Art Explora Academy vs Ctrl+Paint

Art Explora Academy is a free online platform for learning about art history and checking knowledge through quizzes. Its catalogue contains 11 thematic courses, each taking less than an hour, and the service is available on web, Android and iOS. A free account is required to access all content. Each course ends with a 12-question quiz, and at least 10 correct answers are needed to validate it. Completing all 11 courses leads to a certificate validated by Sorbonne University, though downloading or sharing the certificate requires a donation of at least €5. Learners can also explore videos, articles and podcasts in the media library. The platform includes progress tracking and offline access, and the maker’s site announces a mobile app. The Impressionist Adventure course was made in partnership with the Musée d’Orsay. Art Explora says it will not sell, rent, exchange or give away personal information; its privacy policy says site data is hosted and processed exclusively in France and that SSL secures exchanges with the site.

Ctrl+Paint is a web-based learning resource for digital painting basics, taught through short videos. Its free library contains hundreds of videos described as five minutes long, arranged from introductory topics toward more advanced ones. Lessons cover drawing, composition, reference, Photoshop tools, painting techniques, color, masking, and vector tools. The library page says new free videos are released every Tuesday and Thursday. For practice, the Concept Art Playbook offers visual problem-solving challenges modeled on game-industry work, which learners can follow at their own pace. The free library has no ads or subscription fees. Individual premium series cost $10.00 per once and cover beginner-to-intermediate topics. The Digital Painting Starter Kit costs $55.00 per once and includes six video series, 362 minutes of video, worksheets, line art, and PSD files. Premium purchases are followed by an automated email with download instructions and a link. A stylus is needed because pressure sensitivity is essential to the taught techniques; Wacom tablets are recommended. The creator says the site does not offer personal tutoring or portfolio reviews.