Art Hub Guide: Who Runs Art for Kids Hub and Is It Free

That’s the magic behind Art for Kids Hub, a YouTube channel and website that has been teaching kids to draw since 2012 with over 8 million subscribers and 3,000+ free lessons. This guide explains who runs this family-run project, whether it’s really free, and how you can start drawing today.

YouTube subscribers: 8 million+ ·
Total drawing lessons: 3,000+ ·
Year launched: 2012 ·
Membership cost: $9.99/month

Seven key facts about Art for Kids Hub, one pattern: the channel blends a massive free library with a modest paid upgrade that parents and classrooms find compelling.

What is an art hub?

When people search “art hub,” they usually land on Art for Kids Hub, a YouTube channel and website offering free step-by-step drawing lessons. Founded by Rob Jensen in 2012, the hub has grown to over 8 million subscribers on YouTube (YouTube (channel page)). The lessons are created by Rob and his family, making each video feel like a collaborative art session rather than a formal tutorial.

How Art for Kids Hub became the leading online drawing resource

• The channel publishes a new lesson each weekday (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Lessons are self-contained — no order required (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• The intended audience is kids aged five to thirteen (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• The library includes everything from cupcakes to sharks (Art for Kids Hub (lesson library)).

The pattern: consistency and variety. By uploading fresh content every weekday and covering wildly different subjects, the channel keeps kids coming back. The implication: for a parent, Art for Kids Hub replaces the need to plan art activities — the lessons are already scheduled and sorted.

The catch: the free tier’s ad‑supported model means occasional interruptions, but the value remains high for casual users.

What sets Art Hub apart from other drawing channels

• Real family involvement — Rob, Olivia, Hadley, Jack, and Austin all appear (PopSugar (lifestyle publication)).
• The website offers a more focused browsing experience than YouTube, with search and themed playlists (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Lessons are designed to be used with supplies already at home or in a classroom (YouTube (lesson video description)).

Who runs Art for Kids Hub?

The channel is a family enterprise. Rob Jensen is the founder and primary drawing teacher, and he appears alongside his four children: Olivia, Hadley, Jack, and Austin (PopSugar (lifestyle publication)). Each family member contributes to the lessons, making the brand feel personal and relatable.

Rob Jensen – the father and main instructor

• Rob Jensen is the founder and primary drawing teacher (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• He started the channel in 2012 (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Rob narrates each step-by-step lesson, providing clear instructions at a kid-friendly pace (YouTube (lesson video)).

Olivia, Hadley, and the other kids in the family

• Olivia is the oldest; Hadley is the second oldest (YouTube (channel page)).
• Younger siblings Jack and Austin appear in many lessons, though their exact ages are not publicly stated (PopSugar (lifestyle publication)).
• Each child brings their own drawing style, which adds variety to the tutorials.

How the family contributes to the channel

• Lessons often feature a parent-child pair drawing side by side, showing the real process of learning together.
• The family picks fresh videos every Monday based on seasonality, holidays, and what families may like (YouTube (channel page)).
• The channel’s tagline — “We’re a family of artists who love to draw together” — reinforces the collaborative spirit.

The catch: because the family shares so much of their lives, the channel works as much as a reality show as a drawing class. For parents, that authenticity is a selling point; for children, it makes the instructors feel like friends.

Is Art Hub free?

Yes — and no. All drawing lessons are available for free on YouTube, and the website is ad-supported to keep it free for everyone (Art for Kids Hub (official website)). But a premium membership unlocks additional features.

Free content on YouTube

• Thousands of free lessons are uploaded every week (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Lessons can be accessed without an account.
• The YouTube channel is ad-supported, which covers the cost of free access.

Membership perks on ArtForKidsHub.com and ArtForKidsHub.tv

• Premium membership offers ad-free videos, early access, and downloadable PDFs (Art for Kids Hub TV (premium service)).
• Membership costs $9.99/month or $89.99/year (Art for Kids Hub TV (premium service)).
• A 7-day free trial is available (Art for Kids Hub TV (premium service)).
• Curated playlists by theme and age are included (Art for Kids Hub TV (premium service)).

Comparison of free vs. paid access

Three differences, one pattern: the paid tier removes friction — ads, downloading, and curation — while the free tier remains generous enough for most families.

The trade-off: for a family that watches one or two lessons a week, the free tier is perfectly adequate. Heavy users or classrooms who want offline access and no ads will find the $9.99/month plan reasonable.

The pattern: Art for Kids Hub deliberately keeps the free option robust so that cost never becomes a barrier to creative learning.

What is the 80/20 rule for artists?

This principle, also known as the Pareto principle, states that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)). In art, it means that focusing on the most impactful techniques — the 20% — can produce the majority of the visual result.

Origins of the Pareto principle in art creation

• The concept originated with economist Vilfredo Pareto in 1906 (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
• Artists have adapted it to prioritize composition, color theory, and line work over minor details.
• The principle is widely used in productivity and creative fields to avoid overpolishing (Investopedia (financial education site)).

Practical tips for applying the 80/20 rule to your own art

• Identify the 20% of skills that make the biggest difference — for beginners, that often means shapes and proportions.
• Spend less time on hyper-detailed shading and more on strong outlines and expression.
• Use the rule to overcome perfectionism: if a drawing looks 80% complete, it’s often good enough to move on.

The implication: for a child learning to draw, the 80/20 rule is liberating. They don’t need to master every technique — just the core ones that make their drawings recognizable and fun.

How can you learn to draw with Art Hub?

Getting started is straightforward. The channel and website are designed to be self-service, with no prerequisites or login required for free content.

Getting started: accessing free lessons

• Visit the YouTube channel or ArtForKidsHub.com to browse lessons (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Lessons are organized by theme, difficulty, and season (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Each video includes step-by-step narration by Rob, making it easy to follow along (YouTube (lesson video)).
• No need to watch in order — pick any lesson that interests you (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).

1. Visit Art for Kids Hub on YouTube or their website.
2. Select a lesson that matches your child’s interest (animals, holidays, characters).
3. Watch the step-by-step video with Rob and follow along using basic supplies (paper, pencil, markers).
4. Practice the drawing at your own pace, pausing the video as needed.
5. Repeat with a new lesson each weekday — or subscribe to the membership for curated playlists and downloadable PDFs.

Step-by-step example: drawing a simple animal

One of the most popular tutorials is drawing a cute shark. The lesson starts with a simple oval for the body, adds a triangle for the fin, and builds up details step by step. Rob narrates each line, often pausing to let kids catch up. The entire video takes about 15 minutes, and the result is a recognizable, satisfying drawing.

Advanced techniques on Art Hub Plus

• Art Hub Plus offers longer, more detailed tutorials (Art for Kids Hub TV (premium service)).
• Members get access to exclusive lessons that go beyond the basics, such as perspective and shading.
• The official app is available on Apple, Android, Roku, and more (YouTube (2026 video description)).

The takeaway: the free tier is enough for casual learning, but the premium tier adds structure and depth for children who want to progress beyond simple step-by-step drawings.

Confirmed facts

• Rob Jensen is the father and main instructor (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Olivia and Hadley are the oldest two children (YouTube (channel page)).
• Art for Kids Hub started in 2012 (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Free lessons are available on YouTube (Art for Kids Hub (official website)).
• Membership costs $9.99 per month (Art for Kids Hub TV (premium service)).

What’s unclear

• Exact ages of younger children (Jack and Austin) are not publicly stated (PopSugar (lifestyle publication)).
• Exact date of channel launch is not widely published.
• The total number of free lessons on YouTube versus the website is not separately disclosed.
• Detailed monetization figures for the channel are not publicly shared.
• The children’s ages are not regularly updated on the channel’s biography.

“We’re a family of artists who love to draw together. Our goal is to make art fun and accessible for every kid.”

— Rob Jensen, via the Art for Kids Hub about page (Art for Kids Hub (official website))

“The membership is a safe, ad-free space for families and classrooms. It’s designed so parents can let their kids explore without worrying about what they’ll see.”

— Art for Kids Hub team, in a 2026 YouTube video description (YouTube (2026 video description))

Art for Kids Hub has built something rare: a free, high-quality drawing resource that respects both children’s creativity and parents’ desire for safe, structured content. For a family in the United States searching for a reliable, low-cost way to introduce their kids to drawing, the choice is clear: start with the free YouTube channel, and if the ads become a distraction, the $9.99/month membership is a small price for a distraction-free experience.

For a deeper look at the free drawing lessons and how the channel operates, check out this Art Hub drawing lessons guide.

Frequently asked questions