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Let’s create together.

Vancouver Island School of Art is a contemporary art school located in Downtown Victoria.

Open to adults of all ages. VISA is a Non-Profit Registered Charity.
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20 years and counting!

With more than 6000 students and 140 instructors since September 2004, we've provided a welcoming place for people of all ages to learn about contemporary art, as well as a venue for MFA graduates to get training as instructors.

2025-2026 Highlights

Discover some exciting upcoming events—and key achievements over the last 20+ years

Learn. Create. Play.

Whether you want to take only one art course or complete a full-time program, there is a place for you at our school. The Vancouver Island School of Art offers two modes of study:

Certificate of Visual Arts

One year full-time or a maximum of four years part-time

Individual Courses and Workshops

On-going, no application required

Discover our courses

Thoughtfully designed in the focus areas of drawing, painting and art history.

SCHEDULES
Course & Workshop Schedules
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COURSES BY CATEGORY

  • Colour in Painting

    Learn how to use colour by studying master artists work throughout history

    Started Jan 7

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Landscape Painting Now II

    Add new directions and approaches to your painting by looking at contemporary landscape artists

    Started Jan 9

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting Inspired by Landscape

    Discover how the landscape remains an exciting source of inspiration for many painters

    Started Jan 6

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting: Introduction II

    Develop your painting skills and discover your artist’s voice while exploring a range of subjects

    Started Jan 7

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting: Light and Shadow

    Learn how light and shadow can add drama and excitement to your paintings

    Started Jan 6

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting the Everyday with Gouache

    Your everyday life can provide endless subject matter for painting with gouache

    Started Jan 6

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting: Thematic Approaches

    Discover more about your own artistic direction by focusing on a different theme matter each week

    Started Jan 7

    575 Canadian dollars

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  • Landscape as Abstraction

    Learn how to transform complex landscape scenes into basic abstract shapes.

    Starts May 21

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Watercolour: Art and Science

    Come and see how science has inspired artists over the ages.

    Starts May 19

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting with Gouache: Plants & Flowers

    Learn new ways to approach flowers and plants with gouache.

    Starts May 20

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting: The Basics

    Want to learn how to paint? Start here.

    Starts May 22

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting: Introduction to Colour

    Let mysteries of working with colour be revealed to you.

    Starts May 21

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Paint Like an Artist I

    Online

    Let artists from art history inspire your art practice.

    Starts May 22

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Nature in the City

    Spend time in a variety of parks and public spaces learning to draw and paint.

    Starts Jul 10

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Watercolour: Landscape as Experiment

    Let the exciting processes of watercolour help you make experimental landscapes.

    Starts Jul 7

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting the Figure

    Be intimidated no more! You too can learn to paint the figure.

    Starts Jul 8

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting: Series Development

    Create a lively series of paintings based on where you live.

    Starts Jul 9

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting from Photography

    Learn the strategies to make interesting paintings from your photographs.

    Starts Jul 10

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Paint Like an Artist II

    Online

    Let more artists from art history inspire your art practice.

    Starts Jul 10

    275 Canadian dollars

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  • Painting the Ocean

    Take your love of the ocean and let it inspire your paintings.

    Starts Jul 7

    275 Canadian dollars

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WORKSHOP SCHEDULES
Current Workshop Schedule

Create your future

Vancouver Island School of Art is a contemporary art school located in Downtown Victoria open to adults of all ages.

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