Skillshare’s Monthly Class Picks: August 2025

August is here, and we’re deep in the middle of summer warmth and, hopefully, relaxation. Ready to take on some new projects or perfect a new skill?

We’ve gathered Skillshare’s top picks for the month, and they include activities you can do inside (with the AC cranked) or outdoors with a cool drink. So find a spot in the shade and get ready for your next creative adventure!

1. Sketchbook Play! Easy Mindset Shifts to Draw & Paint Freely and Frequently

Open sketchbook with pages featuring painted red fruits, including cherries, strawberries and grapes and their leaves, against a painted black background — A sketchbook practice allows you to create whatever you’re feeling that day, from cute, bright animals to dark, sensuous fruit.

If you struggle with consistency and imposter syndrome when it comes to making art, this is the class for you. Learn to overcome your inner critic and establish a sketchbook practice that’s fun and works toward your personal creative goals.

Taught By

Yasmina Creates is an ink and watercolor artist who loves to share a passion for creating with others. Yasmina has published an original coloring book and offers classes on watercolor, drawing basics and calligraphy.

Why It’s Special

This class is about building your own practice and enjoying it–two essential aspects of being an artist. If you’re aiming to create your masterpiece, this is a fabulous first step toward finding your groove and unique style.

What Students Say

“I LOVED THIS CLASS! It's actually the first class I've taken from Yasmina -- I will definitely take more. I am so inspired to pull out my many unfinished sketchbooks and get going in them. What she says about the inner critic is soooooo true. I've been battling that ugly sucker all my life! Thanks so much for this wonderful class!” -Mariama Ross

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2. Landscape Fundamentals - Confident and Colorful Landscape Series

Sketchbook open to a rural barn landscape painting, surrounded by a digital photo of the same scene, various art materials and the artist's hands — Learn the basics of capturing and recreating landscapes through photography, sketch and experimentation.

From finding and photographing landscapes to translating them into a unique painting with depth, this class will empower your landscape painting skills. You’ll focus on the fundamentals, rather than the finished project, as a foundation for future painting classes.

Taught By

Suzanne Allard is a floral, landscape and abstract art teacher who likes to create relaxed environments for you to explore ideas. Suzanne encourages playful experimentation while also teaching specific techniques for a full creative experience.

Why It’s Special

This class provides the fundamentals of landscape painting without the pressure of a final project to display. While you can certainly use what you learn here to create a final painting, the idea is to focus on the foundation of your craft.

What Students Say

“DON'T Skip this class! I wasn't going to take it. I eagerly went to watch one of her painting classes instead. When I heard her say "stop, go back and watch this", I thought, "no, thanks". Then I thought, well maybe. So I did it and I learned a ton. I am really enjoying her teaching style. Thank you for sharing and for another great class!” -L.C.

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3. Learn Video Editing With Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners (2025)

With this beginner tutorial, you’ll soon be happily creating and editing videos at a professional level.

Learn the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro professional video editing with techniques, text and graphics, video effects, transitions and more. With this entertaining alternative to manuals and lengthy explanations, you’ll soon be creating animations, mixing music and color correcting your videos.

Taught By

Jordy Vandeput is a filmmaker and YouTuber who publishes weekly filmmaking tutorials on his channel. Jordy uses his filmmaking degree to challenge the way his craft has traditionally been taught, and offers classes on digital platforms as well as career development.

Why It’s Special

This class is designed for beginners and those who don’t want to spend ages deciphering manuals. Between the entertaining teacher and the provided files and assets, you’ll forget it’s a class and be astounded by what you learn.

What Students Say

“This course was sick. Premiere Pro isn't as complicated as I'd initially imagined. Good to cover the basics. Now I've got a context for applying things I learn from YouTube videos.” -Thomas Lekhanya

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4. Blender Essentials - 3D Modeling Training Course

A small marionette dances on a stage lit by candles and a spotlight–behind it is the marionettist with his fingers holding the puppet strings. — Blender might seem overwhelming at first, but this class will give you the confidence to dive into all it has to offer.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed trying to get started with Blender, this class is for you. You’ll learn to navigate the interface, model clean 3D objects, create realism with liquid, glass and other materials, work with lighting and rendering, develop branding and design and animate a 3D character. You’ll also have a foundation for your growing portfolio.

Taught By

Daniel Scott is a digital designer and Adobe-certified trainer who’s passionate about teaching and helping others make the most of Adobe’s platforms. With a background in media design and content creation, Daniel understands the various aspects of running a business and ensuring your programs provide precisely what you need.

Robin Ruud specializes in 3D graphic design for branding, products, marketing assets and animation. He teamed up with Daniel Scott in 2025 to create this course.

Why It’s Special

This class is specifically meant for those who’ve found Blender too complicated. While it will also speak to those with some 3D modeling experience, it will walk you from downloading Blender to exporting high-quality work and adding it to your portfolio.

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5. Surface Pattern Design Fundamentals

Open Adobe Illustrator project designing a surface pattern of florals, leaves and birds in various shades of green, blue, pink, orange and brown against a dark background

You’ll learn all the basics of surface design, from moodboarding and color palette selection to sketching out and digitizing ideas to repeating a basic pattern that could go on to be licensed and printed on various items.

Taught By

Mel Armstrong is an illustrator and surface pattern designer from New Zealand. She’s collaborated with companies including Harper Collins, Hallmark, Scholastic UK and others, and brings that experience to her personal projects and the classes she leads.

Why It’s Special

This class teaches surface design, but in a way that shows you how to turn it into a career. Designing at a professional level involves steps that personal endeavors do not, and the goal is to help you reach a point where you can sell the beautiful surface designs you create.

What Students Say

“This class was exactly what I was looking for! I am switching my profession from Brand Design to Surface Pattern Design/Textiles and this is exactly what I needed to help me understand building out a repeating pattern in Adobe Illustrator. I found it especially helpful to watch the process of organizing the pattern across the board and was mesmerized by the way Mel filled in all the empty spaces to make a beautiful, cohesive pattern! I was able to take Mel's instructions and easily test a repeating pattern in Illustrator in about 10 minutes! I highly recommend this class!” -Kelly Gibbs

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Your Creativity Is Heating Up!

Beat the heat with new ideas and skills you can practice in the cool shade, without breaking a sweat. And check back in a few weeks–we’ll be back next month with another roundup of Shillshare’s top class picks!

Written By

Katie Mitchell

Katie lives in Michigan with her husband, kids and pets. She enjoys cooking, travel and live music.