9 passionate streamers to watch on Twitch Creative

Twitch isn’t just for gaming anymore. The livestreaming site has been expanding over the years to include other passions besides video games. It’s now home to a thriving Creative section, where any imaginative person with a webcam and a dream can find a community, or maybe even make a living.

Twitch Creative streamers can share anything from crafting, creating art, cooking shows, costume design, music making or other artistic passions.

Here is a sampling of nine Twitch Creative channels to get you feeling inspired.

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Why not start where it all began? Bob Ross initially made his name with a painting show on PBS. Now he’s a celebrity for the Twitch community after the platform kicked off the Creative channel with streams of his television program. You can still catch episodes of the show every Monday, complete with Bob’s dulcet tones and happy trees. It’s a perfect way to start your week.

2. The8bitdrummer

He’s got rhythm and energy in spades. Followers of The8bitdrummer will hear lots of drumming to video game soundtracks, but he’s been known to turn his sticks to rock, dubstep, improvisations and original tunes. His stream has a positive, community vibe, and 8bit often rewards his fans with regular giveaways and sped-up song requests.

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3. AustenMarie

Digital art is a natural match for the Twitch platform. Austen Marie is a freelance illustrator who runs a fun and friendly stream. Her art portfolio trends toward the geeky, from World of Warcraft portraits to Rick and Morty fan art. She streams games just as much as artwork, making her show a good choice for both skill and variety. And if you subscribe, she might just make you a portrait.

4. DomesticDan

Several amateur chefs used Twitch to bring us into their kitchens, yet few have done so with the charm or style of DomesticDan. He’s got a great camera setup for those who actually want to learn, with good angles capturing each slice and stir. Expect to see a cute canine and some sweet dance moves along with all the chow.

5. Misscoookiez

The Latvian painter has recently been working on items for an art show, but you might also catch her doing outdoor sessions or in cosplay ensembles. She balances gaming subjects with portraits and landscapes, often with a Gothic style. You can also find her running the Art School show on the Adobe channel.

6. Darude

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One of Twitch’s many delights is the opportunity to see Internet celebrities in their natural habitats. In a gloriously meta move, Finnish DJ Darude has been hosting creative streams of his music-making process. He isn’t keeping a regular streaming schedule yet, but every loyal Twitch fan should drop by when they can to pay homage to the man behind “Sandstorm.” And even if the Internet meme legacy isn’t a draw, it’s still fascinating to watch a pro DJ at work.

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7. Douplex

Plenty of gamers appreciate the trappings of olden fantasy worlds, and nothing evokes that era like chainmail. If you are a fan of that medieval military gear, then check out the work of chainmail artist Douplex. Many of his pieces echo the look of pixel art, and he has created artworks paying homage to popular geek universes such as Mario Bros. and Star Wars.

8. KayPikeFashion

Sure, lots of people apply their artistic skills to canvas, but Kay uses her own body as the canvas. She’s an artist training in bodypaint, making her stream a fascinating overlap between creative makeup and cosplay. Some days you may find her transforming into a Batman straight out of a comic book, others she’ll be working on a depiction of Nightcrawler.

9. RubberNinja

Cartoons may seem like kid stuff, but the work that goes into them is no child’s play. Animator RubberNinja shares his work on a stream that’s mostly all business. It’s cool to get a glimpse into how much careful work goes into even a snippet of animation. But subscribers get the option to join a special voice chat room and some days he’ll take drawing requests.