Classical Landscape Tradition of Open-air Painting

Date: Thursday & Friday, August 21st & 22nd, 2025

Time: 10.00 AM - 4.00 PM (PDT)

Location: Duck Pond on Granville Island, Vancouver

• Meeting Spot: Duck Pond - between Crystal Ark and My Island Cafe 
• Map of Meeting Spot
• Map of Granville Island

Open to All Levels!  

Medium: Acrylic & Oil 

Plein Air Workshop Overview: 

Plein-air painting requires a painter to render in shorthand the essence of a scene. It requires a set of skills of acute observation, simplification, technical mastery. It is an integral part of an artist oeuvre, image bank and practice and has a direct, if not, invaluable repercussion and influence on the larger scale studio works. 

Learn paint techniques such as:

• dry-brush
• wet into wet
• color mixing
• measurements
• composition
• Capture the passing conditions of light and weather.
• Complete a painting within 3 hours.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to paint at the tranquil Duck Pond on Granville Island, Vancouver, BC. Bring your easels, brushes, and creativity to capture the beauty of this natural haven. Whether you're an experienced painter or just beginning, this setting is sure to spark your imagination.

Clothing - Vancouver weather can change from sunny to wet, hot to cold—all in a single day. Therefore, it's essential to have both rainwear and sun gear. Be sure to pack clothing suitable for any weather, along with bug spray, sunscreen, and, of course, your preferred painting gear. 

Parking - Parking is available in multiple locations. For more information, please visit: Directions and Parking - Granville Island - Vancouver, BC 

About the Instructor - Liza Visagie

Painting  is a visual experience concerned with clarifying thought and to awaken  in us the simplicity and unity of an impression. Liza applies  traditional oil painting techniques along with investigative and  innovative approaches within a modern and contemporary context. The  structural and optical challenges of oil painting is at the forefront of  her subject matter which ranges from site specific landscapes to  narrative based still life. Liza's interest is in documenting the ever  changing natural environment by working directly in nature and from her  experience of studying various landscapes and cities around the globe.

Student Testimonials:

• "Liza did a great job sharing her personal creative process. Her session was extremely helpful. Thanks a lot." 

• "Liza has great knowledge of painting. Highly recommend." 

• "Liza is an excellent teacher, I think, because she listened and  met her students where they are at. She is first-class in my books. She  is tough, thorough and knows her stuff."

• "Liza's knowledge of classical painting and the safe use of  material was very helpful. She taught us about materials, how to hold  the brush and why, oils over  acrylics, pigments, different well known  artists and why they paint, design, think, create, influence the way  they do, etc. Thank you, Liza!"

• "Liza was well prepared with a variety of books and list of  artists we were not familiar with. We were all thankful of the extra  material she covered which answered a lot of questions that came up  during class and which we all shared. Excellent instructor!" 

• "Liza was tremendous and caught us up on a lot of information that was needed as foundational."