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. We're 20 years old! With over 5900 students and 135 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. Anniversary Highlights Discover upcoming 20th celebration events & key achievements over the 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 All Services Painting Drawing Mixed Media Art Fundamentals Art History, Theory Winter Workshops Painting Inspired by Landscape Discover how the landscape remains an exciting source of inspiration for many painters. Started Jan 7 525 Canadian dollars $525 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Introduction II Develop your painting skills and discover your artist’s voice while exploring subject matter. Started Jan 7 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Light and Space Enhance your paintings by learning how to create a sense of light and space with colour. Started Jan 7 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting the City Let the excitement of the urban environment inspire your paintings. Started Jan 15 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: The Contemporary Figure Learn ways to approach painting the figure as you examine the work of contemporary artists. Started Jan 9 525 Canadian dollars $525 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 7 525 Canadian dollars $525 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting Today II Discover an array of subject matter with this thematic-focussed painting course. Started Jan 14 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Understanding Abstraction II Learn how abstract painting relates to many things that exist in the world. Started Jan 10 525 Canadian dollars $525 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing: Current Trends 2000-2025 Discover the possibility of drawing by looking at art found in today’s contemporary art galleries. Started Jan 7 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing: Exploration of Materials Learn new drawing materials and methods each week while focusing on a variety of subject matter. Started Jan 8 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing: Introduction II Expand your knowledge of drawing techniques and develop a personal approach to subject matter. Started Jan 10 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Urban Sketching Get to know Victoria better by sketching what you see as you meander through the city streets. Started Jan 8 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing: An Expressive Approach Make expressive drawings while learning about Expressionism in the 20th century. Started Jan 9 525 Canadian dollars $525 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Slow Stitching: Inciting Joy Let the contemplative act of slow stitching bring joy into your life on weekly basis. Started Jan 9 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Design: Principles & Elements An understanding of design will make all your artwork more exciting and sophisticated. Started Jan 10 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Art History: The Human Form 1850-2000 Discover how interpretations of the human form have developed over the last 150 years. Started Jan 9 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Contemporary Art II Awaken your mind to the often-surprising world of contemporary art in the 21st century. Started Jan 8 575 Canadian dollars $575 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing Otherworldly Gardens Create otherworldly gardens by using a fusion of artistic expression and speculative science. Starts Jan 18 185 Canadian dollars $185 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing Light and Shadow Learn some informative techniques to bring light and shadow into your drawings. Starts Jan 25 185 Canadian dollars $185 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Watercolour Flowers: Blue If you love flowers and the colour blue, this workshop is for you! Starts Jan 25 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Fantastical Jellyfish Discover the beautiful effects of ink and water while creating imaginative jellyfish. Starts Feb 1 185 Canadian dollars $185 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Watercolour Flowers: Reds If you love flowers and the colour red, this workshop is for you! Starts Feb 1 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Draw like a Surrealist Discover the imaginative and spontaneous techniques the Surrealist used to create drawings. Starts Feb 8 185 Canadian dollars $185 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Collage: Express your Innate Creativity Want to do something creative? Collage is a great way to start. Starts Feb 8 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting from Photographs Learn how artists use photographs as a source for paintings. Starts Feb 15 135 Canadian dollars $135 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting with Colour Learn the basic techniques for working with colour including value, hue and saturation. Starts Feb 22 135 Canadian dollars $135 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing People in Urban Spaces The workshop will teach you all you need to know to paint people in an urban environment. Starts Feb 22 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Landscape Painting with Acrylics The workshop is a basic introduction to landscape painting with acrylics. Starts Mar 1 135 Canadian dollars $135 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting: Visual Depth with Colour Learn to use colour to create depth in your paintings. Starts Mar 15 135 Canadian dollars $135 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Watercolour Flowers: Yellow If you love flowers and the colour yellow, this workshop is for you! Starts Mar 15 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Image Transfer Discover how to incorporate photographs in your collages and paintings through image transfer. Starts Mar 22 185 Canadian dollars $185 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Drawing People with Japanese Ink Learn how to draw people using traditional Japanese ink drawing techniques. Starts Mar 22 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Photo Walk: Downtown Victoria Learn how taking photos will give you a new way of looking at downtown Victoria. Starts Mar 29 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Watercolours Inspired by Cezanne See how the techniques of Cezanne can give you a new approach to watercolour painting. Starts Mar 29 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Printmaking Without a Press Discover the world of texture by making monoprints with acrylic paint. Starts Apr 5 185 Canadian dollars $185 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Painting in Found Books Repurpose old books by turning the pages into works of art. Starts Apr 5 75 Canadian dollars $75 Loading availability... Loading availability... VIEW COURSE Oil Basics Learn the basics of oil painting including colour mixing and layering. Starts Apr 12 135 Canadian dollars $135 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 WINTER 2025 IN-PERSON COURSES WINTER 2025 ONLINE COURSES WINTER 2025 WORKSHOPS See what we are up to.

COURSES Collage: Express Your Innate Creativity Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Upcoming Events Slice Room Gallery Karen McLaughlin Upcoming Events Luna Lectures - 100 Years of Abstraction and Women Sat, Dec 07 Victoria Dec 07, 2024, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Victoria, 733 Johnson St #302, Victoria, BC V8W 1M8, Canada Dec 07, 2024, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Victoria, 733 Johnson St #302, Victoria, BC V8W 1M8, Canada +26 more Details Luna Lectures - 100 Years of Surrealist Women Sat, Nov 16 Victoria Nov 16, 2024, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Victoria, Johnson St, Victoria, BC, Canada Nov 16, 2024, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Victoria, Johnson St, Victoria, BC, Canada Discover a fascinating hundred-year period of fearless questioning, experiment, and exploration. +42 more Details Cocktails By The Sea Wed, Sep 13 Victoria Sep 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PDT Victoria, 3475 Ripon Rd, Victoria, BC V8R 6H1, Canada Sep 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PDT Victoria, 3475 Ripon Rd, Victoria, BC V8R 6H1, Canada Join our next fundraiser and enjoy cocktails by the sea at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Featuring silent auction items, mystery envelopes and a spectacular door prize. Every ticket includes delicious appetizers, drinks, and a $50 tax deductible receipt. +51 more Details Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Pastels and Nature - 12 colour set of soft pastels - 12x16 pastel paper pad - palette knife - vine charcoal - black conte - blending stump - plastic eraser - rag - small watercolour brush for blending (optional) ***A set of pastels plus a paper pad can be purchased for $40 at the office 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 .

COURSES Drawing Otherwordly Gardens Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS

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Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Painting with Gouache: Plants and Flower Items required for the first class: - Gouache Paints (M. Graham or Winsor & Newton Designer Colours are the preferred brands): titanium white (large tube) ivory black - watercolour brushes: synthetic sable (round), no. 12 and no. 4 - palette for mixing paint: white plastic palette for watercolour, white ceramic plates or white lids from yogurt containers or a combination (or your preferred surface/method for mixing gouache paints) - paper: any drawing or watercolour paper you have on hand; we will be working on papers that are approx 9 x 12 " Additional Items to be discussed during the first class: - Gouache Paints (M. Graham or Winsor & Newton Designer Colours are the preferred brands): 2 yellows, 2 reds, 2 blues, green, violet, orange - Paper: Since this is an online course we will be working on a smaller scale for class projects. I recommend you purchase the following pads: Arches, cold press, 140lb watercolour pad 9 x 12” and a Legion Stonehenge black coldpress watercolour paper pad. If you are unable to find these particular pads you can also buy 2 full sheets of 140lb watercolour paper and divide into four sheets each (for a total of eight pieces) and sheet of Stonehenge black watercolour paper or Stonehenge black drawing paper (can also be divided into four sheets). - palette knife -small, plastic - spray bottle - eye dropper (can be found in drugstores) - metal ruler 24” - white glue, bristle brush for glue - scissors - X-acto knife (#1 ) - masking tape A note on gouache paint: please note we are using regular gouache for this course and not “acrylic gouache”. 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 .

Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - How to Draw: Ink Flowers -sketchbook 11 x 14" -small bamboo brush (size 6) -plastic pen holder and bowl-point nib for drawing (not a calligraphy nib) -india ink -white conte crayon (or white pastel or white pastel pencil) -2 or more soft pastels (green and any other colour) -scissors -glue stick 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 .

Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Still Life Painting - Students can work in acrylic or oils - Recommended Pigments: Ultramarine Blue, Prussian or Phthalo Blue, Cadmium red Light, Quinacridone Red, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Hansa Yellow, Black, White, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna. Also bring any other colours you have. - Mediums: gloss medium (acrylic), odourless mineral spirit (oil) - Palette for mixing paint (white plastic lids or ceramic plate or disposable palette pad) - Palette Knife - Brushes :#12 Bright or similar, and a mix of different types of brushes, include one fine round brush - Two prepared canvases about 11 x 14 and 16 x 20 inches - One personal possession with sentimental meaning or just an ornament that you like from home eg. a candle and base, vase, shell, necklace, clock, flowers, feathers, skulls, musical instruments etc. 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 .

Vancouver Island School of Art 302-733 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C7 250-380-3500 info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Supply List - Egg Tempera Painting - paper of various sizes, colours and qualities for practicing - 2 or 3 large sheets of higher quality watercolour paper (eg Arches or Fabriano) and/ or a pad of nice thick watercolour paper 9 x 12 ish - soft watercolour or Chinese brushes in various sizes - small cups (plastic or ceramic) for different colours; Chinatown is a great source for small, inexpensive dishes - pencils HB or 2B - erasers: one regular, one kneaded gum - conte in various colours (optional) - coloured pencils (optional) Dry pigments and eggs for making egg emulsion will be provided 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 .

Born to a farming family in Saskatchewan. Attended University in Edmonton, obtaining a BA in Political Science and History and then a Law Degree. Practiced Law, Family Law mainly, appearing at all levels of Court, including 2 appearances at the Supreme Court of Canada, as Counsel on a major Case at the Supreme Court successful in making major changes to Common Property Rights for individuals in Canada. Moved to Victoria, BC with 3 young sons, in 1994, became a Member of the Law Society of BC and practiced law in private firms, and now Pro Bono work. Volunteered at Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) and St. Michael’s University School (SMUS) while sons attended school, 1994 to 2008, Has travelled extensively and visited Art Galleries and seen the great works of the Masters. On the Board for over 10 years of Hope Education & Training in South Africa (WHEAT), and as a Member of the Union Club of BC, on the General Committee for full term and on The Community Outreach Committee, as Chair, Fundraising for Mustard Seed, United Way, Easter Seals, Where 2 Start and Our Place. On the Art & Fare Committee at the Union Club raising monies for The Art Gallery of Victoria. Respects the creative abilities and the dedication of Artists to make art to enrich our lives and made her 1st Art purchase from that 1st Law Practice pay cheque and continued to support and buy works of Art in Edmonton and Victoria. Margaret Odishaw Create your future COURSES & WORKSHOPS