Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio
The VIS Studio operates on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nations, and we are grateful to operate on Snuneymuxw territory.
Our Educational Mission
Our mission is to specialize in the creation of art and sculptures while fostering a supportive environment for aspiring artists. We are dedicated to empowering apprentice artists by offering them the technical and practical knowledge necessary to delve deeper into their chosen medium and subject matter.
The VIS Studio is a fully equipped professional art studio, offering a unique experience in Nanaimo. Here, participants have the opportunity to learn from experienced artists in a stimulating and enjoyable atmosphere. We provide a diverse range of sculpting workshops and art classes.
The VIS Studio is designed as an exclusive environment that fosters reflection and introspection, essential for nurturing the creative process and developing your artistic style. We intend to inspire your imagination, so that each individual can envision their projects and awaken their senses
Joel A Prévost
Owner, Director, “Maitre d’Atelier”
Joël A. Prévost, a distinguished sculptor, was born in 1963 in the picturesque Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. In 1977, his family relocated to Nanaimo, where Joël embraced the opportunity to learn English. During his teenage years, he found solace and connection through music, which sparked a desire to explore dance at the Kirkwood Dance Academy, Nanaimo.
After completing his studies in Community Development in Nova Scotia, he returned to Nanaimo to contribute to the creative culture. As an autodidactic polymath, Joël honed valuable skills in a small-town setting. The city provided him with a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of managing all facets of cultural events. As a facilitator, he seized chances to collaborate with non-profit organizations on the Island and across Canada, strongly emphasizing planning, fundraising, and education.
Prévost transitioned from facilitation to becoming a promoter of music and visual arts and a producer of concerts, music series, and various cultural events. In Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter, he opened and managed the World Beat Cafe, promoting a diverse range of live music. During these years, he began sculpting, honing his craft, and developing a keen interest in the human form. He has over 25 years of experience as a sculptor and art educator.
In 2006, Prévost moved to Montreal, where he founded L’Atelier de Sculpture du Village, a center for learning. For 10 years, he taught sculpture to students from various artistic disciplines, including cinema, circus, 3D animation, video games, and visual arts. His emphasis on sculpting the human figure, and utilizing life models, enabled him to instruct students at all levels effectively.
In 2017, Joël returned to BC, where he established the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio, bringing decades of expertise in the arts and community development back to Nanaimo. At the VIS Studio, he continues to teach sculpture and refine his artistic expertise while adapting his approach to address contemporary challenges in the arts. He actively supports artists from Vancouver Island, helping them enhance the management of their own practices. His artistic and community engagement remains a focus, fostering a rich and vibrant culture in Canada.
Other workshops offered by Joel A. Prevost are not available this upcoming semester.
Dee Fontans
Event co-host, JewelLer
Creativity is the driving force in Dee Fontans life. She is a skilled artisan specializing in metalwork, crafting both limited edition and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.
Fontans began her artistic education at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she immersed herself in life and fashion drawing. Her creative journey took a transformative turn when she discovered a passion for metal and jewellery making. Graduating, from the State University of New York in New Paltz with a degree in Gold and Silversmithing, Dee returned to New York City, ready to pursue her career in the arts. Like many artists, Dee adeptly juggled multiple roles, freelancing as a Gallerists, life drawing model, jeweller, and support staff at the arts program at the 92nd Street Y and the American Crafts Museum.
In 1988 Fontans immigrated to Canada to marry jeweller Charles Lewton-Brain. Settling in Calgary they co-owned the Lewton-Brain/ Fontans Centre for Jewellery Studies and Brain Press Publishing.
Dee is driven to support and develop culture in her community. With a tenure of 25 years as a faculty member at the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly The Alberta College of Art & Design), Dee has profoundly impacted aspiring artists, guiding them in the realms of jewellery, wearable art, and performance art. In 2012, she served as a Cultural Ambassador during Calgary's designation as the Cultural Capital of Canada, fostering connections between the local government, the artistic community, and Team Calgary.
In 2016 choosing to redirect her energy she retired from teaching and relocated to Nanaimo BC. Living downtown Dee is always walking around, keeping connected in the neighbourhood. She writes about her favourite independent businesses and local art happenings in the Nanaimo Magazine. She has shared her expertise with local creatives volunteering backstage at the Port Theatre, OV Arts Centre, and for fashion events around town. Dee will continue her art adventure as co-host of exhibitions at the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio.
Finding joy and fulfillment in her studio at the bench, Dee embodies the spirit of an artist, with treasure in her heart, metal in her genes, and silver weaving its way into her hair.
Brenda Ly
Exhibition Hospitality Assistant
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Brenda moved to Vancouver Island in 2009 to attend Camosun College. Since 2015, she has been a dedicated dental hygienist, but her passion for the arts has always been present.
From a young age, Brenda has had a keen interest in various art media, particularly drawing and sketching. As an adult, she began to explore her creativity further by diving into clay sculpting at VIS Studio with Joel and experimenting with different painting mediums during her free time at home.
Outside of her artistic pursuits, Brenda loves to explore the beauty of Vancouver Island and enjoys rock climbing as a thrilling hobby. Her diverse interests and experiences enrich our team's creativity and collaborative spirit.
VIS Studio Teacher Team
John Hofman biography
John has been drawing and sketching on location for many years in Alberta and B.C. And while vacationing in other provinces and countries. He participated in many outdoor events such as the annual Grand Prix of Art in Qualicum Beach, Victoria, Ambleside, Steveston, and other locations on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
He works mainly using pen and ink in a sketchbook with a watercolor wash when on location in a city, a town, or a landscape.
John has a background in engineering and developed basic drawing skills at an early age while attending a vocational school in the Netherlands.
He blogs his work on his website: johnhofman.wordpress.com and on Instagram: john.hofman.315.
Amélie Blanchard biography
Amélie Blanchard is a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT) and Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) whose practice is firmly rooted in trauma-informed, relational, and feminist perspectives. She employs a diverse range of therapeutic modalities, including art, movement, mindfulness, creative writing, and a connection to nature.
Amélie began her art therapy career as the child, youth, and family art therapist for the Heiltsuk Nation, where she gained invaluable experience over several years. In 2021, she established her private practice, Helix Art Therapy, in Nanaimo, providing support to both youth and adults through individual and group art therapy sessions, as well as therapeutic arts workshops.
Through her work, Amélie is passionate about helping others find meaningful ways to engage with their creativity. She firmly believes in the transformative power of art, viewing it as a vital tool for self-expression, mindfulness, curiosity, and connection to the world around us. Art serves as a profound medium to honor our experiences, facilitate transformation, and ultimately promote healing.
Denise Tierney, Biography
Denise Tierney works across various media to produce two-dimensional and sculptural artwork. Her artistic practice is fueled by a curiosity of human behaviour and cultural traditions. Denise focuses on memory, history (personal and collective), ritual, the transience of life and how experience shapes our identity. She aims to make the subject matter relevant today through the use of contemporary palettes, compositions, or environments. Denise holds a BA (Visual Art major) and a Diploma in Visual Art from Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC.