Professional art instruction designed to help artists of every level learn with confidence.
Since 2009, The Virtual Instructor has helped thousands of students improve through step-by-step courses, live weekly classes, personalized critiques, and resources for visual arts teachers around the world.
Founder/Owner • Instructor
Matt is an artist and teacher. He is the founder and owner of TheVirtualInstructor.com. He loves sharing his passion for art with others and teaching students from all over the globe. He has been featured in various publications and has produced commissioned art for clients both regionally and internationally.
Matt has extensive teaching experience. He has taught at the high school level for over ten years. He was the lead art teacher for a large school system in which he led over 100 teachers. He has designed specialized visual art curricula for high school students and has taught countless students from all over the globe through various online platforms, including TheVirtualInstructor.com.
Through The Virtual Instructor, Matt has helped tens of thousands of artists build confidence and develop skills through structured lessons that make learning easier.
Matt believes that anyone can learn to draw and paint when the right instruction meets consistent practice — and that belief remains at the heart of every lesson he teaches.
Artist • Instructor
Ashley Bane Hurst is the Visual Art Department Chair at a public arts magnet school. He received his B.F.A. in 2002. Since that time Ashley has participated in numerous shows, executed figure paintings and portrait commissions in oil paint, pastel, charcoal and sepia and been recognized in the national Arts for the Parks contest for landscape painting.
Ashley has also completed freelance illustrations and designs for production. Ashley enjoys creating a variety of art but enjoys seeing others grow in their own art just as much. He has been teaching drawing and painting for over 15 years and enjoys sharing his instruction through TheVirtualInstructor.com.
"“You have opened a new door in my life. Your teaching has made me realize how the sky is the limit... You have changed my life.”"
— Sally"Matt is without question the best instructor that I have ever had for any subject."
— Michael"The video production, instructional e-books, and teaching on your site are top-notch. My drawing skills have improved immensely from your instruction and exercises. You provide a genuinely valuable and excellent service.."
— Roger
