We have put together a big list of free creative, art and craft ideas, courses and activities for you to enjoy during the Corona Virus isolation. If you know of any more we should add please let us know. We will continue to update this post as we hear of more. Thank you to our Facebook Group Members for their suggestions.

Sky Portrait Artist of the Week

For the next few Sundays Sky will feature a celebrity to paint on their Sky TV Facebook Page. Any can join in and paint along with an artist each week.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-portrait-artist-of-the-year-gets-a-lockdown-makeover-11978371

Journal Through it

Journaling videos, suggestions and prompts delivered as Facebook Lives
from March 16, 2020 by Ardith Goodwin
https://www.ardithgoodwin.com/blog/2020/3/15/journal-through-it

Isolation Art School + Artist Support Pledge (Instagram)

A range of tutorials and demonstrations from painters, sculptors and illustrators
https://www.instagram.com/isolationartschool/

Free Daily Drawing Party from Sketchbook Skool

In the Sketchbook Skool Facebook Group, Youtube Channel and Instagram 8AM EDT on Instagram
Join Koosje Koene for a live drawing session, making the most out of supplies and subject matter in your home. Watch within 24 hours or catch the next one.
Follow @SketchbookSkool

12PM EDT on YouTube & Facebook
Join Danny Gregory for a live drawing lesson from our library of courses. Connect with members of the global creative community and learn something new. If you miss it live, you can ​watch all episodes on YouTube.
Subscribe on YouTube or like on Facebook to get notified

Better Together – Online Co-Working Studio

Join a weekly online live stream session and feel connected, motivated and accountable.
https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/Better-Together-Online-Studio/

Creative Mornings Goes Online

Tina Roth Eisenberg’s CreativeMornings is going digital.
https://creativemornings.com/talks/upcoming

Boredom Buster Art School

Free access to daily art activities for a whole month for kids (and adults accessing their inner kids) grades 5-12.
https://coursecraft.net/c/BB-art-school/splash

Lockdown Academy on Channel 4

Grayson Perry is on a mission to help bring the nation together through art – and unleash the great British public’s creativity. Broadcast time TBC

https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-sets-out-creative-plan-help-nation-navigate-through-coronavirus-crisis-support

Live Streaming Art Lessons

• Draw Together class for Kids and Adults

Wendy Macnaughton Draw Together class will continue every school day for the rest of the school year!! M-F from 10-10.30 pst on instagram live (in her stories)

• Artist Network – Drawing Together Live Streams

https://www.artistsnetwork.com/drawing-together-live-video-streams/

• LIVE Colouring and Drawing Sessions with Johanna Basford

Live on Facebook or Instagram for the foreseeable future doing daily colouring or drawing sessions.
Colouring pages available to download.

Sessions will be at
4pm GMT / 12 noon EST / 9am PT
Wednesday 25th – Facebook
Thursday 26th – Instagram
Friday 27th – Facebook

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pg/johanna.basford/posts/?ref=page_internal
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/johannabasford/?hl=en

• Jon Burgerman Kids Story Reading and Drawing Activity

Live children’s book readings, which are followed by drawing activities on Instagram

• Draw Every day with JJK

Daily live art lessons from illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka (for kids, but adults might like too)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg9gpgNtuVmFqtseQCKFWZml6dfdLugwt

• DRAW with Chris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8z6unNK-ME&feature=youtu.be

• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems! (for Kids)

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/

• Elle Luna (Creator of the 100 Day Project)

Free drawing classes via Instagram Live. 8 am PT for daily practice of creating a mandala.
https://www.instagram.com/elleluna/

• Paint with MJ

Painting classes for kids of all ages that are out of school and self isolating
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2882448618445044/

Join a Creative Challenge or Start Your Own

• June Creative Challenges from Kick in the Creatives

https://kickinthecreatives.com/june-creative-challenges/
Join our Facebook Group to Share your work or post it and tag us on Instagram

• Create to Connect from 64 Million Artists

http://dothinkshare.com/creative-inspiration/create-to-connect/

• 100 Day Project

A Popular Yearly Creative Challenge which starts 7th April
https://www.the100dayproject.org/

• Lockdown 2020 Writing Initiative

A Facebook Group to share your writing
https://www.facebook.com/groups/804309796721150

Free Art, Craft and Creative Courses and Tutorials

• Free Colour Play 5 Day Art Course

https://www.estemacleod.com/colour-play-information

• Creative Live – Free On Air Classes

Creative Live sells a range of creative classes, but they also let you watch classes that they call “on air” free. These are scheduled at set times when you can watch them. Take a look at the schedule and click on RSVP to get a reminder of when the class is streaming
https://www.creativelive.com/onair

• Free Classes from Kara Bullock Art

Kara has also put some of her other paid courses on sale at 50% off

• Free Abstract Collage Course from Laura Horn

https://classes.laurahornart.com/p/abstract-collage-creations

• SVS Learn Illustration Courses

(30 day Free Trial they only usually offer 7days)
https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/30-days-free
Just remember to set yourself a reminder to cancel if you don’t want to pay after that.

• Proko Drawing Tutorials

Free trial extended to 30 days
Just remember to set yourself a reminder to cancel if you don’t want to pay after that.

• 50 Free Art And Craft Classes from Creative Bug

https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/50-free-classes-with-creativebug

• FREE 2 Week Art Journaling class from Balzer Designs

https://balzerdesigns.com/Classroom/register/the-two-week-art-journal

• The Layered Page – a Mini Mixed Media Course by Kellee Wynne

Free Access for a limited time
https://kelleewynnestudios.simplero.com/purchase/101914-The-Layered-Page

• The Virtual Instructor

These tutorials have currently been released for free while Corona Virus is affecting so many people

• Rhinoceros with Graphite and White Charcoal – 10 Hours
  https://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/rhino-with-graphite-and-white-charcoal/
• Ostrich with Charcoal – 4 Hours
  https://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/ostrich-with-charcoal/
• Oil Pastel Woodland Landscape – 4 Hours
  https://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/oil-pastel-landscape-woodland/
• Color Theory and Mixing – 1 Hour
  https://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/color-theory-and-mixing/
  
• Drawing Bootcamp – 5 Hours
  https://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/drawing-bootcamp-part–1/

• Skillshare

There are numerous Skillshare classes that are free all the time
https://www.skillshare.com/classes/free

• Or Get 2 months of premium Skillshare for free (2 month trial)

Get two months of Premium Skillshare for free  (affiliate link)
Just remember to set yourself a reminder on your phone to cancel before the 2 months is up of you don’t want to pay afterwards.

Some classes you might like:

• Odd Bodies (stylised people) 
• Embracing Imperfection – The Art And Science Of Painting Loose With Watercolor & Acrylic
• Storytelling for Leaders: How to Craft Stories That Matter
• Digital Illustration: Doodles to Designs
• Creative Exercises: 6 Prompts for Fun Doodles & Creative Play
• Drawing on Everything: Discovering Your Creative Voice
• Make Creativity Your Career: Six Exercises to Create a Successful Side Project
• Mixed Media Art Journal Girl : How to be loose & expressive with pencil, paint & collage
• Learning How to Draw: A Mindset, Method, and Exercises
• Watercolor and Mixed Media
• DIY Filming: Creating Pro Video with Tools You Already Own

• Comics: Art in Relationship

https://www.kadenze.com/courses/comics-art-in-relationship

• Gesture Drawing – The Ultimate Guide For Beginners

• Free Online Art Lessons for Kids and Adults from Wild Free and Crafty

• Kids Art Week 2019 by Carla Sonheim (also for adults)

https://www.carlasonheim.com/online-classes/kids-art-week–2019/

• Other Free Art Classes from Carla Sonheim

https://www.carlasonheim.com/product-category/classes/free-classes/

• Empty Easel Art Tutorials

https://emptyeasel.com/art-tutorials/

• Digital Painting Tutorials

https://www.ctrlpaint.com/library

• 600+ Free Art Lessons from the Art Sherpa

https://theartsherpa.com/videos

• Edx has numerous free courses available

here are just a few

• Edx – Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101
• European Paintings: From Leonardo to Rembrandt to Goya
• Creative Writing Courses from Edx
• Creativity Courses from Edx

• Coursera has a some free courses available

Here are just a few

• Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for a TV or Web Series (Project-Centered Course) 
• Courses from The Museum of Moving Art (MoMA)

• Domestika – Free Courses

(Spanish with English Subtitles)
https://www.domestika.org/stayathome

• Udemy

Udemy has some free and paid courses. Search for a topic you are interested in and then filter by “free”

• Free Drawing Courses 
• Free Photography Courses 

Recommended Youtube Art Channels

Recommended by ourselves or our Facebook Group Members

• Proko TV Drawing Tutorials

https://www.youtube.com/user/ProkoTV

• Draw with Jazza

https://www.youtube.com/user/DrawWithJazza

• Karen Campbell, Artist

Draw Whimsical Faces – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKbi70C11aQRKzeLcbl3oVA

• Watercolor Misfit

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO1i2JmrYr2rgLa8vYRrnFg

• Minnie Small – Artist

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLcxo0ysMP27XTiRKqrdASg

• Painthog

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbm6dYmMvv09iNa729KDhfg

• Painting with Jane

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW4Afe-CtYM5kp6FJEUPTFA

Windsor and Newton Masterclasses

 

Free Art History Books

• Books from the Met Museum

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/titles-with-full-text-online?&searchtype=F&&rpp=12&pg=4

• Books from Guggenheim

https://archive.org/details/guggenheimmuseum&tab=collection

• Getty Books

http://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/index.html

Free Books to Read

Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks. Choose among free epub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online.
https://www.gutenberg.org/

Free Colouring/Activity Pages

• http://library.nyam.org/colorourcollections/category/2019/
• http://www.supercoloring.com
• https://shop.adamjk.com/collections/activity-pages/products/activity-pages
• https://www.mikeperrystudio.com/
• Van Gogh Colouring Pages – https://vangoghmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/children-and-families/crafting-and-colouring

Online Art Galleries

• Google Art and Culture

https://artsandculture.google.com/

• Virtual Art Gallery Tours

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

• Online Art Exhibitions from The Umbrella Studio

https://umbrella.org.au/event/jac-hawthorn-translation/?fbclid=IwAR0jI9xoXt_EfapAMwTZb_qBIZFenTdTKbmgjbNwHiAejQge_zMJNR6X1HY

• Interactive Frida Kahlo exhibition

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/frida-kahlo

• Paris Museums Put 100,000 Images Online for Unrestricted Public Use

https://kottke.org/20/01/paris-museums-put–100000-images-online-for-unrestricted-public-use?fbclid=IwAR3evsT8sMsoPIt3Q_k1nRiuMGN9Cq_-umeHHXaSEaJ_EM3g6mSlJ2UieUA

Life Drawing Reference

• New Master Academy

Youtube channel with a range of life drawing model poses and tutorials

• Croquis Cafe: Art Models for Drawing

Youtube channel with a range of life drawing model poses and tutorials

Urban Sketching

• The Thirty Day Indoor Sketching Challenge – Urban Sketchers London

https://urbansketchers-london.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-thirty-day-indoor-sketching.html

• Using Google Street Maps

Is there a place you have always wanted to visit, or a place you love? Why not visit it and draw it via Google Street Maps. The perspective might not be perfect, but it could be fun.
https://www.google.com/maps

Creative Podcasts

• Your Creative Push

Interviews with creatives from around the world from including artists and writers
https://yourcreativepush.com/

• Kick in the Creatives

Art and Creative Chat and Interviews
https://kickinthecreatives.com/kick-creatives-podcast/

• Creative Pep Talk

Andy J Pizza talking about creativity. He is a great story teller and has some good guests
https://www.creativepeptalk.com/

• Stitchery Stories

Textile art and embroidery podcast
https://www.stitcherystories.com/

• 3 Point Perspective

An illustration Podcast
https://www.svslearn.com/3pointperspective

Interesting Creative Talks

• Ted Talks

• Playlist – The Artist is In – https://www.ted.com/playlists/3/the_artist_is_in
• Playlist – Simple ways to spark your creativity – https://www.ted.com/playlists/617/simple_ways_to_spark_your_creativity
• Playlist – Kickstart Your Creativity – https://www.ted.com/playlists/170/kickstart_your_creativity

• 99u Talks

Talks on Creativity and other Topics – https://99u.adobe.com/videos

• Talks at Google

• Google Art and Culture Talks – https://talksat.withgoogle.com/explore/categories/art-culture
• Google talks with Authors – https://talksat.withgoogle.com/explore/categories/authors

Download and Learn Free Art and Creative Software

• Krita – a free digital painting program (desktop) https://krita.org/en/
• Autodesk Sketchbook (mobile and desktop) – https://sketchbook.com/
• Blender – Free 3D software – https://www.blender.org/
• MediBang Paint – FREE lightweight digital painting and comic creation program (desktop and mobile) https://medibangpaint.com/en/
• Affinity are offering an extended free 90 day trial of their art/design software – https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/90-day-affinity-trial/

Online Drawing Games

• Lets Draw It

Various online drawing games
https://letsdraw.it

• Drawize

Pictionary Like Game to play online with friends (Desktop and Mobile Versions)
https://www.drawize.com

Collaborate with Others on a Creative Project

• Write a kid’s story with a friend

Use free Google Docs. Share the document with your friend. One of you write 250 or 500 words and then your friend continues with their 250 words. See where the story goes. Sandra and I did this during our February Fables Challenge last year

• Poetry and Illustration collaboration

One person writes a poem and the other illustrates it

• Child’s story and Illustrations

One person writes the story and the other illustrates it.

• Art Postcard Swap

Create and post a postcard sized piece of art to a friend and they send one to you. We have a monthly postcard swap in our Facebook Group where we pair people up and they create art for each other.

• HitRecord Creative Collaboration Platform

Collaborate with people around the world on creative projects
https://hitrecord.org/how_it_works

Other Ideas and Events

• Window Art Festival – idea from Dundonald Art Corridor

Weekly themes, create art, stick it in your window
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dundonaldartcorridor

• Songs of Comfort

Yo-Yo Ma on encouraging ‘Songs of Comfort’ amid global crisis
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/yo-yo-ma-on-encouraging-songs-of-comfort-amid-global-crisis

• Nightly Met Opera Streams

Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming on the Met website, with each performance available for a period of 23 hours, from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 6:30 p.m.
https://www.metopera.org/user-information/nightly-met-opera-streams/

• Quilting Circle App

https://wearequilt.com

• Articles About Other Online Culture Events

Livestreaming schedule: music, art, literature and events from Australia and beyond
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/20/livestreaming-schedule-music-art-literature-and-events-from-australia-and-beyond

A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources!

A list which includes all sorts of resources not just creative eg. languages, geography, prayer
https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/list-of-online-resources-for-anyone-who-is-isolated-at-home

More ideas

• Online video chat with built in games – https://houseparty.com/
• Change your furniture around
• Upcycle something you don’t like anymore – https://www.personalcreations.com/blog/50-new-uses-for-old-things
• Make a list of all the things that have been bugging you for ages… That dripping tap… That crack in the wall that needs filling… That tumble-weed under the bed… NOW is the time to work on those little things and cross them off the to-do list!
• Put some time in to the garden
• Get fit… Imagine that ‘tada’ moment after 3 months of isolation! There are lots of free videos to help you do this.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBu-pQG6sTY&list=PLui6Eyny-UzwxbWCWDbTzEwsZnnROBTIL&index=2
• Get the board games out! Instead of simply immersing yourself in ‘Netflix’, how about trying out some real interaction? When was the last time you played scrabble with your partner? Try it! You might find you really enjoy it… plus, you will talk a lot more together than you would staring at the TV!
• If you have a kindle, sign up for a free trial of ‘Kindle Unlimited’. There are just 1000’s of unlimited and fantastic free books to read!
• Amazon have loads of free kindle books available to read – Go to Kindle Best Sellers and then “Top 100 Free” to check out the popular ones
• Have ‘skype’ coffee dates with your friends… Or prosecco!!
• Create an imaginary diary/journal… If you are bored, why not write and illustrate your day as you would like it to be, rather than what you are actually doing…. Maybe today, you were climbing a mountain… Tomorrow, you will be on a lovely holiday in the sun… Use your imagination and have fun with it!