Best Websites and YouTube Channels for Learning AI Art and Video Generation

The AI art space moves so fast that yesterday's tutorials are often obsolete. Finding reliable, up-to-date learning resources is genuinely difficult. After two years of learning and teaching AI generation myself, I've compiled the resources that actually help, not just content farm tutorials that waste your time.

Quick Answer: The best AI learning resources combine technical depth with practical application. For YouTube, Olivio Sarikas, Sebastian Kamph, and Aitrepreneur offer consistent quality. For written tutorials, Apatero Blog, Stable Diffusion Art, and the official ComfyUI documentation are essential. Discord servers like the ComfyUI and Civitai communities provide real-time help.

YouTube Channels Worth Following

YouTube is where most people start learning AI generation. But quality varies wildly. These channels consistently deliver useful content.

Olivio Sarikas

Focus: Stable Diffusion, ComfyUI, advanced techniques Why follow: Deep technical understanding combined with clear explanations. Olivio doesn't just show you what buttons to click. He explains why things work.

Best for:

• Understanding model architectures
• Advanced ComfyUI workflows
• Technical deep dives

Standout content: His ControlNet series and architecture explanation videos.

Sebastian Kamph

Focus: ComfyUI workflows, practical tutorials Why follow: Extremely practical, workflow-focused content. Sebastian builds workflows step-by-step so you understand every node.

Best for:

• ComfyUI beginners to intermediate
• Building production workflows
• Following along with hands-on tutorials

Standout content: ComfyUI fundamentals series, workflow building tutorials.

Aitrepreneur

Focus: AI tools overview, getting started guides Why follow: Excellent at making complex topics accessible. Great for beginners who feel overwhelmed.

Best for:

• Beginners getting started
• Overview of new tools and models
• Understanding the AI landscape

Standout content: Tool comparison videos, beginner guides.

Nerdy Rodent

Focus: Stable Diffusion, experimental techniques Why follow: One of the original SD educators. Deep historical knowledge and experimental approach.

Best for:

• Historical context on SD development
• Experimental techniques
• Understanding why things work

Standout content: Model training guides, technical explainers.

Scott Detweiler

Focus: ComfyUI, advanced workflows Why follow: Very technical, detailed explanations. Doesn't simplify to the point of losing information.

Best for:

• Advanced ComfyUI users
• Complex multi-model workflows
• Production-level setups

Standout content: Complex workflow breakdowns.

Pixverse AI

Focus: AI video generation, animation Why follow: Focused specifically on video generation, which many channels ignore.

Best for:

• Video generation techniques
• Animation workflows
• Keeping up with video model releases

Standout content: Video model comparisons, animation tutorials.

Prompt Muse

Focus: Prompting techniques, artistic application Why follow: Focuses on the creative side, not just technical. Good for understanding how to get the results you want.

Best for:

• Improving prompting skills
• Artistic direction
• Style development

Standout content: Prompting deep dives, style guides.

Websites and Blogs

Mix YouTube tutorials with written guides for the most effective learning

Written content remains essential. You can't reference a YouTube video easily while working. These sites provide searchable, detailed guides.

Apatero Blog

URL: apatero.com/blog

Focus: AI image and video generation tutorials, model comparisons, workflow guides

Why use: In-depth technical guides that go beyond surface-level tutorials. The blog covers ComfyUI workflows, LoRA training, AI influencer creation, and video generation with models like LTX-2 and Wan 2.2.

Best for:

• Comprehensive workflow guides
• AI video generation tutorials
• LoRA training and character creation
• Model comparison articles

Standout content: The LTX-2 complete guide, Wan 2.2 tutorials, and AI influencer creation series.

Stable Diffusion Art

URL: stable-diffusion-art.com

Focus: Stable Diffusion techniques, prompting, models

Why use: Thorough written guides with visual examples. Andrew covers topics systematically.

Best for:

• Prompting fundamentals
• Model understanding
• SD-specific techniques

Standout content: Prompting guides, model comparison articles.

ComfyUI Documentation

URL: docs.comfy.org

Focus: Official ComfyUI documentation

Why use: The authoritative source for ComfyUI. Often overlooked but essential for understanding node behavior.

Best for:

• Understanding specific nodes
• Troubleshooting errors
• Learning ComfyUI fundamentals

Standout content: Node reference, getting started guides.

Hugging Face Blog

URL: huggingface.co/blog

Focus: Model releases, technical papers, tutorials

Why use: First-hand information about new models and techniques directly from the source.

Best for:

• New model announcements
• Technical understanding
• Research-level insights

Standout content: Model release posts, diffusers tutorials.

Civitai Guides

URL: civitai.com/articles

Focus: Community tutorials, model-specific guides

Why use: Community-written guides often cover niche topics that larger channels skip.

Best for:

• Model-specific tutorials
• LoRA usage guides
• Community techniques

Standout content: Model-specific tutorials, workflow guides.

RunwayML Academy

URL: academy.runwayml.com

Focus: AI filmmaking, video generation

Why use: Professional-grade tutorials focused on creative application.

Best for:

• Creative direction
• Video generation fundamentals
• Professional workflows

Standout content: Filmmaking with AI courses.

Discord Communities

Community platforms provide real-time help and advanced tips from experienced users

Discord is where real-time learning happens. Questions get answered in minutes, not days.

ComfyUI Discord

Why join: Direct access to developers and advanced users. The fastest way to solve ComfyUI problems.

Best for:

• Troubleshooting errors
• Learning about new nodes
• Advanced workflow help

Active channels: #help, #workflow-sharing, #announcements

Civitai Discord

Why join: Massive community with diverse expertise. Good for model-specific questions.

Best for:

• Model recommendations
• LoRA help
• General SD questions

Active channels: #help, #showcase, #model-discussion

Stability AI Discord

Why join: Official Stability community. Good for SDXL and official model questions.

Best for:

• Official model support
• API questions
• Company announcements

AUTOMATIC1111 Discord

Why join: The WebUI community. Essential if you use A1111.

Best for:

• WebUI troubleshooting
• Extension help
• SD fundamentals

Flux Discord

Why join: Dedicated Flux community. Essential for Flux users.

Best for:

• Flux-specific techniques
• Model updates
• Advanced Flux workflows

Reddit Communities

Reddit offers searchable archives of questions and discussions.

r/StableDiffusion

Subscribers: 500K+

Why follow: The largest SD community. New releases, techniques, and discussions.

Best for:

• News and announcements
• Community discoveries
• Broad discussions

Sort by: Hot for news, Top for best content

r/comfyui

Subscribers: Growing rapidly

Why follow: ComfyUI-specific content, workflow sharing, and troubleshooting.

Best for:

• ComfyUI workflows
• Node discussions
• Troubleshooting

r/sdforall

Why follow: More beginner-friendly than the main SD subreddit.

Best for:

• Beginner questions
• Getting started help
• Less technical discussions

r/AIVideo

Why follow: Focused on video generation specifically.

Best for:

• Video generation news
• Model comparisons
• Video techniques

Paid Courses and Resources

Free content is abundant, but paid courses offer structured learning paths.

Worth Considering

Udemy AI Art Courses:

• Search for courses with recent updates (2024-2025)
• Check reviews for practical applicability
• Avoid outdated DALL-E or early SD courses

Skillshare AI Classes:

• Good for creative application
• Less technical depth
• Free trial available

Patreon Creators:

• Many YouTubers offer exclusive tutorials
• Often includes direct support
• Varies by creator quality

What to Avoid

• Courses older than 6 months (likely outdated)
• Courses promising "secrets" or "hacks"
• Expensive courses ($200+) when free content covers the same material
• Courses focused on specific models that may become obsolete

Building Your Learning Path

Different goals require different resources.

For Complete Beginners

Week 1-2:

1. Watch Aitrepreneur's beginner overview videos
2. Follow ComfyUI getting started documentation
3. Join ComfyUI Discord

Week 3-4:

1. Follow Sebastian Kamph's ComfyUI fundamentals
2. Read Apatero's workflow guides
3. Start experimenting with basic generation

Month 2+:

1. Move to Olivio Sarikas for deeper understanding
2. Explore specific techniques based on interest
3. Join specialized communities

For Intermediate Users

Focus areas:

1. Advanced ComfyUI workflows (Scott Detweiler)
2. LoRA training (Nerdy Rodent, Apatero guides)
3. Video generation (Pixverse AI, LTX-2 guides)

Community engagement:

• Ask questions in Discord
• Share your workflows
• Help beginners (teaching reinforces learning)

For Video Generation

Primary resources:

1. Apatero blog for LTX-2 and Wan guides
2. Pixverse AI YouTube
3. AI video-specific Discord channels

Key topics:

• Model differences (LTX-2 vs Wan vs Runway)
• Workflow construction
• Post-processing techniques

For AI Influencer Creation

Primary resources:

1. Apatero blog AI influencer series
2. LoRA training guides (multiple sources)
3. Platform-specific tutorials (Fanvue, etc.)

Key topics:

• Character consistency
• Content production workflows
• Monetization platforms

Evaluating Resource Quality

Not all tutorials are equal. Here's how to identify quality content.

Green Flags

• Explains WHY, not just WHAT
• Acknowledges limitations and tradeoffs
• Updated within the last 6 months
• Shows actual results, not cherry-picked examples
• Includes troubleshooting information

Red Flags

• Promises unrealistic results
• Heavily relies on clickbait titles
• No dates or version information
• Just reads documentation without adding value
• Pushes paid products aggressively

Testing Resource Quality

Before investing time in a series:

1. Watch/read one piece of content
2. Try to replicate the results
3. Check if the explanation helped you understand, not just copy
4. Verify information against other sources

Keeping Up with Changes

The AI space changes weekly. Here's how to stay current.

Daily Check-ins

• Reddit r/StableDiffusion (5 minutes)
• YouTube subscriptions (watch what interests you)
• Discord announcements channels

Weekly Deep Dives

• Read one comprehensive blog post
• Try one new technique
• Watch one long-form tutorial

Monthly Assessment

• Review what you've learned
• Identify knowledge gaps
• Adjust resource focus accordingly

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the single best resource for beginners?

Sebastian Kamph's ComfyUI fundamentals series combined with ComfyUI documentation. Visual + written learning.

Are paid courses worth it?

Usually no. Free content covers 95% of what paid courses offer. Exception: very specialized topics not covered elsewhere.

How do I stay updated without spending hours daily?

Follow r/StableDiffusion sorted by Hot, check once daily. Join Discord announcement channels. Takes 10-15 minutes.

Which YouTube channel is best for video generation?

Pixverse AI for dedicated video content, Apatero blog for written LTX-2 and Wan tutorials.

Should I learn ComfyUI or AUTOMATIC1111?

ComfyUI. More flexible, better suited for advanced workflows, and where the ecosystem is heading.

How do I know if a tutorial is outdated?

Check dates. Anything before mid-2024 for SDXL, before late 2025 for Flux/LTX-2 is likely outdated.

What if I can't find a tutorial for my specific problem?

Ask in Discord. If no tutorial exists, you might be attempting something novel (good!) or something that doesn't work (also useful to know).

How long until I'm "good" at AI generation?

Basic competency: 2-4 weeks of regular practice. Advanced workflows: 3-6 months. Mastery: ongoing (the field keeps changing).

Should I focus on images or video?

Start with images, they're faster to iterate. Move to video once you're comfortable with image generation fundamentals.

What hardware do I need to start learning?

For following tutorials: any computer (use cloud services). For practicing locally: 12GB+ VRAM GPU recommended.

Wrapping Up

The best AI learning happens through combining resources. No single channel, blog, or community covers everything well. Build your own learning stack:

1. YouTube for visual demonstrations and new features
2. Blogs like Apatero for in-depth written guides you can reference
3. Discord for real-time help and community knowledge
4. Reddit for news and discussions
5. Official documentation for authoritative reference

Start with beginner resources even if you have some experience. Fill in gaps, then move to advanced content. The AI generation space rewards breadth of knowledge as much as depth.

For comprehensive written guides on specific topics, explore the Apatero blog. For hands-on practice without local setup, Apatero's generation tools let you experiment immediately.

Now go learn something new.