These past few years, more people spent time online than ever before.
Many artists and creatives combed the Internet to find an online art community in order to feel connected and sociable.
This example illustrates one of the major benefits that online art communities provide for individuals who are interested in art.
That’s why, in this article, I’m sharing useful information to help you learn about online art communities in 2025, including:
- Which platforms you can explore to find artist communities online
- How to find an active online artist community that suits your interests
- The benefits of belonging to and participating in an online art community
When you’re done reading, you’ll have an awesome list of art societies to explore in 2023!
Table of Contents
How to Find an Artist Community
So, you want to find an online art community.
But you think to yourself, “How do I find an artist community?”
The answer is quite simple: You need to first identify the kind of group that you’re looking for.
For instance, are you looking for a digital art community? A watercolour community? Or perhaps you’re interested in comics, animal drawings, or portraiture?
Whatever the case, you need to ask yourself a few questions:
- Am I looking for a general or a niche art community?
- Am I searching for a big platform or a lesser-known platform?
- Do I prefer consuming content in the form of images, videos, blog posts, or something else?
- Do I prefer the art community to share my specific artistic preferences, or am I open to all art mediums?
Once you’ve reflected upon these questions, consider your answers.
These answers will help you determine what kind of online art community you’re looking for in terms of its values and traits.
What’s more, if you’re looking for an art community to attend in person, simply Google “art community near me” to find instant results in your area.
Where Do Artists Hang Out Online?
Artists hang out in online art communities on the Internet. They flock to these communities to share their artwork, make friends, collaborate, network, and share their passion for art with like-minded folk.
However, the Internet is a gigantic web of interconnecting websites and links.
With all that information and data, it can feel overwhelming starting the search for your ideal online art community.
Luckily for you, I’ve curated a list of some of the most well-known and much-loved art communities on social media platforms so you can explore or join them.
So, let’s check them out!
1. Art Community on YouTube
The YouTube art community is massive.
You can find everything from acrylic art to watercolour art; from anime to comics; from realism to portraiture and much more.
You’ll find professional artists, hobbyists, experienced instructors, and casual art enthusiasts in all the different art sub-niches.
Several super popular art YouTubers include Drawingwiffwaffles, Jenna Rainey, and SuperRaeDizzle who all specialize in different areas of art.
Since YouTube is all about video, conversation, and community, it’s a wonderful place to learn from step-by-step tutorials and find new art supplies and product recommendations.
If you’re interested in learning how to improve your artwork, and you want to do so by connecting to a community of like-minded artists and creatives, then I encourage you to check out my YouTube channel!
2. Art Community on Instagram
Surely, you’ve heard of Instagram.
Instagram is one of the most popular social media websites where artists and creatives share their content, promote their brand, and sell their work online.
For instance, some artists that I admire and follow on Instagram include @rosies.sketchbook, @ydnacydnam, and @aurorabyz
Benefits include the fact that it’s a great place to meet talented artists, chat with community members, or even collaborate with artists.
It should be noted that Instagram is a very loud and crowded space. But if you’re looking for a kind and humble art community, then I encourage you to check out my art community on Instagram @mirandabalogh.art
3. Art Community on Pinterest
Despite what many people think, Pinterest is not an authentic social media platform in the same way as Instagram or Facebook.
But, in many ways, it shares similar qualities to traditional social media platforms even though it lacks a robust commenting and messaging system.
Instead, Pinterest is a great place where artists can find visual inspiration. After all, Pinterest is a visual search engine.
Pins, idea pins, and videos are chalk-full of information, tutorials, and inspiration. You can find all kinds of art ranging from painting to drawing; illustration to prints; calligraphy to photography.
Saving this content to your profile means that you can curate art boards for different topics, which makes this platform ideal for artists who are interested in Pinterest marketing.
Have a look at my Pinterest account below to see how my profile is organized and optimized to appeal to artists on Pinterest.
4. Art Community on Facebook
At first glance, you might not think of Facebook as an artistic and creative platform.
But make no mistake, there are plenty of online art communities on Facebook in the form of pages and groups.
There are many artist groups that are designed to be interactive online communities for artists. For example, here are two art groups that I’m part of:
- Coloring with Thaneeya – An art community for colouring enthusiasts (markers and coloured pencils)
- Makoccino – An art community for watercolour enthusiasts
Joining art groups online means that you are participating in a digital space where you can share artwork, ask questions, get constructive criticism, participate in challenges, and much more.
Just make sure you read the rules carefully because every group is administered by different people. The rules and expectations vary from group to group, so make sure you become familiar with them.
5. Art Community on ArtStation
Last but not least, lets talk about ArtStation.
ArtStation is tailored toward digital artists who want to display their artwork in a digital gallery or portfolio.
Whereas some of these other platforms I’ve mentioned resonate a more casual vibe, ArtStation presents itself as a professional platform for serious artists.
Common artworks include digital art, animation, and 2D or 3D art.
Since this art community has more of a tailored focus in terms of the kinds of art you can find here, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Especially if you are interested in broadening your artistic horizons.
Benefits of Online Art Communities
1. Community Combats Social Isolation
As I mentioned at the start of this article, arguably the most beneficial aspect of online art communities is their ability to provide a way for people to stay connected.
In 2020 and 2021, the global pandemic forced people away from their loved ones, friends, and family members for extended periods of time.
However, online art communities provided another way for people to stay connected and socially active even when they were not able to do so in person.
Therefore, online art communities are excellent for combating social isolation because belonging to a community cultivates feelings of social acceptance and belonging.
2. A Sense of Belonging
When you participate in an online art community, you feel a sense of belonging because you are interacting with a group of individuals who share your interests and, possibly, your values.
For example, if you love painting and you decide to join a group that appreciates all kinds of acrylic, watercolour, and oil artwork, you can share your mutual appreciation for that art medium.
As well, many art communities are made up of aspiring and successful self-taught artists. This dynamic is encouraging for those who never went to art school to receive formal art education.
With belonging comes similar emotions of acceptance, love, trust, and kinship.
In this way, it’s easy to see how art builds community.
3. You Can Make New Friends
Another benefit of online art communities is that it’s a wonderful way to make new friends—especially if you’re an introvert.
Due to the digital nature of the Internet, it can feel less overwhelming for some individuals to leave a comment online or to share an artwork than it would be in real life.
In other words, it can help reduce social anxiety.
So, online communities provide many opportunities for shy or quiet individuals who may feel more comfortable participating digitally rather than physically.
4. Awareness of New Art Supplies and Artists
Finally, the last major benefit of online art communities is the exposure you will get to amazing art supplies for drawing or even affordable art supplies for watercolour and other mediums.
You might discover a new set of paints or a new type of paper that you’ve never heard of before. And that might entice you to invest in that new product.
Even better, you might discover new artists whose artworks resonate with you. By following new artists and trying out new art supplies, you broaden your horizons and expand your knowledge of the art industry.
5. Feedback and Constructive Criticism
When you share your art online, you have the opportunity to receive feedback and criticism from your audience.
Now, this might sound scary to some people. But to others, this offers a great opportunity to get constructive criticism from other artists.
Artists who are more experienced or who work in a professional capacity can share their knowledge with you.
Getting tips, advice, and recommendations can be very helpful because this information will help you become a better artist.
And if you take that feedback to heart, you’re sure to improve your skills as well as the quality of your artwork.
6. Online Art Communities Are Free
To my knowledge, most art communities that you find online are free.
Sure, there might be a paid option for those who are interested in additional perks and benefits of their chosen community.
But for the rest of us, these online communities are free to join and participate in anytime, anyplace, and anywhere.
With easy accessibility, people from around the world can join an art community from the comfort of their smartphone, laptop, or tablet.
And best of all is the fact that you can learn so many new things from interacting with these communities.
For example, you can learn how to take flat lay photos of your artwork or you can learn about new drawing or painting techniques from other artists.
7. You Can Participate in Art Challenges
One of the coolest aspects of online art communities is the fact that so many fun and exciting art challenges are born within them.
An art challenge is a challenge in which artists limit their artwork to a specific medium, subject matter, or timeframe. The goal of an art challenge is to push the artist out of their comfort zone in order to test their artistic abilities.
You may have heard of several popular art challenges including Inktober, Huevember, and the “draw this in your style challenge.”
Whatever the case may be, new challenges are being created all the time. And when you belong to an art community, you’ll be among the first to hear about these latest trends.
Conclusion
As you can see, an online art community offers many positive benefits for those who are interested in art and creative activities.
The interconnectivity, sense of belonging, and social inclusion are benefits that help artists maintain good social and mental health.
For all these reasons, I highly recommend that you find at least 1 art community in the online space if you haven’t done so already.
There are so many awesome platforms and communities to explore, so I’m encourage you to find some that suit your interests and preferences.
Do you have a favourite online art community? Share your preference in the comments below!
Miranda Balogh
Artist & Online Educator
This was an amazing post! I loved it ✨
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
This is great information! I’m always looking for just the right art piece for my home. Thanks!
Thank you! Art communities are definitely great places to find artwork that you can use to decorate your home.
Amazing post. Everything about finding art community in one post!
That’s what I was aiming for, so I’m glad you thought this article was comprehensive. Thanks!
Love this! My cousin is an artist and I am sending this to her. I know it can be kind of hard to connect with other like-minded artists.
I’m sure your cousin will appreciate it!
I’ve always been into art and actually went to art school but never seem to find the time or motivation to create any new artwork. I never would have thought to join an art community. What a great idea! I’m sure I’ll be able to find some wonderful inspiration from them. Thanks for these suggestions!
That’s so cool that you went to art school! Maybe, by finding some inspiration within an online art community, you’ll find the motivation to create new artwork. Thanks for sharing your story!
I used to watch a lot of You Tube videos on art tutorials and really loved them. It’s definitely a great place to learn a new skill.
I agree with everything you’ve said. As a self-taught artist, those free YouTube art tutorials were indispensable for helping me develop my art skills, as I’m sure they were for you, too.
Ooh, thanks for these new art communities! I used to browse so much art on Deviant Art but stopped when I went into college. Wow! I didn’t know it was still around. Hahaha. Definitely want to check out ArtStation. I think it will be fun to participate in challenges!
Yep, DeviantArt is still around and fairly active, as far as I can tell. Have fun exploring ArtStation!
Thank you for sharing this! I’m not an artist myself but I always admired all the work and passion artists put in their creations. So I’m very excited to connect with them and see their art pieces.
It’s wonderful that you appreciate all the hard work artists put into their craft and creations even though you’re not one yourself. I’m sure the artists you connect with appreciate your support.
Thanks for sharing. So helpful
You’re welcome!
Great resource for artists! Finding your community is so important. No matter what your niche is.
Agreed! Community is an essential part of the human experience.
I’ve never heard of some of these! One of my goals for the summer is to create more art and these sound like great communities to find support and inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad that this article has exposed you to new online art communities. Have fun exploring them!
Very useful! Thank you 🙂
You’re welcome!
This is amazing! I am an artist, but I was not aware of art communities. Thank you for sharing!
As a fellow artist, I highly encourage you to check out some of these online art groups. They can be very educational, inspiring, and supportive.
You know, this makes so much sense, and seems so common sense, yet I completely didn’t know about any of these (other than Facebook communities). Thanks so much for sharing! I’ll have do do a deeper dive into more of these and get involved in them. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad that you’ve learned about these online art communities. There are many to choose from, so have fun finding one that suits your tastes and preferences!
Such a great resource to help artists find communities. I didnt realize Pinterest had an artist community
The art community on Pinterest is huge albeit different from the direct social connectivity of Instagram or YouTube. As such, it’s a great resource for visual art inspiration and step by step tutorials. So check it out when you have the time!
My 12 year old daughter is an amazing artist. I need to introduce her to an online community. She’s big into youtube right now!
The art community on YouTube is wonderful! There’s a niche for all the different artistic mediums, which makes YouTube an ideal platform to find an online community of like-minded artists.
So helpful. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Instagram is way too toxic..
It can be. But it also depends on the specific community that you’ve joined. There are many kind and welcoming art communities on Instagram. You just need to do a little research to find one that best suits your values and preferences.
You have a wonderful post.
Thank you,
Have a good day!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
I do hate to be a debbie downer in this situation but after being on deviantart for 11 years it has gone downhill from what it once was. They do nothing about stolen art unless the original artist comes forward and says something and they are doing nothing about AI generated art either being that AI generators pull things from various already existing pieces that people have actually created. There are more issues than what is listed.
That being said I truly appreciate the insight on other forms that I could possibly use and some of which I do use already! The information has been super helpful! Thank you!
Hi Linny! Thank you for pointing out the shortcomings of DeviantArt as a platform; I was not aware of those problems. I shall reconsider mentioning that platform on this list.
I don’t see Sketchclub, probably one of the best communities to learn digital sketching (on iPad and iPhone). Great tools (for beginner and advanced), for simple line drawing but also beautiful paintings, daily challenges and weekly compos (and award ceremonies), forum, chat, whiteboard (collab sketching), live streaming, recording, and much more. The community is overal positive and willing to help others.
Tracing and image loads will show up in the sketch stats to discourage ‘cheating’ (in the end this will improve your drawing skills).
If you own an iPad (Pro) and an Apple Pencil, than this app is one to check out 👍
I’ve never heard of Sketchclub, so thank you for doing such a thorough job explaining the platform. I’m sure our readers appreciate the information!
The use of high-quality images, innovative navigation, and carefully chosen color palettes can make a significant difference in how I perceive and engage with the artwork.
Thank you for sharing your perspective!
Hi, all. This is an excellent article and I’m very happy I came across it. I wanted to share the arts community I am involved with – it’s called ArtsKeeper.org. We have many services available to help artists build community, get promoted and collaborate and make money. Check it out!
Thank you for sharing!
This is a nice list. I think what artist Carol Marine is doing at DailyPaintWorks.com is pretty awesome, too. She’s inspiring artists to paint every single day and then sell their work online. I’m blown away at the amount of artwork some of these artists are producing and selling. Worth an honorable mention!
Thank you for sharing the suggestion! I’ve never heard of her, so I’ll check her out.
DeviantArt is not the best example for an online art community now. While your list is good overall, it’s clear that no one told you what happened to DA in the last few years. Due to decreasing popularity & disastrous format changes (particularly the last one), a great many members either shut their accounts down there or just stopped posting work & fled to other sites. These days at least half of DA is an online ghost town; the rest of it is mostly inhabited by fetish artists & producers of badly drawn smut.
Newgrounds has been around for years. It’s not just for art–game producers & digital musicians hang out on there too–but its art communities are thriving. I’ve been a member there for a few months now. Other than current technical difficulties logging in, I’ve been posting my work there & have had a good time overall.
Thank you for bringing DeviantArt to my attention! It’s such a shame what has happened to that art community. I’ve updated this article, so thank you for providing me with that info!
Tks for sharing, but Ello its offline (2023)
Thank you for letting me know! I will update this blog post.