1. Choosing the Right Class
Specialization: Wildlife art encompasses various styles and mediums—some courses might focus on realistic animal portraits, others on stylized interpretations or watercolor techniques. You’ll need to choose one that matches your interests and skill level.
Instructor Expertise: Look for instructors with experience in both wildlife and art. Their knowledge of animals’ anatomy, behavior, and habitats can deeply enhance your artistic technique.
Reviews & Samples: Researching reviews, student work, and sample lessons can help you decide if the teaching style suits your learning preferences.
2. Materials & Equipment
Many online wildlife art classes will recommend specific tools and materials for each course (pencils, watercolor, pastels, etc.). If you're working with a particular medium, make sure you’re comfortable with it and have the right supplies. Sometimes, there may even be starter kits available to purchase.
Some classes are digital in nature and may require a tablet and stylus if you’re interested in digital art.
3. Structured Learning Modules
Foundational Skills: The first part of the class usually focuses on foundational skills like drawing basic shapes, shading, and understanding proportions—key to accurately representing animals.
Animal Anatomy: Wildlife art requires an understanding of animal anatomy, which goes beyond simply drawing animals from reference photos. Courses often cover muscles, bone structure, and how different species move.
Techniques and Styles: As you progress, you’ll likely dive into specific techniques, like how to paint realistic fur, feathers, or scales, or how to capture the textures and details of animal skin. Some courses will explore different mediums and their suitability for various wildlife subjects.
4. Assignments & Practice
Online classes typically include assignments that encourage you to practice the skills you’re learning. These could include things like drawing specific animals, experimenting with different techniques, or re-creating scenes from nature.
Some classes may have set projects (e.g., creating a detailed portrait of a specific animal), while others give you the freedom to choose subjects that inspire you.
Feedback from instructors or peers is often available through discussion forums, online galleries, or live critique sessions.
5. Use of Reference Materials
Many wildlife art classes emphasize the importance of working from reference images or real-life observation. Understanding how light affects an animal’s form or how their fur or feathers lay can make a big difference in the realism of your art.
Some classes may offer their own curated image libraries or access to resources like wildlife documentaries or nature books to enhance your learning.
6. Personalized Feedback
One of the main benefits of online art classes is that they often offer opportunities for one-on-one or group feedback. This might be through live critiques, email, or video calls with the instructor.
Constructive feedback helps refine your technique and encourages growth as an artist. If you feel stuck on a specific part of your artwork (like a lion’s mane or a bird’s wings), this feedback can provide new perspectives and solutions.
7. Community Engagement
Online wildlife art courses often foster a sense of community, where you can connect with fellow students, share your work, and participate in group challenges or discussions. This can be really helpful for motivation and inspiration.
Some platforms provide a peer review system where you critique other students' works, offering valuable insights and receiving critiques on your own.
8. Self-Paced Learning & Progress Tracking
Many online courses are self-paced, meaning you can learn when it’s convenient for you, whether that's in the mornings, evenings, or weekends. This makes it easier to fit into your schedule.
Some classes have milestone assessments, progress tracking, or badges to mark achievements. These features help you stay motivated and measure your growth as an artist.
9. Advanced Concepts
As you progress, some classes will introduce more advanced topics like animal behavior and how to depict dynamic movement (e.g., a running cheetah or an eagle in flight).
You may also explore the environmental context of wildlife art—such as painting animals in their natural habitats, capturing the feeling of a specific landscape, or depicting animals in various lighting conditions.
10. Portfolio Development
In advanced courses, students often work on creating a portfolio of their best work, which can be used for professional purposes (such as selling art, applying for gallery shows, or getting commissions).
You may get guidance on how to photograph your art, write artist statements, and even market your work online.
11. Certification and Final Projects
Some online wildlife art courses offer a certificate upon completion. While not always necessary for artistic growth, it can be a useful credential if you’re looking to build a professional portfolio or pursue art as a career.
Many programs conclude with a final project, which allows you to apply everything you’ve learned in a polished piece of work.
