Ten Creative Online Courses You’ll Love (ALL up to 50% off for 3 days only!)
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Online courses are a great way to learn a new creative skill or even to learn more about what you are already very passionate about. The bonus of the online creative courses on offer from Craftsy is that you can complete them in your own time - That means not having to attend a far-away venue or set aside time every week! Craftsy guarantees three things: That you can watch classes on your own schedule wherever, whenever you want; Your access to the course never expires; and that there's a 100% money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with your chosen course.
There's more good news though that we're very excited to share with our readers! From the 5th of June (today) until the 9th of June, ALL online courses through Craftsy have been discounted by up to 50% and some courses will only cost just $9.99 to enrol in thanks to Craftsy's BIG Summer Sale! We know a huge portion of our readers are very interested in mediums such as photography, art and craft, and therefore we have compiled a list of ten Craftsy courses we think you'll all be particularly interested in. You can also click on each course name for more information, or head here to visit the Craftsy website.
Basics of Digital Photography: "Move beyond auto mode and gain control of your photographs with step-by-step guidance from Santa Fe Photographic Workshops instructor Rick Allred. Master your camera’s features and join Rick in the field as he reveals how to find flattering light and shoot successfully in shade, harsh sunlight and challenging low light. Learn to use shutter speed and depth of field to maximize detail, minimize distractions and create the best photos possible. Discover the limitless potential of zoom, wide-angle and telephoto lenses and find out how to use a polarizer to make bright colors pop. Discover inspiring ideas for compelling compositions and start taking photographs you’re proud to share."
25 Innovative Photoshop Techniques for Photo & Video: "Unlock impressive editing and artistic tools as Adobe Education Leader Nicole Dalesio guides you through 25 techniques to create striking photos and videos. Discover innovative effects such as how to use filters and color enhancements to turn your images into toylike miniature worlds. Master the powerful Content-Aware tools for effortless editing and find out how to seamlessly retouch and relocate objects with incredible precision and control. Create digital art as you learn to add texture, surreal effects and hand-drawn details to your work. Explore a range of video editing tools and learn to apply artistic effects to video clips, “stamp” individual frames with texture and even turn an image sequence into an animated GIF. Find out how to make the most out of Photoshop and unleash a new world of creative possibilities!"
Breaking Into the Business of Photography: "Learn how to turn your passion into your profession as photographer Catherine Asanov shares valuable insights on navigating the business side of photography. Find out how to create a brand identity that sets you apart from the competition and get Catherine’s tips for developing and promoting your signature style. Watch a portfolio review to learn how to select, format and showcase your best images to convey a versatile, cohesive style. Delve into marketing strategies for effective online and print promotions and learn how to capitalize on SEO and social media to promote your brand and attract new clients. Develop an action plan for finding clients and building lucrative long-term relationships and learn to navigate common legal and budget questions. Get the knowledge you need to jump-start your photography business today!"
Behind the Scenes of a Creative Portrait Shoot: "Join rising industry star Catherine Asanov behind the scenes as you learn to take striking portraits. Learn which modifiers Catherine considers indispensable, and create simple lighting setups that flatter any subject. Discover the key to expressive character portraits as you explore gels, props and creative effects to convey mood and engage your viewer. Learn to use wardrobe and makeup to pump up the impact of your shots, and direct models quickly and confidently with Catherine’s expert advice. Learn foolproof strategies for outdoor lighting and use advanced post-processing techniques to enhance your photos. Start taking the stunning portraits that ensure your portfolio stands out from the crowd!"
Documentary-Style Wedding Portraits: "Reveal the intimate moments behind every “I do” with award-winning photographer Kirsten Lewis as your guide! After Kirsten shares website and marketing tips, you’ll discover her favorite strategies for helping subjects relax during wedding day photo shoots. Learn to harness ambient light to create perfectly lit, romantic portraits at any indoor venue. Master gorgeous outdoor photographs with techniques for shooting in shade, shadows and harsh light and discover how to capture a dynamic range of images in less than 15 minutes with Kirsten’s innovative 360-degree challenge. Give your clients maximum visual variety with expert insight into lens choice and learn which creative risks always pay off for standout portraits."
Paper Arts: "Whether you have gifts to wrap, a home to decorate or cards to send, Alton Dulaney, TV personality and 2008 Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper, will teach you how to create fun and easy paper crafting projects. You'll learn advanced gift-wrapping techniques, pop-up and greeting cards, paper flowers, book folding, entertaining with paper, paper decor and wallpaper projects. Turn everyday materials like old maps, books and brown paper bags into classy book covers, personalized cards and framed works of art."
40 Techniques Every Sewer Should Know: "The secret is in the details! Join instructor Gail Yellen as she shares her best tips and tricks to refine your sewing skills. With Gail's key finishing techniques, you will make garments that drape and lay beautifully. Learn to sew more efficiently, successfully and creatively as you create professional stitches, gorgeous bindings and tailored-looking buttonholes and zippers that will transform your garments from homemade to stylish. You’ll learn insider's tips for making set-in and flat-constructed sleeves that fit beautifully and add an elegant line to the shoulder."
Painting Realistic Watercolors: "Learn realist techniques every watercolorist should know! Join Mario Robinson as he shares the secrets to radiant watercolor works. Establish your subject’s light, middle and dark values with a tonal underdrawing. Learn proper techniques for stretching your paper to achieve a pristine surface. Create symmetrical features and mass big shapes using intuition to achieve a more natural appearance. Work through a monotone wash, explore water manipulation and work wet into wet for optical color mixing. Finally, build form and dimension into your watercolor with a special drybrush technique. Discover the keys to luminous, expressive watercolor paintings today!"
Cakes in Full Bloom: "Use modern design principles and cake artist Erin Gardner's smart techniques to create radiant, floral-inspired cakes. You'll make statement flowers like the open peony, honeycomb dahlia and trendy ranunculus, as well as fun fillers like billy balls, eucalyptus leaves and hellebore flowers. Then, decorate Erin's Confetti Cake, covering one tier with vibrant rainbow confetti and the other with an understated pattern of matte dots set against a shimmering background. Decorate the I Heart Cake with a top tier encrusted in gold sequins and a bottom tier of horizontal stripes with inset hearts. Bring the Monoglam Cake to life with a gilded topper, vertical stripes and a Swiss dot pattern of gilded bows. Complement enticing cake designs with vibrant sugar-flower arrangements that make an irresistible showpiece for any event."
Mixed Media: Pen, Ink & Watercolor: "Explore fun, approachable exercises with guidance from professional illustrator Matt Rota and discover the thrill of creating a composition and completing it with color, texture and contrast. Learn to use a pen and nib to create a variety of marks and line widths, each with its own visual language. Add the brush to create washes, tones, and drybrush textures, then add watercolor to the mix to lead the viewer’s eye into compelling atmospheric space. Master these fundamental techniques and more while you discover the secrets to successful still lifes, portraits and landscapes!"
