OUR TEACHERS
LEARN FROM ARTISTS
CREATE WITH CONFIDENCE
Meet the artists behind our classes and workshops. From emerging talents to established professionals, our instructors bring their creative practice, experience and passion for teaching into every class. Whether you're picking up a brush for the first time or building on your skills, you'll find inspiration, encouragement and a welcoming place to create.
OUR TEACHerS
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Andy Lou, a renowned full time artist in Victoria, B.C. was born in China and educated in the United States. He received his M.F.A. degree from the University of North Texas in 1988, majoring in Painting and Drawing.
After his graduation, he has been offering Contemporary Chinese Brush Painting Workshops throughout Canada, the U.S. and China. In his paintings, Andy adapts a variety of techniques and thoughts from the West, but emphasize his oriental originality. Employing Chinese brushes, rice paper and ink, mixing with watercolour, gouache and acrylic, Andy creates visual statements of the landscapes of North America. Vibrant colour plays an important role in his art. He blends the old and the new to forge a contrast between ink and colour, between the ancient traditions of Chinese painting and the rapidly-changing world of Western art.
Andy's mixed media, cross-cultural paintings have been exhibited and collected worldwide and he has received numerous awards, including the Juror's Choice Awards from the Sidney Fine Arts Show in B.C., the Third Prize Award from the Coast Collective Gallery in Colwood, B.C., Honourable Award, International Invitation Exhibition, Beijing, Certificate of Honour, Artists of Chinese Origin in North America Directory, Special Jury Award, Korea National Art Invitation Exhibition, Pusan, South Korea. Andy is also the author of Shi Bai Lou's Art and the co-author of three books on Chinese Brush Painting.
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Fibre/Textile Artist Bonnie Lefebre designs hand-knit knitwear and creates wearable art and accessories using botanical and natural hand-dyed wool and textiles.
Her textile art includes eco print and naturally dyed botanical wool, silk and linen, hand-stitched cloth, and Bojagi-inspired linen designs.
"Fibre and textile arts have filled my life for as long as I can remember and my artistic techniques have been studied and learned from many skilled makers/artists. Experience and experimentation are integral components to my creative process and designs. It is important to me to continue to share my knowledge and skills, and be a supportive advocate for the fibre and textile arts.”
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Brooke Emily is a Vancouver Island artist and a much-loved TOSH instructor, known for creating welcoming, playful spaces where kids can explore their creativity, experiment with new materials and make art without worrying about getting it “right.”
A graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art + Design program, with a concentration in Creative Writing, Brooke works across oils, inks and cold wax and is inspired by the landscapes of the West Coast. Her love of bringing illustration and storytelling together also led to the creation of her first picture book, Tuesdays and Seaweed.
At TOSH, Brooke teaches kids and youth classes, after-school programs, workshops and popular summer camps. Her inclusive approach encourages young artists to follow their curiosity, develop confidence and discover their own creative voice.
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Photographer Don Emerson has been making images for more than four decades, from early 1980s prairie journeys spent under the black cloth hood of his four-by-five view camera, photographing old granaries and the light on snow fences along railway tracks, to the present day.
He spent many years as a school portrait photographer. His work spans still lifes, encounters with Indigenous and Irish cultures, and images captured in quiet moments, shaped by his attention to size, symbolism, balance, light, and juxtaposition.
Married to painter Norma Emerson since 1980, Don has shared a vibrant creative life, and is full of generous encouragement. He built the darkroom studio in 1988!
His work reflects on how photography connects memory, community, and society.
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Dorota Goede was born in Wroclaw, Poland, in 1960 and studied architecture at the Wroclaw Technical University Polytechnic. After immigrating to Canada in 1981, she graduated with honors from an Architectural Technology program and spent three years as an industrial designer with Procter & Gamble. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Toronto in 1989.
After several years of commercial design in architectural offices, Dorota joined the faculty at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, as a professor, specializing in design, rendering, 3D Revit and CAD, building codes and sustainable construction. Since retiring in 2018, she has lived in Nanoose Bay, where she enjoys nature, the creative arts, gardening, golf, sailing, travel and even cooking.
Art has been part of Dorota's life since her teens, when she received extensive private instruction in drawing. She enjoyed art and sculpture at university, later studied watercolor at the Dundas Valley School of Art, and has recently completed workshops in acrylics and pastels. She is now studying oils and mixed media.
After a career rooted in structure and representation, Dorota is freeing her expression through color and simpler, more abstract forms. She paints for the joy of creating beauty and bringing color into her life. Having painted actively for the past five years, she is enjoying teaching again and sharing what she has explored and learned. Dorota hopes to brighten your day and your world with her work, and to help you create rewarding art of your own.
"Let's Color the World”
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Ellen Lyons has long been a member of the art community. She earned a BFA from Pratt Institute in the 1960s, a MA in painting/drawing and a JD degree from the University of Miami.
She went on to teach high school and college-level art in New York and Florida for 14 years. During that time, she developed close relationships with numerous students and has remained in contact with many to this day.
In addition to teaching, Lyons exhibited paintings and drawings in solo and group shows in New York, Florida and Philadel[phia from 1966 to 1984, including at the New York Society of Illustrators, Katonah Museum, NYC Pratt Graphic Arts Center, Temple University Gallery of Art, Metropolitan Museum-Coral Gables and Center for the Fine Arts in Miami.
She also worked as an editorial illustrator, creating book and magazine covers for major publishers such as Viking Penguin, Scholastic Magazines, Ballantine, Simon & Schuster, Hearst, Holt-Rhinehart and Airman Magazine as well as album covers for RCA and CBS Records. A favoured client was the United States Air Force which flew her on missions on a B-52, a Sikorsky "Jolly Green Giant", a F-4 Phantom and every cargo plane.
In addition, Lyons served as co-owner of the William M. Lyons Gallery in Coral Gables, Florida, which specialized in 20th Cent. photography. She later relocated to Qualicum Beach, where she has continued her artistic journey and made her home for the past 36 years.
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Faith Love-Robertson graduated from the design and graphics programme at Mount Royal College in Calgary in 1978 and worked in design before turning to fine art. Working from her home studio, she has continued to develop her practice through ongoing workshops and courses with the Federation of Canadian Artists, various artist guilds and many respected instructors.
She paints mainly in watercolour, oil and pastel, drawn most often to landscapes and seascapes. Her work has been featured in two solo exhibitions with the Delta Community Arts Council, accepted into local and international juried shows, and has won awards in every medium she uses. Her paintings are held in collections locally, nationally and internationally.
She is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, the DeCosmos Fine Art Society, the Old School House Gallery, the Oceanside Arts Council and the South Delta Artists' Guild. She also teaches adults and children, finding as much inspiration as a student as she does as a teacher.
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Ionne McCauley has drawn and made art most of her life – in some form or other. First, spending 20 years in Australia and Canada custom-dying fabrics and garments, teaching colour theory and design principles classes to fiber artists across Canada from 1998 through 2018.
Since 2016, Ionne has concentrated on personal art-making in watercolour and has become entranced by its magic and beauty.
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Based in Parksville, BC, Jolene Aarbo creates bold Impressionist paintings in pastel, acrylic and oil that bring a burst of colour and energy to any space. After studying business management at the University of Calgary, she followed her creative path to a Degree in Design from the Alberta College of Art in 2002.
She went on to work as a production manager and art director, founded her own design and marketing company, and in 2009 launched a Vancouver Island-wide magazine. She also works as a real estate agent with Pemberton Holmes Ltd. in Parksville.
Inspired by artist friends, Jolene returned to painting in 2012. Having grown up surrounded by horses, she is best known for her vibrant equine paintings, which capture the energy and grace of these animals, often set against Vancouver Island's landscapes. She also paints custom pet portraits; contact Jolene directly to discuss commissions and pricing.
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Kelly Ulrich recently moved to Parksville where she looks forward to bringing her unique way of encouraging people to express themselves with painting and drawing.
Art has been her life and for the last 20 years she has taught in Langley, White Rock and surrounding area as well as private classes in her home. She has written and illustrated several children's books and for the last seven years has produced a subscription comic, through the UK, called Dean & Nala + Vinny. Her fields of expertise are in painting using watercolour, gouache and acrylic.
She is skilled in drawing using charcoal, ink, graphite and pencil crayon.
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Mary Leigh Campell was a former resident artist at TOSH and has been a printmaker for several decades and taught both children and adults art classes in Printmaking and Textile surface design.
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Megan Riera moved to Europe from Qualicum Beach in 1999, and recently returned to her hometown of Qualicum Beach.
Whilst living in the UK, she obtained a first class BA Hons degree in Design for Moving Image and has had a career spanning several disciplines; motion design, graphic design and calligraphy. Megan has a passion for all things ‘creative’ and jumps at the chance to try out new practices - from paper marbling, printmaking, origami, painting and more.
Most recently Megan has been running children’s art workshops, which have introduced young people to many artistic techniques and artists.
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With nearly three decades of experience, Michael has dedicated his career to nurturing artistic talent across all skill levels. In 2005, he earned recognition as a registered teacher of colour through the esteemed Michael Wilcox School of Colour.
Michael's extensive teaching background spans both business and education, where he developed and managed programs for high schools, universities, and corporate training within a large international organization. This diverse foundation has enriched his knowledge and teaching abilities.
In 1998, Michael initiated his involvement with the local art community, providing art classes for various groups. His commitment expanded in 2007 to include schools from Kindergarten to University, as well as local community organizations. In 2011, he introduced "At Sea" programs for some of the world's leading cruise lines, including Cunard aboard the Queen Mary. Participants consistently praise Michael for his knowledgeable, fun, and easy-going teaching style. His approach has made him a sought-after instructor, perpetually in high demand.
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Nelusha McDonald is a textile collage artist and art doll designer. Her work has been featured several times in Stampington & Co.'s print magazines, including Art Quilting Studio, Green Craft, Art Journaling and Somerset Studio. Nelusha’s also been showcased by StitchesbyJulia, a popular YouTube host and textile artist.
For over 15 years, Nelusha has taught and inspired the creative spirits of others. She also design textile collages for other artists to use in their own work. Her authenticity shows most clearly in loose threads, raw edges, unconventional colour combinations and abstraction.
TEACH AT TOSH
Are you an artist with a passion for teaching? We're always interested in connecting with creative people who want to share their knowledge and inspire others. From one-day workshops to multi-week classes, we welcome proposals from artists and instructors working across a range of disciplines.
We'd love to hear what you're passionate about teaching.
Email info@theoldschoolhouse.org.