Our Founders

justin ogilvie

founder & core instructor

Justin Ogilvie is a Vancouver based artist, educator, and co-founder of Canvas Method. After receiving his BFA from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2000, he began exhibiting in galleries and teaching in private and public institutions.

Ogilvie then completed his MFA, delving into more contemporary and conceptual practices. His recent work pushes the boundaries of representation, integrating collage and abstraction within imaginative figurative compositions.

Justin’s painting practice informs his instruction, which includes training in traditional realism, mentorship in creative experimentation and guidance in conceptual development.

Justin is a passionate, energetic and supportive instructor. No matter what stage you’re at, you can expect to learn quickly and break through barriers, as you develop your technical and conceptual skills.

steve williams

founder & core instructor

Steve Williams is a Vancouver based artist, instructor and co-founder of Canvas Method. For the past eighteen years, he has taught painting and drawing and maintained a studio practice.

Steve originally taught himself how to draw and paint with the aid of books and videos. After reaching a ceiling with his progress, he spent several years studying at renowned ateliers in France, USA and Taiwan, as well as studying with Nicolas Uribe, Henry Yan, Sean Cheetham, Daniel Keys, Kim English and others.

Steve’s sense of humour and clear instruction makes learning easy and fun. His blend of French Academic and contemporary painting methods give you the tools to create convincing realism.

Students will walk away with refined technical skill sets, as well as the motivation and passion to bring their work to the next level.

maria Goncharova

Director of Creative + Strategy

Maria is a multidisciplinary designer, creative writer, researcher, educator (Emily Carr University of Art & Design), and workshop facilitator. Recently, a senior associate of Design Thinking + Research at Bethink Solutions, among a few other organizations, where Maria's expertise helps the public sector, private sector, and NGOs thrive.
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Always working on untangling complexity and synthesizing chaos into order. Great at building systems, resilient frameworks, and experiences that are user-friendly, socially-impactful, and a joy to live with.
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Maria is passionate about exploring the power of design activism and design dissent, especially within the fields of research-driven, educational, and nonprofit sectors.

Simply put, Maria uses design to help people and places improve their lives. Sometimes, Maria even manages to get to her studio, where she builds colourful sculptural beings.

cara bain

Administrator & core Instructor

Cara is a vital part of the Canvas Method team, balancing her roles as an administrator, instructor, and behind-the-scenes organizer.
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She has been an active teacher at Langara College and in various private institutions for nearly a decade. Cara’s drawings and paintings explore the human figure, landscape, and still life, with a strong emphasis in working from direct observation.

Cara aims to capture the fleeting nuances of a shared experience, whether working en plein air or with the live model. In her recent work, abstract expressionist colour fields have weaved their way into this world, creating newfound tensions and discoveries.

As one of our core teachers, Cara brings clarity, warmth, and structure to the classroom, while also supporting the smooth operation of the school on a daily basis.

core team