Fine art courses

You’ll learn how to create, analyse, and present your works of art. Expect to cover different artistic styles, as well as research practices and art history.

When you study fine art online, you’ll gain the practical skills to kickstart your creative career. Your new opportunities may include:

• Freelance artist

• Curator

• Arts administrator

• Art director

• Exhibition coordinator

• Graphic designer

• Art critic

Overwhelmed with choice? Our friendly student advisors are always up for a chat to help you find an online fine art course.

Most fine art courses you explore through Open University Australia can be completed 100% online.

There may be some options to combine online and on-campus study. When you browse fine art courses, select the ‘study method’ filter and match it to your preferences.

Assessments include essays, presentations, and portfolios. You could be making new artworks, or writing about the art you love. Online fine art degrees often include portfolio assessments, which means you’ll create and receive professional-level feedback on your art. You may also be tasked with writing a studio report, which gives you the chance to reflect on your creative process and the decisions you make in your work.

Explore fine art subject pages through Open Universities Australia to discover the types of assessment you’ll be submitting along the way.

Depending on the course, you may have the opportunity to showcase your artwork in a final presentation, or do professional work placement in your creative field. Read the course description to learn more about how your artwork will feature in your study journey.

Yes, and there are several ways to do it. Short fine art courses can boost your skills in a specific medium. If you’re after something bigger, look for a fine art degree that allows you to choose a major, and you could specialise in your favourite style while completing your qualification.

Yes. While some online fine art degrees offer subjects in illustration or digital design, you’ll also find courses dedicated to these practices. Feel free to widen your search from fine art degrees to graphic design courses, animation and visual design courses, and even film and TV courses!

No matter which course you choose, you’ll gain transferable skills to bring into almost any creative workplace.

Absolutely. Once you’ve completed your degree, you’ll have the freedom to pursue the career path that’s right for you.

As a freelance artist, you may continue to enjoy the same flexibility you experienced while studying your online fine art course. This means setting your own hours, and structuring your workday around your needs—and around those bursts of creative energy!

While both are focused on the fundamentals of art and design, it could be argued the main difference comes down to the medium and purpose of the art being created.

Visual arts can be centred on conceptual skills like photography, digital media, web design, sculpture, installation and more, while fine art embraces the idea of art for the pleasure of the viewer using mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics and print.

Both fine art and visual art help you communicate concepts and ideas artistically, to experiment with a variety of mediums, and to discover your niche while developing your personal art practice.