It's a late afternoon, and the quiet hum of creativity fills a small corner of a home. A canvas waits on the table. Brushes nearby, and on a laptop screen, the gentle voice of an artist begins to guide the first brushstroke.
That is Creativebug, a digital art and crafting platform available for free with an Ottawa Public Library card. It offers a wide range of creative tutorials from sewing to printmaking, but it's the painting session that feels like stepping into a personal art studio.
With hundreds of on-demand video classes, Creativebug’s painting collection offers something for everyone, from absolute beginners to experienced artists looking to explore a technique. Watercolors, acrylic, mixed media—it's all there thoughtfully broken down into step-by-step lessons taught by practicing artists who know how to make creativity feel approachable.
One of the best features? The pace. There's no rushing you can pause, rewind, and replay until you feel ready to move forward. You can follow a single session or commit to a longer course that deepens your skills over several days. Some classes even come with printables, and materials lists to make it easier to dive in with confidence.
It’s more than just instruction, it’s inspiration. Instructors often share their personal tips and stories about what a certain brush means to them, or why a mistake might actually lead to a better painting. There’s a sense of warmth and encouragement in every video that mirrors the kind of calm you’d hope to find in a community art class.
And the best part? None of it costs a cent. As long as you have a library card with Ottawa Public Library, you have unlimited access to Creative bug's full catalogue painting included. It's creativity without having to pay and learning without the pressure.
So, whether it's a rainy-day project, a new hobby, or just a quiet moment to reconnect with your artistic side, Creativebug is ready when you are brush in hand, colors waiting.