Gesture & Rhythm in Floral Painting with Ann Willsie, SFCA

Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 5th & 6th, 2026 

Time: 10.00 AM - 4.00 PM (PDT)

Location: Federation Academy on Granville Island,  1310 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S1 

Level: Open to All Levels

Medium: Acrylic & Oil

Workshop Overview:

This workshop is designed for all levels - all mediums welcome. Ann will be working in oils.

There is no better way to learn how to paint flowers than to paint them from life. This workshop will involve setting up our own small still life of florals - Ann will be providing all the flowers, along with various vases and containers. Each participant will be putting together a small arrangement of flowers, followed by thumbnails to work out the composition and then painting the arrangement in front of them.

Each morning will start with a discussion of process, touching on values, blocking in big shapes, what to leave in/out, choosing background colors, etc., followed by some exercises to get the creative juices flowing. Ann will be following this with a demo, and then each student will be doing a painting of their own still-life of flowers.

When painting florals Ann tries to capture the essence of what she sees before her; the gesture of the arrangement, be it line, rhythm, and/or the flow of the composition in front of me. As artists we get caught up in trying to reproduce exact replicas of what we see, getting lost in the detailing, instead of trying to capture the soul of what is before you. Ask yourself this – What is it about this particular flower or still life that stirs me? Is it the colors? the line and movement? The intricate design? Or perhaps it is the play of light and shadows falling across the petals and leaves. This will be the focus of the workshop. The goal is to loosen you up and to help you see the big picture, not the details. 

If you wish you can bring your own array of flowers to paint.

About the Instructor - Ann Willsie, SFCA 

Ann is known for her large-scale panoramic landscapes, florals and rural scenes of Canada. Bold, visible brushstrokes and thick, luscious oil paint are characteristic of her paintings, which have been described as contemporary impressionism. Gnarly old trees with their own linear personalities, grasses shifting in the wind, hidden marshes, – these are some of the subject matters which have inspired Ann’s landscapes.

Her florals portray the exquisite rhythm and flow which are at the root of nature surrounding us. They are larger-than-life, close up and personal , inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the painting. They are an open invitation into the heart and soul of the natural world, a reminder of the peace and tranquility that exists if we but look for it. 

For the past few years Ann has found new passion in painting outdoors, en plein air. This method of painting stems back to the mid 19th century. She has been involved in major Plein air events in B.C., Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario. She has won major awards for her plein air work, including first place at the Elora Plein Air Festival, 2018 in Ontario, third place in the 2017 Bragg Creek, Alberta Plein Air Festival and an Honourable Mention at the Parrsboro, Nova Scotia International Plein Air Festival 2018 . She continues to promote Plein Air painting events and workshops throughout Canada. 

Her work is shown in galleries across Canada and held in collections around the world. She is a Senior member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and an Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America.

Website:  Ann Willsie, SFCA – Contemporary Painter 

Student Testimonials :
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- "I felt I learned a lot. Ann used the time we had together well. Reviewed work, constructive and kind feedback/critique, demonstrations and homework were very helpful. I really appreciated that she also did the prep to find out what was important to those enrolled and adapted to fit the needs of the group. I feel I learned a lot from this session. It was just what I needed to help me move forward with painting." ⁠
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- "I thought that Ann's mentorship was terrific, very inspiring. I wanted to go out and start painting."⁠
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- "It was good to see other participants and their work and to hear their opinions and experience. I would love to do another such course thanks."⁠
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- "Thank you Ann. I really enjoyed this session. Well run, fun, learned a lot, inspired to take what I learned and apply it." ⁠