One of my favorite creative resources is Skillshare, the online learning platform that offers classes on a wide range of subjects from photography to marketing to design to cooking. I've mentioned my love for the site before, but since I last mentioned it, I've participated in several more of their classes, which I wanted to review today. This is totally not sponsored—I just enjoy the site. Learning and Creativity are two of my eight core values, so when I find a site that combines the two, I'm basically destined to love it. I think Skillshare is an awesome way for beginners to get a basic introduction to new topics and for more experienced creative people to learn new tricks and techniques (and if you are someone with kick-ass creative skills already, you could teach a class on the site and earn a little side income!).
There are usually around 6-12 video lessons in each course, as well as a class assignment where the teacher asks you to apply the principles of the class to a project that you share on a course message board. An example of an assignment for the "Ins & Outs of Illustrator" class is shown below, where we practiced Illustrator techniques by replicating an existing advertisement (note: original poster is not my own and was used for non-commercial, personal education purposes only).
I love that Skillshare membership is now structured so you pay for monthly access, much like Netflix streaming, instead of paying per class. I think it's definitely worth the cost, particularly if you binge on classes like I tend to do, or if you select one of the Skillshare learning tracks like "Build Your Brand" or "Unlocking Your Creativity." Since most classes tend to be only about an hour in total length, I wouldn't say that you'll come away with a staggering amount of new knowledge, but I'm consistently surprised by the tips and tricks I pick up on through the courses. I love that the short videos allow you to squeeze in a lesson whenever you have a free few minutes.
Here are the classes I've taken, along with some mini-reviews. I've divided them into two lists; the first section is the classes I'd highly recommend, and the second is ones that I got a little bit less value from, though I'd still check them out if you are interested in the topics. For a preview of the class contents, just click on the title of the course and you should be able to watch the first video for each class. If you're interesting in taking a few classes and getting your first month free, please feel free to use my referral link here!
CLASSES I ENJOYED
Mobile Post Production: Editing Your Photos by Dan Rubin - This was a quick, awesome class on iPhone photography taught by one of Instagram's original beta testers. It mostly focused on the editing of photos, and I learned how to better use many apps I already had on my phone (like Snapseed and VSCO). I feel my iPhone photos have gotten a lot better and more clear since going through this class.
Crafting a Brand Identity by Courtney Eliseo - This class is all about expanding a brand logo into a full brand identity including color palettes, fonts, and supporting graphics/patterns. I think this class would be invaluable to any blogger who desires a consistent identity or "look" for their blog without having to hire a designer. I found this class more in depth than many others I've taken on Skillshare. I think it would be best to take this class with a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop—which, if you don't have, you can get through another Skillshare class! :)
The First Steps of Hand Lettering by Mary Kate McDevitt - Mary Kate's hand lettering is everywhere, and I was so excited to sign up for a class from her. The most valuable part of the class for me wasn't necessarily her teachings on hand-lettering but seeing how her process worked. It's easy for me to assume artists get it right straight out of the pencil/brush, but Mary Kate made it feel normal to sketch things out and erase/redraw/erase/redraw. My class project still isn't finished, but I feel so much better about the quote I lettered I expected to when I started the class. She also offers a follow-up to this class that deals with adding color and texture to complete your illustrated quote.
Ins and Outs of Illustrator by Brad Woodward - This was my very first Skillshare class, which I signed up for because Illustrator is my weak spot of the Adobe programs. Brad didn't always seem like the most confident teacher and the video quality was sometimes lacking, but his lessons were good. The above image (on the right) is my version of the class assignment, and although it's not done yet, it was a good exercise for me to learn some new techniques. I need to go back over the final lessons on texture and patterns. He also offers lots of advanced Illustrator classes.
Pattern Design: Creating Inspiring Repeats by Elizabeth Olwen - This class is about creating repeating surface pattern designs that you might find on fabric or products like phone cases. I've always wondered how to create a repeating design, and this class definitely helped me see how it worked. It was also cool to see how Elizabeth took a hand-drawn design and digitized it. You'd definitely need a working knowledge of Illustrator for this class. The video quality and instruction is very good, though Elizabeth's voice/inflection grated on my nerves a little (I know that's a petty complaint).
CLASSES I DIDN'T ENJOY AS MUCH
Lifestyle Photography: Capturing Food, Flavors, Conversation by Marte Marie Forsberg - I took this one because I like Marte's IG feed, but I didn't find much value in the course. It was interesting to see her in action setting up her shots though.
Food Photography: Capturing a Morning Worth Eating by Adam Goldberg - This class showed me that some serious Instagrammers art direct the shit out of their friends, and I just found that so ridiculous and annoying. But, there were a few good tips to be found, particularly about lighting. But I draw the line at making my friends act as models.
Introduction to the Art of Modern Calligraphy by Molly Jacques - Molly's calligraphy style is pretty iconic, and I'd really been excited to take her class. However, her videos were the worst out of all the Skillshare classes I've taken in terms of video quality, production and camera angles. I didn't get much out of this class at all. Disappointing.
CLASSES I PLAN TO TAKE NEXT
Creative Self Portraits: Going Beyond The Selfie by Lindsay Crandall - I really enjoy faceless portraits, so this class seems perfect for me.
Interior Styling: Style Your Space Like a Pro by Justina Blackeney - I love love love interior design, and I've been sort of obsessed with finding my signature style lately.
Intro to Surface Pattern Design by Bonnie Christine - The content looks similar to Elizabeth Olwen's class above, but I've followed Bonnie's blog Going Home To Roost for a long time and would love to take her class. It's also one of the longer Skillshare classes I've seen at over 3.5 hours in course content—I bet it's a good bang for your buck!
Creative Non-Fiction by Susan Orlean - I've yet to take a writing class through Skillshare, and starting with one taught by a notable author seems like a great opportunity!
If you have any questions about Skillshare, let me know! Have you taken any other online classes? I'd love to hear about ones you've enjoyed!
