Creative Arts

Creativity inspired by nature and gardens!

We have regular garden arts classes with the instructors below, but please check our calendar for occasional arts based classes with other guest instructors.

Instructors

Floral Design with Katherine Olmstead IMF

Katherine Olmstead is a floral designer, horticulturist, and marketing strategist based in Victoria, British Columbia. In 2023, she became the first Canadian to earn the title of International Master Florist, graduating from the Boerma Institute in the Netherlands under the mentorship of Gregor Lersch, a globally celebrated floral artist.

Originally from Toronto, Katherine draws inspiration from her diverse travels and the natural beauty of her home on Vancouver Island. She is passionate about blending her botanical knowledge with artistic creativity to design sustainable and innovative floral pieces for events, creative projects, wearable fresh floral fashion, and installations.

Katherine is enthusiastic about promoting sustainability and sharing her expertise through teaching and mentorship. Her workshops offer participants a chance to connect with local nature, develop artistic skills, and explore their creativity in a welcoming, hands-on environment. When she’s not designing in a studio or working in a local flower shop, Katherine enjoys experimenting with other artforms and types of expression to add on to her floral toolbelt.

Upcoming workshops:

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024: European-inspired Holiday Tree Arrangement

Basketry Classes with Joan Carrigan

Joan Carrigan is a full time basketmaker and basketry teacher living on Salt Spring Island, BC. Over the past 25 years, her passion for baskets has led her to study, travel and explore many different techniques and materials within the medium. Joan studied Fine Art and Art History at the University of Guelph and her love of history prompted her research in traditional techniques. Her background in fine art has encouraged her enthusiasm for the sculptural and creative potentials that the medium offers. Her inspiration comes from the plant materials she respectfully harvests from nature. Joan’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Joan teaches extensively both close to home and in Europe and finds this to be a very rewarding aspect of her career.

Joan’s classes are taught in-person and online. They are suitable for beginners and participants that are more advanced.
Online classes are a great option for those that may not be able to attend in person.

I thoroughly enjoyed the class. Joan is a wonderful communicator and teacher. Thanks so much for offering this online opportunity. Although I’d love to be able to attend a class in Victoria, or B.C., it’s impossible for me just now. I’m very grateful that so many people have facilitated this option.

These classes are popular, so if you would like to go on the interest list to get notices when new classes open for registration, sign up below.

Joan’s next classes will be held in 2025 – join the interest list.

BASKETRY INTEREST LIST
ONLINE BASKETRY CLASSES
Willow chair workshops with Andrew Kent

Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full day workshop.  In one day, with Andrew Kent’s expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Bent Willow Rustic Chair. This is a great introduction to rustic building. Learn how to make a square frame from pieces of alder & work with different sizes of willow to create your chair. This is a full day workshop and best done with a helper. The cost is for one or two participants to build one chair. All tools provided.

Click on the date below to learn more and to register for upcoming workshops.

Register: Sun. Jan. 19, 2025, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Space is limited to 4 chairs per session, so if you would like to go on the interest list to get notices when new classes open for registration, sign up below.

Willow Chair Interest List
Watercolour classes with Richard Wong

Richard Wong is a professional wildlife artist in Victoria, BC. All Richard’s classes are relaxed, fun and fully supported. He offers safe classes for beginners who want to try watercolour for the first time or those wanting to learn more techniques. He offers both in-person and online classes. Most of Richard’s classes are on Japanese art paper and participants will learn how to create a beautiful watercolor painting of local wildlife. Participants return again and again to enjoy these inspiring and positive classes with Richard.

Click the date below to learn more and to register for Richard’s Watercolour classes.

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 1:00-4:00 PM (in person or online)

These classes are popular, so if you would like to go on the interest list to get notices when new classes open for registration, sign up below.

WATERCOLOUR INTEREST LIST
Finger Painting without the Paint workshop

Have FUN in the Gardens with Artist and Author Wendy Picken. Explore the mixed medium techniques she has developed over the past 30 years. Learn how to create beautiful flowerscapes while exploring the Gardens on paper. This class is suitable for beginners and is a great refresher for those who have taken the class before. All supplies are included.

Wendy Picken is well known for her whimsical, bold and colorful floral work. She has been an artist on the Saanich Peninsula for the past 35 years. She has illustrated and self published 2 books for children, her latest release is titled ‘Rainbees & Honeybows’.

Click the date to learn more and to register  for her upcoming workshop.

2025 classes coming soon – join the interest list

These classes are popular, so if you would like to go on the interest list to get notices when new classes open for registration, sign up below.

Finger Painting Without the Paint

Upcoming Events

VIEW EVENT CALENDAR
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19

Willow Chair Workshop with Andrew Kent

January 19, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pmHorticulture Centre Of The Pacific

Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full day workshop. In one day, with Andrew's expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Bent Willow […]

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23

HCP Kids – Garden Nature Academy Jan 2025

January 23, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm$300.00 - Horticulture Centre Of The Pacific

The Garden Nature Academy is a half day program that runs on Thursday's. The outdoors offers safe and seasonal opportunities for your preschooler to explore through play, games, songs, and […]

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23

How to Compose a Painting: Watercolour Talk and Class with Richard Wong

January 23, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pmHorticulture Centre Of The Pacific

Start the new year with this artist talk and watercolour painting class, where Richard will offer tips on composing a painting, and you'll learn to paint early spring blossoms, perfect for Valentine's Day.

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HCP Kids – Terrariums

January 25, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am$35.00 - Horticulture Centre Of The Pacific

Gardening with tropicals and succulents is an easy way for children to use their creativity to make these miniature gardens. We will learn about the individual needs of these interesting […]

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Questions? We would love to hear from you!

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Territory Acknowledgement

We at HCP gratefully acknowledge that the Gardens are located on the ancestral territories of the lək’ʷəŋən peoples, represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nations. With gratitude, we work and learn where people come together in appreciation of plants and stewardship of the Gardens.

505 Quayle Rd. Victoria, BC V9E 2J7

Phone: 250-479-6162

Email: [email protected]

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