How to Create and Sell Art-Based Online Courses

With the rise of e-learning, creating and selling art-based online courses has become an excellent way for artists to share their skills, inspire others, and generate income. Whether you’re a painter, graphic designer, or digital artist, offering a course allows you to teach aspiring artists while building a sustainable business. This guide will walk you through the process of developing, marketing, and selling your art-based online courses.

1. Why Sell Art-Based Online Courses?

Selling art-based courses online offers a unique opportunity for artists to leverage their skills in new ways, reach wider audiences, and generate significant revenue streams.

Key benefits:

• Monetize your expertise: If you have a unique skill set or creative techniques, others will likely be willing to pay to learn from you.
• Global reach: Online platforms allow you to reach students from all over the world, significantly expanding your potential audience.
• Scalable income: Unlike in-person workshops or classes, online courses can be sold an unlimited number of times without additional effort.
• Flexibility: Once your course is created, it can generate passive income, allowing you to focus on other projects or build additional courses.

2. Choosing Your Art-Based Course Topic

The first step in creating an online art course is choosing a specific topic that aligns with your expertise and interests, while also appealing to your target audience.

Tips for selecting a course topic:

• Leverage your strengths: Focus on techniques or styles that you excel in, whether that’s watercolor painting, digital illustration, or typography. Teaching a subject you’re passionate about will make the course more engaging for students.
• Target a specific niche: Instead of creating a general art course, narrow down your focus. For example, “Mastering Abstract Acrylics” or “Intro to Digital Portraits” will attract a more targeted audience than simply “Painting 101.”
• Identify a gap in the market: Research other art courses to see what’s already available. If you notice certain techniques or topics are underrepresented, consider focusing your course on that area to stand out from the competition.

3. Planning and Structuring Your Course

Once you’ve chosen your topic, the next step is outlining and structuring your course. A well-organized course will help students follow along easily and get the most out of your lessons.

Course structure elements:

• Course objectives: Clearly define what students will learn by the end of your course. For example, “By the end of this course, students will be able to create a complete digital portrait using Procreate.”
• Lesson breakdown: Divide your course into logical sections or modules, each covering a specific aspect of the subject. For example, if you’re teaching a course on watercolor painting, modules could include “Choosing Your Materials,” “Mastering Brush Techniques,” and “Creating Your First Landscape.”
• Video lessons: Plan short, focused video lessons (5-15 minutes each) for each module. Demonstrations are key in art courses, so make sure you show each step clearly and provide examples.
• Assignments and practice: Encourage students to practice by giving them creative assignments after each lesson. For example, “Create a 5-minute sketch using the techniques demonstrated in this lesson.”

Pro tip: Plan for different levels of students (beginners, intermediates, etc.) by clearly stating the skill level of your course in your description and marketing materials.

4. Recording and Editing Your Course

The quality of your course videos is crucial for a professional learning experience. However, you don’t need to be a videography expert—just follow these basic tips to produce high-quality course content.

Recording tips:

• Use good lighting: Natural lighting or a simple ring light can help your videos look professional. Ensure your workspace is well-lit so students can clearly see your demonstrations.
• Choose a clear camera angle: Set up your camera to capture your hands and art tools clearly. If you’re teaching digital art, use screen recording software like OBS or ScreenFlow to capture your process.
• Clear audio: Invest in a good microphone or use a lapel mic to ensure your voice is crisp and clear. Clear instructions are just as important as clear visuals.
• Keep it concise: Avoid long-winded explanations and get straight to the point in each lesson. Students appreciate concise, focused content.

Editing tips:

• Cut unnecessary footage: Edit out mistakes, pauses, or irrelevant content to keep your lessons engaging and to-the-point.
• Add titles and text: Use simple video editing tools to add titles or notes to your videos, especially to clarify key points or steps.
• Include downloadable resources: Consider including helpful downloadable resources like worksheets, templates, or reference guides that support your lessons.

5. Choosing the Right Platform for Your Course

Once your course is ready, it’s time to choose a platform to host and sell it. Several online platforms make it easy to upload and market your course to a global audience.

Popular platforms for selling online courses:

• Teachable: Teachable is one of the most popular platforms for selling courses. It’s user-friendly and allows you to customize your course website, track student progress, and accept payments. It also handles hosting and streaming your videos.
• Skillshare: Skillshare is a marketplace for creative courses. It has a built-in audience, which can help attract students, but you’ll be paid based on minutes watched rather than charging a one-time fee.
• Udemy: Udemy is another large marketplace for online courses. You can set your course price, but Udemy frequently offers discounts, which can affect your revenue. However, it gives you access to a large audience.
• Your own website: If you prefer more control over pricing and branding, you can host and sell your course directly through your website using tools like Thinkific or Kajabi. This option allows you to keep more of the profits but may require more marketing efforts.

6. Marketing Your Online Course

To maximize sales, you’ll need a solid marketing strategy. Simply uploading your course won’t guarantee success—you’ll need to drive traffic and create buzz around your offering.

Marketing strategies:

• Leverage social media: Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are great for promoting art-based courses. Share snippets from your course, student testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content to engage your audience.
• Email marketing: Build an email list of potential students and send regular updates about your course. Offer exclusive discounts or early access to encourage sign-ups.
• Collaborate with influencers: Reach out to art influencers or bloggers in your niche and offer them free access to your course in exchange for a review or social media post.
• Offer free content: Share valuable free content—such as mini-lessons, tutorials, or a free e-book—on your website or YouTube channel. This gives potential students a taste of what they can expect from your paid course.
• Run promotions: Offer discounts or run limited-time sales during holidays or special events. This can create urgency and encourage more sign-ups.

Pro tip: Optimize your course title and description with keywords relevant to your niche to improve its visibility on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare.

7. Managing Students and Providing Ongoing Support

Once students enroll in your course, it’s important to manage their experience and provide ongoing support. Positive student interactions can lead to better reviews and more referrals.

Tips for managing students:

• Engage with students: Create a community space (e.g., a private Facebook group or a discussion forum) where students can ask questions, share their work, and support each other.
• Offer feedback: Provide feedback on student assignments or completed projects. This personal touch can enhance the learning experience and increase student satisfaction.
• Track student progress: Many platforms offer tools to track student progress, allowing you to see where students might be struggling or dropping off. This can help you improve your course over time.

Pro tip: Encourage students to leave reviews or testimonials after completing your course. Positive reviews are crucial for attracting new students.

Conclusion

Creating and selling art-based online courses is a rewarding way to share your expertise, build a community, and generate scalable income. By choosing a focused topic, recording high-quality content, marketing effectively, and engaging with your students, you can build a successful online course business. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, turning your passion for art into an educational resource can open new doors for creativity and income generation.

After you are done, consider uploading your artwork to GoKnack.io. GoKnack.io offers a unique revenue model where you can earn passive income from your art with pay-per-view starting at $0.05 per view. This allows you to generate another income stream as more students access your content, making it an excellent option for artists looking to maximize their earning potential.