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 Mixed Media 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 Landscape as Abstraction Learn how to transform complex landscape scenes into basic abstract shapes. Starts May 21 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Watercolour: Art and Science Come and see how science has inspired artists over the ages. Starts May 19 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting with Gouache: Plants & Flowers Learn new ways to approach flowers and plants with gouache. Starts May 20 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: The Basics Want to learn how to paint? Start here. Starts May 22 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Introduction to Colour Let mysteries of working with colour be revealed to you. Starts May 21 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Paint Like an Artist I Online Let artists from art history inspire your art practice. Starts May 22 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE 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 $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Watercolour: Landscape as Experiment Let the exciting processes of watercolour help you make experimental landscapes. Starts Jul 7 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting the Figure Be intimidated no more! You too can learn to paint the figure. Starts Jul 8 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Series Development Create a lively series of paintings based on where you live. Starts Jul 9 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting from Photography Learn the strategies to make interesting paintings from your photographs. Starts Jul 10 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Paint Like an Artist II Online Let more artists from art history inspire your art practice. Starts Jul 10 275 Canadian dollars $275 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting the Ocean Take your love of the ocean and let it inspire your paintings. Starts Jul 7 275 Canadian dollars $275 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.

Saturday Night Art Lectures May&June Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Saturday Night Art Lectures May&June Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

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

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

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

Photography: A Mixed Media Approach Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses Photography: A Mixed Media Approach Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

WI26 Student Exhibition Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses WI26 Student Exhibition Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

SP26/SS26 Courses Events at the Vancouver Islands School Art including exhibition openings, artist talks and lectures, fundraisers and Open Houses SP26/SS26 Courses Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

9c84c851-299d-4a4e-936d-7a3839d3f68d Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Drawing and Painting Geology -12 colour set of soft pastels (such as Rembrandt Soft Pastel Set of 10 Half Stick General Selection ) -graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B) -black (2B) and white conté crayon -watercolour paint set (can be an inexpensive set such as Angora Opaque Watercolor set of 24 or anything you have on hand) -watercolour brush #12 (such as Opus Allegro round) -2 sheets of Stonehenge white paper (22 x 30”) -2 sheets of Stonehenge black paper (22 x 30”) -scissors -white plastic eraser -pencil sharpener -glue stick (permanent) 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 .

55b43255-4857-4fa9-989c-df8479dae9d6 Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Contemporary Textile Project Supplies will be determined based on your individual projects and there will be room to discuss them in class. For the first class please bring something to write with and a sketchbook or notebook. 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 .

b52dd1db-6cd8-4559-b8b9-c31a555033f5 Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Watercolour Play - watercolour paint set (recommended: Angora Watercolour Set of 14) - 9x12 watercolour paper pad (140 lb paper) - plastic paint palette - watercolour brush #10 - small spray bottle - pencil sharpener - H graphite pencil - white plastic eraser - blotting paper - 2 containers for water Email if you have any questions: wwelch@vancouverislandschoolart.com 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 .

06fc7b86-6da0-4d4b-814e-379d0de7df77 Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Drawing Nature - mixed-media paper pad (or 10 sheets of drawing paper) - 1 sheet dark paper (anydark colour) - 1 sheet mid-tone paper (any colour that isn't too dark or too light) - graphite pencils (HB, 4B) - small plastic eraser - blending stump - white conte - black conte - water soluble graphite Suggested place to buy art supplies: Opus Art Supplies, 512 Herald St, Victoria BC or order online: https://opusartsupplies.com/ You can 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 .