The best online concept art schools
ImagineFX|February 2021
Class acts Lockdown needn’t stop you learning concept art or extending your skill-set. Tom May presents eight great places to study online
Tom May
The best online concept art schools
Online courses in concept art have been growing in influence and importance for the past few years now. And in 2020, for obvious reasons, they’ve come into their own. But choosing between them can be tricky. Different concept art schools don’t just specialise in different areas, but also offer very different approaches to learning in general.

Some are similar to YouTube channels, offering prerecorded videos that contain exercises for you to complete after the lesson. This type of course tends to be cheaper and easier to fit into your schedule, but offers less in the way of feedback, and you’ll need to be more disciplined to complete it. Other schools feature live classes that are more like traditional education, with greater interactivity and opportunities to ask questions. These, in turn, tend to be more expensive, and you’ll need to keep to a rigid schedule.

In this article, we’ve selected our eight favourite online schools for concept artists. We’ll explain what each one offers and how they differ, to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Schoolism

www.schoolism.com

Schoolism was set up by concept artist Bobby Chiu, and tutors include wellknown artists such as Craig Mullins, Iris Compiet, Ian McCaig and Nathan Fowkes. It offers two ways of taking its courses in drawing, illustration, sculpting and painting.

The cheaper option is to follow prerecorded videos, which you can watch whenever you like. Alternatively, you can pay more for Critiqued Sessions. These have set start dates, and run from nine to 14 weeks.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of ImagineFX.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of ImagineFX.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM IMAGINEFXView All
First Impressions - Glenn Arthur
ImagineFX

First Impressions - Glenn Arthur

Influences from Disneyland shape the artist’s work

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2023
THE ART OF BRIAN SUM
ImagineFX

THE ART OF BRIAN SUM

Dominic Carter talks to the mech master about honing his cyberpunk visions, character designs, and his new artbook

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2023
Karla Diaz
ImagineFX

Karla Diaz

Clean and cosy Discover a studio of two halves as the Chilean comic artist gives us the grand tour

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2023
A day in the life of...Daniel Hyun Lim
ImagineFX

A day in the life of...Daniel Hyun Lim

Learn smart The illustrator and storyboard artist opens up on his non-stop schedule, and explains why new graduates need to spend their time wisely

time-read
1 min  |
September 2023
MATTAHAN
ImagineFX

MATTAHAN

Dominic Carter talks to the EarthNight artist about making art for video games and how he keeps his creativity sharp

time-read
7 mins  |
August 2023
Technique focus: FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS
ImagineFX

Technique focus: FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS

LEONARDO GONZALEZ explains why specific pens and pencils are so important to his creative process, including his Pokémon fan art

time-read
1 min  |
August 2023
FXPosé
ImagineFX

FXPosé

SHOWCASING THE FINEST TRADITIONAL ARTISTS

time-read
1 min  |
August 2023
Technique focus: EMBRACE REFERENCES
ImagineFX

Technique focus: EMBRACE REFERENCES

Alone Lee explores being inspired by emotions, observations, and imagination

time-read
1 min  |
August 2023
Procreate: CREATE A BOLD FAN ART PORTRAIT
ImagineFX

Procreate: CREATE A BOLD FAN ART PORTRAIT

Bo Feng Lin shares the process behind his quirky Wednesday Addams painting, which features suitably abstract elements

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Emily Chapman
ImagineFX

Emily Chapman

My aesthetic A personal haven where bloomcore meets splashes of boho, pastel and RGB

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2023