Hi all🙏. My name is Raj
I am a recently retired Paediatrician from UK.
Needed a hobby to occupy newly available time. After trying a few others, came to painting. Never owned a paintbrush before. Hadn’t a clue. Been looking up free tutorials on YouTube to learn the basics. Then found TheVirtualInstructor and bought some lessons. Am trying out the coloured pencil tutorials now, thoroughly enjoying the step by step instructions. Trying to draw Matt’s dog today!
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Unable to upload a photo of my present project. Maybe file size too large.
I love the richness of the grapes and wine. I’m impressed that the glass and grapes look so realistic.
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Thank you for your kind words🙏
Hi my name is Jackie, I live in the UK. I only became interested in art during lockdown in August this year, I have never been able to draw before but decided to give it a go trying a couple of online tutorials, I discovered that although not brilliant I was acutally better than I thought. I haven’t done alot of drawings as at the time i was caring for my mum who unfortunately passed away in October so I have now since retired.
I wanted to learn how to draw properly and upon discovering Matt I realised that this was the way to go to improve my drawings as everythings is explained really well in a way I can understand, which i have not really found on previous tutorials. I have so far only used graphite and colour pencils, but would eventually like to try watercolours and pastels. My aim is to eventually draw animals and portraits but at the moment i am studying the basics in the hope of improving.
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Hi Jackie, these courses and lessons are great. Art is a great escape too, sorry to hear about your Mum. I am in the Uk too, and recently retired and enjoying developing my art.
Hi
yes I am really enjoying them although I have only just started, currently trying the 25 days to better drawing course to try and improve my drawing especially perspective which I am not very good at at the moment without a grid.
Hi All,
My name is Prajakta. I am a Research Scientist (Ph.D in Clinical Pharmacology to be precise) and work in Drug Development in one of the biotechs in Boston area which works on rare diseases. Drawing and painting is my hobby. Five years back I took professional training for few months but then had a baby and could not get time to pursue my hobby till this year. Covid quarantine made me think of things which give me happiness and will help maintain optimism in life. I joined this site during my 10 day Christmas break in Dec 2020. I took few workshops/past online lessons and it has tremendously helped me learn new techniques/mediums. I never worked with pastels before and after taking pastel workshop here, I am totally in love with pastels…it was definitely a liberating experience. Matt, thank you for designing such thoughtful courses! I will look forward to attending your online lessons.
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Love your piece. Looks so life-like. I could drink a little wine about now. I have to look at my instructions to upload my work. I’m sure Matt could give you the instructions. He is good at answering questions. Others can also give you tips on how to upload them.
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Sorry for your loss. Matt is a really good instructor and I have enjoyed learning from him. My art instructor when taking private lessons during HS taught the same way. I thought I would never find a new teacher, but here Matt is. I, too, took other lessons and found them just not very good. I don’t remember how I came to VAI., but really glad I did.
ArtistLittleNora
I am retired and 68 years old, with no formal art training. To begin my background, I must go all the way back to middle school. I had a art teacher who encouraged me to continue in the arts and at that time I wanted to be a commercial artist. I told my mom about it and her response was “you’re not good enough, you’ll never make it”. And her words have followed me my whole life. From the age of 15 or so I gave up on pursuing any art/craft ideas that may have flitted through my mind, because I wasn’t good enough. The closest I came to anything related to art was a coloring book and crayons or painting furniture after I retired. The first time I picked up a pencil to draw anything since the age of 15 was October 6, 2020 at 68 years old, and here it is …
Then I discovered, The Virtual Instructor and Matt, (what a blessing he has been to me), he has opened up a whole new world for me. I watched a free video where he talked about “drawing” isn’t a talent reserved for a special few, but it can be learned by almost anyone (my interpretation).
And so my adventure began by watching many videos, going through the lessons and following along with paper and pencil in hand, viewing as many of Matt’s critiques taking in every tidbit of information, committing it to memory (at my age it isn’t easy) for use on my next drawing. But, in just 3 months I’ve progressed from the above drawing to this, which I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I was capable of drawing …
I still have a tremendous amount to learn but I truly believe what Matt says “Anyone can learn to draw”.
Anyway, I’m glad to be here, so glad I found VI and Matt! I still have a long way to go, but to finally let out what was suppressed for so long, I feel like I’m finally living to the fullest and the joy I receive from it is, well is indescribable. I’m thrilled to be a part of this group and hope that you will feel free to give honest critiques of my work to make it better.
Looking forward to meeting all of you and seeing all the wonderful creations you’ve made, encouraging each other no matter what level we’re individually at and especially learning from you all. Thank you so much Matt!
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The paw in the hand shows ‘trust’. You have to trust yourself and tell yourself, daily, "I can do anything I want to, and then believe it. You have shown such masterful improvement.
ArtistLittleNora
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement.
I love that drawing (paw). Not only is it well executed, but the composition is very unique. It is yours, and yours alone which makes it that much better. Great job! Just like you, I thought I didn’t have the “talent” for art. (Although, my mother never said anything like yours 
. Just like you, after retirement, I decided to give it a go. I have been with VI for 3 years and love every minute of it. So, good on you for taking up this challenge and making it a success. Keep sharing your art. Thanks.
Patricia.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your very kind, sweet words. Yes, I agree about VI and Matt. I’ve learned so much from him, without him I’d still be drawing things just like the first drawing. I’m sitting here looking at 8 art books that I studied and tried to glean what I could from them, but it was when I started with VI and began watching all the beginning drawing videos, that I progressed. So I owe it all to Matt and his simple instruction 
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Dr. Rao, Really great job on the glass of wine and the bottles and grapes. Thanks for posting.
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Hi All. My name is Susan Florentino, and I am a lifelong art enthusiast trying to improve after a long hiatus. I have done oil painting and printmaking in the past. Although I have drawn my whole life, I have never been satisfied with my skill level. My current goal is to draw in my sketchbook using mixed media every day and build up to doing finished studio works again. I am thrilled to have found the Virtual Instructor. After day five of the 25 day drawing course I have already learned so much.
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Hello from Sydney. Gorgeous drawing!
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Hi Susan,
Welcome, and you will be amazed at what you can do by the end of the course!
Cheers,
Mike
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