I was recently introduced to a great art & drawing lessons resource for homeschoolers called The Virtual Instructor. The site offers both free and premium art lessons via video tutorials.
The instructor, Matt Fussell—who is not only an excellent artist but a wonderful teacher—contacted me a few weeks ago to let me know about his website. He also graciously agreed to give my family a complimentary membership so I can look over everything the site has to offer and review it for my readers. And I must say, I was quite impressed!
The Review
The Virtual Instructor is a website full of video-based art lessons and tutorials, some of which are accessible for free. The reasonably-priced annual membership option gives you complete access to the site (and it also has a 30-day money back guarantee). He's also offering a "try it for $1, and cancel anything" promotion so you can see what full access includes.
This is what members have access to.
- 5 complete video courses that total over 20 hours of course video and over 600 pages of ebooks.
- Live streamed lessons each week for 1 hour.
- Downloads of every single video so you can watch offline.
- Planning materials for teachers/parents. Each lesson includes presentation materials, handouts, videos, essential questions and more.
Here's an example of one of his art lessons about drawing hands.
My 10-year-old daughter Joely has been poring over the site for the last few weeks. She has completed "The Secrets of Drawing" course and has been watching as many of the other videos as she can as well. She's thoroughly enjoyed the lessons, and even though it's been a short time since she started The Virtual Instructor, I've already noticed a marked improvement in her skills.
Here's what Joely says about The Virtual Instructor.
"My favorite thing about The Virtual Instructor is that whatever you want to learn about, he has a video or a live lesson on that topic. There is watercolor. There is acrylic painting. Graphite. Anything you want to learn! I've been at it for a few weeks and I've improved a lot."
My son has tried to used Alpha Omega and its just not enough"action" for him, so mostly he is just self – taught.
I am now following The Virtual Instructor on Facebook.
We've taken classes over the years at the local cultural arts center as at The Virginia Museum of Fine Art. This would be great for my daughter who is very interested in art.
we haven't used any formal art curriculum yet, but my younger kids have enjoyed the Draw Write Now books 🙂 This looks like a really great program!
and I subscribe to Five J's via my RSS feed reader – thanks!
We haven't used an art curriculum before, but my daughter is very interested in art. We'd love to win this!
I'm a subscriber
I bought a art book from Christian Light Education. It is ok for my son but it would be easier for him to learn by seeing someone else.
We've used Artistic Pursuits and some free tutorials on You Tube. Thanks for the giveaway!
I subscribe to your emails.
We have the Artistic Pursuits books.
I am a subscriber through RSS
I follow you on facebook, too.
I subscribed to the Virtual Instructor's youtube channel.
I have briefly used Drawing Basics (Thomas Kinkade). There was not as much video instruction as I thought there would be, considering it was a DVD/workbook set.
I follow you on Facebook.
I subscribe to your emails.
I subscribed to the Virtual Instructor's youtube channel.
We've been using Artistic Pursuits but I don't know anything about art and I think my children would learn more with this website.
I subscribe to your emails.
I like you on facebook.
I like the Virtual Instructor on facebook.
We are currently using See The Light year 1 and Meet the Masters. We love both programs. They each have a different emphasis, yet compliment each other–STL with basic skills and MTM with a particular skill based on an artist of renown. My kids have grown with each lesson from both programs. Would love to add this for next year as my kids definitely show potential. (These programs haven't hurt my abilities either as that has improved too!)
I subscribe via email. Thank you for the possibilities.
We haven't tried an art curriculum in the past but I've been searching for one and I really like appreciate that there's a Virtual Art Instructor for my 2 kids.
I am already subscribed to Five J's via email.
I'm already a follower of Five J's on Facebook.
I'm now a follower of The Virtual Instructor on Facebook.
I shared this giveaway on my Facebook timeline.
I'm now a YouTube subscriber of The Virtual Instructor.