The Vancouver Island School of Art is a contemporary art school located in downtown Victoria that offers in-person and online courses and workshops for adults of all ages. 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. 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 ABOUT US WHAT'S NEW Discover our courses Thoughtfully designed in the focus areas of drawing, painting and art history. SCHEDULES Course & Workshop Schedules Subscribe to Newsletter COURSES BY CATEGORY Painting Drawing Art Fundamentals Art History, Theory Winter Workshops Colour in Painting Learn how to use colour by studying master artists work throughout history Started Jan 7 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Landscape Painting Now II Add new directions and approaches to your painting by looking at contemporary landscape artists Started Jan 9 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting Inspired by Landscape Discover how the landscape remains an exciting source of inspiration for many painters Started Jan 6 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE 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 $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Light and Shadow Learn how light and shadow can add drama and excitement to your paintings Started Jan 6 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting the Everyday with Gouache Your everyday life can provide endless subject matter for painting with gouache Started Jan 6 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE 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 $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE WORKSHOP SCHEDULES Current Workshop Schedule Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS Vancouver Island School of Art is a contemporary art school located in Downtown Victoria open to adults of all ages. Your donation matters DONATE TODAY F25 Student Work WI26 In-person Courses WI26 Online Courses See what we are up to.

Photo Walk: Downtown Victoria Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Photo Walk: Downtown Victoria Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Watercolours Inspired by Cezanne Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Watercolours Inspired by Cezanne Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Design Practice: Geometric Abstraction Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Design Practice: Geometric Abstraction Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Pastels and Plants Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Pastels and Plants Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Watercolour Flowers: Blue Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Watercolour Flowers: Blue Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Chinese Brush Painting Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Chinese Brush Painting Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Faculty and board biographies Tamara Bond BA Visual Arts, Emily Carr University of Art + Design Tony Bounsall BA (Photography) Toronto Metropolitan University Desiree DeRuiter BA Visual Arts University of Victoria Renee Duval MFA Concordia University Fine Arts Diploma (with honours), Emily Carr College of Art and Design Thomas Guerrero BA History and Anthropology, University of Victoria Jenny Hainsworth BA Linguistics UBC David Kaarsemaker MFA University of Ottawa BFA Concordia University Maddy Knott MFA University of Victoria BFA NSCAD Meghan Krauss MFA University of Windsor BFA University of Saskatchewan Val Lawton BA University of Victoria (Canadian History) MA University of British Columbia (Library Science) James Letkeman MA Architecture University of British Columbia BFA University Of Victoria Andy Lou MFA University of North Texas John Luna MFA University of Calgary BFA University of Victoria Tim McCormack MA (Interdisciplinary Studies), York University Fine Arts Diploma, OCAD Leah McInnis MFA University of Victoria BFA Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design Chantal New BA in Art and Design MFA West Dean College UK Corrie Peters MFA University of Manitoba BFA Concordia University BA in Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria Kate Scoones BFA University of Victoria Andrea Simmonds MFA Emily Carr University of Art and Design BA Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC Xane St Phillip MFA University of California, Santa Barbara BFA University of Victoria Natasha Van Netten Diploma of Fine Art, Vancouver Island School of Art Lucia Volker BFA Emphasis in Printmaking, University of Utah Diploma of Interior Design, Pacific Design Academy Wendy Welch MFA University of Victoria BFA Concordia University Kelly Zantingh BAH Studio Art University of Guelph Jessica Ziakin BA History in Art and Psychology University of Victoria MA Art History and Visual Studies University of Victoria Our Faculty All of our regular faculty members have graduate degrees in art (MFA or MA), exhibition record and teaching experience Our Faculty & Board Lindsay Shojania Chair Jan Redekop Treasurer David Good Director Kathleen Greenaway Director Kirsten Petersen Director Russ Reynolds Director Eric Metcalfe Honorary Board Member Gary Pearson Honorary Board Member Our Board Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

6f652349-7d7b-4d07-aa64-df720f0b4926 Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Painting Today II Items required for the first class: Paint - oil or acrylic: - quinacridone red (or similar) - ultramarine blue - pthalo blue - lemon yellow (or equivalent—should say PY3 on the tube) - titanium white - 1 or 2 interesting printed colour photos from a magazine or found online (we will be painting directly on it) - 2 small or medium sized surfaces to paint on, appropriate for oil or acrylic (any suitable gessoed surface, stretched canvas, canvas paper, gessoed wood panel, etc) - recommended brush: #12 “bright” brush: Hog bristle for oil, and a stiff synthetic for acrylic - oil painters: rags, and odourless mineral spirits (OMS) - mediums (whatever you have, and we can discuss specifics in class) Additional materials to be discussed in the first class: Some experience with either oil or acrylic is assumed, so materials will vary from student to student. In the first class we will discuss materials further. The only requirement is to be ready to paint every class. The Vancouver Island School of Art is delighted to have a partnership with Opus Art Supplies so please consider using this link and clicking on your course to purchase supplies from Opus Art Supplies: Partnership Page . You can also consider an Opus A+ Membership, where students can sign up to save 10% on all orders during their studies: Sign Up For Opus A+ Membership .

Discover Lindsay Shojania's background and education. Born in Vancouver and raised in Victoria, Lindsay studied political science at McGill before returning home to her family. She was a board member of the Children’s Museum, member of Canadian Institute for International Affairs (CIIA) and is currently a board member of the Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS). Lindsay has volunteered at the Greater Victoria Art Gallery, Arts in Bloom and CNIB Eye Appeal. She is a collector of art, and loves exposing herself to new artists. Her professional background includes working at UVIC and in the CTV Vancouver Island newsroom. She has now passionately landed in the private housing sector, achieving re-zonings for development projects in different municipalities on Southern Vancouver Island. Lindsay has an amazing talent for cultivating relationships and connecting like-minded people. Lindsay Shojania Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Discover Thomas Guerrero's background and education. Biography Thomas is the writer behind the blog Sidewalking Victoria which he has been writing since 2015. The blog showcases Thomas' photography both with digital and film cameras. Thomas has been making pictures since he was seven when his dad gave him an old Canonet QL19. At the time he was only allowed to shoot black and white film until he could show that he had mastered the use of the shutter speed and aperture. Like most of the world, Thomas moved on to digital photography until 2020 when he rediscovered that same QL19 and nursed it back to health and began shooting film again. While Thomas’ subject matter is broad, you will see a focus on moments overlaid on both structures and textures. Thomas’ most recent show was as part of the Fernwood Art Stroll and has self-published a number of photography books that are available online. https://www.sidewalkingvictoria.com/ Education BA History and Anthropology, University of Victoria Thomas Guerrero Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

2cb14bf3-c713-40c2-874b-3f1ef72f517b Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Design: Principles & Elements Each week there will be a slide presentation and lecture, and assignments will be given and explained. Assignments should be completed for the following week and presented as a class for review and critique. Students in this class will assemble a studio reference binder of these assigned projects. All assignments can be completed with basic art supplies that the student has on hand. For magazine collage, you should have scissors and glue sticks For drawing, you should have pencil crayons or in some instances acrylic paint or watercolour. Must have: - heavy 8 ½ x 11” cardstock - binder (to keep assignments together) Suggested place to buy art supplies: Opus Art Supplies, 512 Herald St, Victoria BC or order online: https://opusartsupplies.com/ You can also consider an Opus A+ Membership, where students can sign up to save 10% on all orders during their studies: Sign Up For Opus A+ Membership .