Must-Watch YouTube Channels for Every Artist: Top 7 Recommendations

Previously, I compiled a couple of articles that featured top YouTube art videos aimed at both beginner and intermediate artists. One piece focused specifically on painting tutorials, while another highlighted my preferred drawing lessons available on YouTube.

During my research for those articles, I stumbled upon several YouTube channels brimming with remarkable content. I bookmarked these channels, and I still check in regularly for new uploads. These creators offer a wealth of guidance, encouragement, and inspiration, so I am excited to share my favorites with you. May the inspiration that fuels my creativity ignite yours as well!

Here’s my curated list, organized alphabetically:

Top Art Channels on YouTube

Animal Art by LAW

Lisa Ann Watkins is the talented creator behind Animal Art by LAW, where she showcases her skills as a colored pencil artist focused on wildlife artwork and pet portraits. Known for her realistic style, Lisa’s unique contributions include her engaging series titled “Behind the Studio Doors.” In this series, she explores the studios of various artists, allowing them to narrate their artistic journeys and showcase their workspaces.

Not only does Lisa reveal the triumphs and challenges that these artists face, but she also shares insights on how they organize their materials, the tools they utilize, and the environments in which they create. As a fellow dog lover, she often highlights the furry companions that assist these artists during their creative process. 🙂

Bonny Snowdon

Bonny Snowdon specializes in colored pencil art, particularly animal portraits drawn on Clairefontaine Pastelmat or drafting film. Her work is characterized by striking detail, achieving an artistic quality that even high-end photography may struggle to replicate.

Bonny’s demonstration videos often focus on specific techniques, such as rendering a dog’s nose or capturing the essence of a horse’s eye. She also discusses how to choose effective reference photos and tackles the ever-important topic of maintaining artistic motivation.

While most of her videos revolve around colored pencils and portraits, her topics span a wide array of interests within that realm. Newer uploads often condense full-length tutorials she offers on Patreon, but there remain ample older videos to explore, along with captivating glimpses into an artist’s life through time-lapse drawing videos narrated by her.

Stuart Davies

Stuart Davies is a British artist residing in France, renowned for his ability to convey the perception of detail without intricately painting every small element. His breakout video, The Illusion of Detail, was my introduction to his work and philosophy. Importantly, he demonstrates that remarkable art doesn’t require top-tier tools; he often uses plywood as his canvas and house-painting brushes!

Many of his videos feature real-time painting with voiceovers, where Davies explains his techniques and thought processes as he creates dramatic cloudscapes and moody landscapes. His longer videos, frequently exceeding thirty minutes, offer a fascinating blend of storytelling about his artistic experiences, travels, and the inspirations behind his choice of subjects and painting methods.

While he has a limited posting schedule due to his one-on-one classes and workshops in France, subscribers can find a wealth of compelling content to engage with.

Draw Paint Repeat

Steve Atkinson is the creative mind behind the Draw Paint Repeat channel. A Western artist by profession, Steve works primarily with oil and watercolor, while also engaging in some sketching. His entertaining storytelling style makes his instructional videos as enjoyable as they are educational. His approachable personality and humor are among the reasons his content stands out.

But beyond entertainment, Steve is a talented artist who offers valuable lessons for painters of any skill level. His videos cover a wide range of topics, including creating captivating night scenes, enhancing landscapes, portraiture, composition, and discussions about the artist’s lifestyle. Other areas of focus include reviews of digital drawing tools, preparing for live painting engagements, and strategies for drawing on location.

There’s a vast reservoir of knowledge waiting to be tapped!

Lachri Fine Art

Based in Texas, Lisa Clough’s multi-media channel has become a staple for me due to her engaging weekly live streams. Every Wednesday evening, she creates art while chatting with viewers, balancing conversation with creativity. The themes of her projects often align with seasonal events, such as her recent acrylic painting of a jack-o-lantern, but she also shares behind-the-scenes elements, like signing postcards sent to Patreon supporters.

Recently, she’s resumed vlogging on a variety of subjects including scheduling, copyright matters, pricing artwork, and navigating health challenges as an artist.

Lisa’s candidness regarding the challenges of being an artist with health issues is one of the most compelling aspects of her channel. It serves as a reminder that if someone facing such obstacles can thrive in this field, there’s no reason others can’t follow suit!

Andrew Tischler

Andrew Tischler is an American artist now residing in New Zealand. An oil painter, many of his videos showcase his techniques in painting portraits, landscapes, and wildlife. His channel also features series like Sketch Endeavor, documenting his daily two-hour sketching practice, and Creative Endeavor, which features interviews with diverse artists across various disciplines.

He covers technical topics such as the production of oil paints, the use of painting mediums, varnishing techniques, and how the Golden Ratio has influenced his artistic style.
While his paintings may appear advanced, Andrew’s teaching style is incredibly accessible, making it suitable even for those new to oil painting.
Advanced artists will find motivation to push their skills further as well.

U.V.N. Art

Yushkevich Viktor Nikolaevich is a contemporary realist painter from Russia who primarily focuses on landscapes but also includes surrealist works. His time-lapse videos are compelling and lack narration, allowing the artistry of his paintings to speak for themselves. One of his pieces, titled Playing the Sun, left a profound emotional impact on me during my first viewing.

His videos expertly combine broad shots and close-ups, illustrating how he produces effects like sunlight shimmering on water or dew on grass. It’s fascinating to see how casual brush strokes come together to form realistic landscapes from a distance.

With a variety of content accessible for both lengthy and brief viewing, these channels are highly recommended for anyone eager to enhance their artistic skills and delve deeper into their creative journeys. Enjoy! 🙂