Art and Sculpture Classes 

Winter Schedules 2026

The VIS Studio offers a series of workshops that provide an immersive experience in art and sculpting.

Located in Nanaimo, the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio is a fully equipped professional art space home to artists and a hub for creativity and growth.

Our participants have the privilege of learning from professional artists within an environment designed to inspire and nurture artistic expression.

Our diverse range of art workshops ensures that there is something for everyone.

Secure your spot for upcoming art and sculpture classes as soon as possible, as availability is limited.

Upon registration, a $50 non-refundable administration fee is required. This fee will be applied to the total cost of the workshop.

On the Road Workshops

Bringing Sculpting to Your Community

At Joel A. Prevost's VIS Studio, we are thrilled to offer our sculpting workshops to your community! If you’re interested in hosting a workshop in your area, we warmly invite you to submit your request.

"When reaching out, please include your contact details, the name and address of the potential hosting venue or organization, and your preferred dates and times for the workshop."

Let me know if you need further adjustments! We look forward to collaborating and sharing the art of sculpting with your community!

Welcome to our workshop line for winter 2026

The Fungus Workshop

This is a 9-hour workshop: 3 weekly sessions of 3 hours.

Sunday, January 18, 25, and February 1 from 1 pm to 4 pm

from 1 pm - 4 pm

Level: beginners and intermediates.

Maximum: 10 students per class

Teacher: Joel A. Prevost

The Fungus Workshop — Create two hand-built giant mushroom sculptures, each 30–42 cm (12–14 in) tall. Participants will work at scale using ~10–12 lb (4.5–5.5 kg) of clay per piece and learn armature building, bulk‑building, safe hollowing, and texturing.  Emphasis is on surface texture and mark‑making to achieve realistic or stylised fungi, with guided hands‑on practice. 

Suitable for beginners and experienced artists, this intensive covers studio workflows for drying, finishing, and preparing pieces for firing. 

Limited spots — a one‑time offering; don’t miss this opportunity.

Registration fee $310. + Materials $65. + GST / Total: $393.75 tax included

Garden Of Eden

Evening sculpting workshop with a Female Live Model

LEARN HOW TO SCULPT A MONUMENTAL PIECE

This is a 15-hour workshop: 5 weekly sessions of 3 hours.

Tuesday, February 17, 24, and March 3, 10, and 17

from 7 pm - 10 pm

Level: beginners and intermediates.

Maximum: 10 students per class

Teacher: Joel A Prevost

The Non-Figurative Clay and Porcelain workshop

This is a 9-hour workshop: 3 weekly sessions of 3 hours.

Sunday, March 15, 22, and 29

from 1 pm - 4 pm

Level: beginners and intermediates.

Maximum: 10 students per class

Teacher: Joel A. Prevost

Explore the differences between earthen clay bodies and porcelain, and develop practical ways to work with each. Participants will experiment with techniques that reveal and emphasize negative space in three‑dimensional work, using pinching, slab, and additive/subtractive approaches tailored to each material. 

This workshop places the medium first: process, surface, and structural choices drive the work rather than a prescribed subject. Suitable for all levels; guided hands‑on practice builds confidence with both clay and porcelain.

Registration $310. + Materials $45. Total: $372.75 tax incl.

  Urban Sketching …Travel Sketching Workshop

Techniques and Tips for Elevated Achievement

THIS IS A 9-HOUR WORKSHOP: 3 WEEKLY SESSIONS OF 3 HOURS.

Sunday, May 3, 17, and 24 (we are skipping May 10 for Mother's Day)

from 1 pm to 4 pm

LEVEL: BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATES. 

MAXIMUM: 8 STUDENTS PER CLASS

Instructor: John Hofman

Join us for an engaging Urban Sketching/Travel Sketching Workshop led by instructor John Hofman. This workshop delves into the essential elements of urban sketching and provides methods for properly depicting urban scenery on paper. All presentations will cater to beginners and intermediates, fostering an enjoyable drawing and painting experience.

We will explore various techniques for initiating a sketch, including identifying shapes, estimating object proportions, and creating credible perspectives of buildings without relying on rulers. Throughout the workshop sessions, we will touch on compositional principles and the editing of scenery, which will complement the topics above. To bring your drawings to life, we will examine techniques for applying tonal values and effectively using colour. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing a waterproof pen and ink in conjunction with watercolour.

Some basic materials will be provided for your use. Additionally, we will dedicate time to discussing recommendations for acquiring art materials and equipment that align with your preferences while remaining within a modest budget.

Registration fee $310. + Materials $30. + GST / Total: $357.00 tax included

TO REGISTER: Please fill out the registration form and will get back to you

Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio: Refund and Cancellation Policies

Upon registration, a $50 non-refundable administration fee is required, which will be applied to the total cost of the workshop.

Refund Policies: 

- Cancellation requests made 7 days or more before the first class will receive a full refund, with the $50 administration fee deducted.

- The registration fee will not be refunded if the cancellation is made less than 6 days before the first scheduled session.

- Cancellations made on the same day as the workshop will not be eligible for a refund or rescheduling.

Missed Classes:

- If you have missed any classes, you can make them up by booking a 2-hour Studio Drop-In session, which includes private teaching

- There is a fee of $75. + GST for this service.

Please note that the Studio Drop-In session must be scheduled within two weeks of the missed classes.

Workshop Cancellation Policy: 

- Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio reserves the right to cancel or postpone workshops due to enrolment, instructor illness, inclement weather, or other unforeseen circumstances. 

- If a workshop is cancelled, you have two options: you can transfer to another workshop or receive a full refund.

- Participants will be notified of any cancellations as soon as possible.

- Full refunds will be issued to participants without delay.

Please note:

- The decision to allow make-up classes is at the discretion of the studio management.

- This decision is made to balance the requests based on availability and scheduling constraints.