are useful for beginner painters, but there is no official course offered and nothing for you to purchase. If you're looking to follow step-by-step lessons that will improve your painting skills, that's not what you will get here. This is why Online Painting Lessons is the lowest-ranked option on our list.

Continued from above...

Where is the Best Place to Take Painting Lessons?

Painting is a beautiful, creative, artistic outlet. It gives you the ability to see a stunning nature scene and recreate it, use your own style to capture a moment in time, or pour your emotions into a project and make a visual representation of what is inside of you. It's one of the most calming and soothing hobbies you can take part in, leaving your mind and body grounded.

Finding someone who teaches painting in-person is much harder than finding a piano teacher or a dance class, so quite a few companies have created online programs for you to do from home. It's significantly less expensive than in-person lessons would be and you can go at your own pace, pause, or rewind different sections to hone in on a technique you're struggling with. You can do a few minutes at a time or spend hours on a masterpiece - it's up to you.

Painting is great for people of any age to take part in. Whether you've got a finger-painting toddler or you're a retired professional exploring new hobbies, painting suits everyone. If you're like most of us, the majority of your artistic "training" and painting experience came through the classes you took in school while you were growing up.

Some of these may have even been mandatory, so you might not have appreciated them at the time. Unless you took extra painting credits, dove deep into all the episodes of Bob Ross you could get your hands on, or found a private studio that teaches classes, you may have hit a dead end in your training and are wondering what your options are.

Online painting lessons are as convenient as it gets. The class you choose can reflect the style you're interested in learning. If you're wanting to learn to draw people rather than nature scenes, you could find a class for this. Maybe you're interested in acrylics, watercolor, or oils specifically. There's a class for that too. With our help here, you'll be able to match yourself to online painting lessons that fit your experience level within just minutes. Before getting started, you'll likely be given a list of materials you need so that you can get your own in-home studio set up and ready to go.

We've done a lot of the important research regarding some of the best online painting classes available to you and recommend keeping the following things in mind when you're looking around:

The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the most popular online painting lessons available to you. We hope this information helps you find a company that accelerates your painting skills and gives you a relaxing, enjoyable experience!

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Painting Lesson FAQ

What will I get in an online painting class?
When you sign up for an online painting class, you'll usually receive downloadable videos that have a series of lessons to watch. You'll get step-by-step guidance from a master painter. Depending on the type of painting you're interested in learning, you'll be instructed in all the techniques that you'll need to know to improve your painting skills. Some classes also offer an eBook with helpful tips you can always refer to, as well as the option to submit your artwork for critique.
How do I take painting lessons online?
Taking painting lessons online is just like being in-person, except you can pause, play, and rewatch anything you're learning. You'll have your own papers, brushes, and paints at home to work with and you'll follow along with what you see in the class to create your own artwork. The idea is that you can create your own masterpieces from home on your own time and not have to find a local studio to go to.
What devices can I use to view my painting lessons?
Most classes have downloadable videos that can be viewed from nearly any electronic device. If you're using a smartphone, iPad, tablet, or computer, you should have no problem viewing your painting lessons. Some older courses have you buy DVDs that ship to your home, so you might watch those on your laptop or TV. In short, you can plan on being able to access your painting class from anywhere at any time since they are more accessible than ever now!
What mediums are taught in an online paint class?
Any and all! You could select a paint class that specifically teaches a paint medium you're interested in like acrylics or watercolor. The other option would be to find a class that touches on a little bit of everything so you can dip your toes in the water and decide what you like best. Online learning is so popular now that you can find painting lessons that cover all mediums, topics, and techniques with just a few clicks.
Are online painting lessons expensive?
Compared to the cost of doing in-person painting classes, online courses are fairly inexpensive. Not only are you avoiding driving to an art studio at scheduled times during the week, you also can spend as long as you want learning from your online class without worrying about the cost. Some companies offer online courses on a subscription basis and you pay month-to-month, or you can purchase the class outright and have it forever.
What if I need one-on-one help in my online painting class?
If you have a question about the class itself, you should always be able to reach out to customer service and get answers that way. If you're wanting help with your painting, we suggest choosing a course that offers live Q&A sessions, the chance to submit your artwork for critique, or video chatting with an instructor. Although online painting courses are done remotely, there are still many ways you can connect with other students and teachers as you learn.
Do I have to finish my online painting class within a certain timeframe?
The beauty of an online painting class is that you can start, stop, and rewatch any parts of the lesson. You don't have to "keep up" like you would in a face-to-face class. You can master techniques by watching them over and over again and take as long as you want to finish the whole lesson. Online paint classes are 100% flexible and can be done around your schedule.
Do online painting classes have a 100% satisfaction guarantee?
Not all online painting platforms allow you to get your money back if you're unsatisfied. If you're unsure if a painting course is right for you, it would be wise to choose one that offers a trial period or money-back guarantee if the class isn't as you'd hoped. Companies want customers to be happy with what they're offering, so if you don't want to use your painting class anymore, you'll likely be able to cancel your subscription or get a refund within the first few weeks.

Compare Any 2 Products

The Virtual Instructor
Udemy
Painting Lessons with Marla
My Painting Club
Learn & Master
Artist's Academy
Online Art Lessons
Online Painting Lessons
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See the Best Painting Lessons in Your State
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The Daily Reporter

CREATIVITY AND CAMARADERIE: Adult art lessons nurture creative ...

As the sun begins to set on a beautiful Friday evening, several women are down in the basement of the Patricia Elmore Center kicking off their evening in an art studio.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026

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CBS News

Best Painting Lessons For Adults In Pittsburgh

As paint-and-sips become more popular, Pittsburgh is getting in the game with more and more studios offering up the adults-only painting lessons. But those aren't the only painting lessons in town. A ...

Mon, 28 Mar 2016

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Redding Record ...

Try virtual piano, painting lessons with these Redding artists while ...

Piano teacher Conica Patnaik watches her students’ fingering while she listens to them play via FaceTime and Zoom. Patnaik is one of several North State teachers who has moved art and music lessons ...

Wed, 08 Apr 2020

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WHYY

The best art lessons come from her students

It’s an early autumn day, and the sun still thinks it’s summer. Artist Heather Barros soaks it in on the terrace of the collegiate Gothic-style Manor House on the campus of the Princeton Academy of ...

Wed, 09 Nov 2016

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