Trained as an illustrator
My MFA in Illustration grounds the curriculum in the fundamentals of drawing: line, observation, shape, form, visual decision-making, and craft.
Founder of Torch & Trowel
Real drawing lessons, designed for ordinary homeschool days.
I am Matt Tolbert: an illustrator, art educator, homeschool dad, and former product and service designer. I built Torch & Trowel for families who want meaningful drawing instruction without needing to become art teachers first.
Tested in the classroom
Fifteen years teaching high school art and nine years as a university adjunct taught me how students build skill when lessons are clear, sequenced, and repeatable.
Built for homeschool reality
As a homeschool dad of three, I know a lesson has to work without a perfect schedule, a studio full of supplies, or a parent who feels confident drawing.
Designed for real use
My product and service design background shapes the Field Kit system: clear page types, low friction, repeatable flow, and help right when it is needed.
Why this exists
I wanted drawing lessons that respect both the student and the parent.
A lot of homeschool art resources put parents in a hard spot. Video lessons can be polished but passive. Craft projects can be fun but light on skill. Open-ended prompts can leave everyone guessing what to do next.
Torch & Trowel takes a different route. The student gets a clean worksheet with room to practice and draw. The parent gets a matching support guide with examples, teaching notes, and reminders. The lesson can move back and forth between independence and guidance without turning the parent into a full-time art instructor.
What my background changes
The curriculum is designed to lower friction.
Skills before pressure
Students build control, observation, shape, and form before being asked to make polished finished work.
A clean page for the student
Teaching prompts live on the support guide so the student worksheet can stay focused and usable.
Simple materials
The lessons use pencil, eraser, and printed pages because consistency is easier when setup is easy.
A familiar rhythm
Lessons follow a repeatable structure so students know what to do next and parents know when to help.
Start small