Cowan's

10/11/2026

Back by popular demand!

Saturday, October 17th | 1:30 - 4pm | $60

Instructor: Karen Bullaro

Gouache is a truly beginner friendly medium! In this class Karen will cover all you need to know about gouache; including getting familiar with the working properties, gouache pros and cons, materials needed for both creating and preserving gouache paintings, plus helpful tips and tricks! Students will learn to compose a fun and easy floral group, completing a painting of Black Eyed Susans on watercolour paper

All materials are provided

Please wear studio appropriate clothing
Suitable for beginners or experienced artists

10/05/2026

Curious how the Simple Shifts Program could help with common energy saving behaviours through practical tools to lower energy use, owner Paul Cowan connected with Nelson & District Chamber’s Business & Climate Advisor Matt Popp this past summer for a customized support stream that included a site assessment and a tailored action plan for his team.

“We have been in the same great location for more than 50 years and we are constantly working to be better,” says Cowan. “Small changes can have an immediate impact. The Simple Shifts Program is easy and accessible — it meets you where you are and gives you the tools to actually follow through.”

Read the entire story and learn more about the Simple Shifts program at: https://www.discovernelson.com/news/simple-shifts-cowans/

FortisBC Cowan's BC Chamber of Commerce Rob Morrison, MP Brittny Anderson City of Nelson, British Columbia Regional District of Central Kootenay

09/17/2026

We have a couple of cute stuffies that seem to have been left behind at Cowan’s and we hate to think of kids missing their favourite stuffy! If you recognize them we have been taking good care of them for you 😊❤️

09/13/2026

Looking for a new art medium to experiment with? Give oil pastels a try! They’re fun, forgiving and intentionally imprecise. We also stock a full range- from children’s to artist quality, we’ve got something for you to try.
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09/11/2026

Saturday, October 3rd | 1:30 - 4pm | $60

Instructor: Karen Bullaro

Gouache is a truly beginner friendly medium! In this class Karen will cover all you need to know about gouache; including getting familiar with the working properties, gouache pros and cons, materials needed for both creating and preserving gouache paintings, plus helpful tips and tricks! Students will learn to compose a fun and easy floral group, completing a painting of Black Eyed Susans on watercolour paper

All materials are provided

Please wear studio appropriate clothing
Suitable for beginners or experienced artists

09/06/2026

Did you know we sell inkjet & toner cartridges? Did you also know that if we don’t have yours in stock we can usually have it here the next day? Shop in store or online.

Shop Cowan's for premium office and art supplies. Quality products for businesses, creatives, and students — delivered across Canada

09/04/2026

Watercolour is an unpredictable but very rewarding medium. It lends itself to a variety of styles, and even a beginner can produce lovely works.

Wet on wet painting is a spontaneous and expressive way of using watercolor. We will explore various techniques and materials for achieving great results. This course is suitable for beginning or intermediate artists but of course experienced artists are also welcome to join us!

All materials are provided
Please wear studio appropriate clothing
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09/02/2026

NOW HIRING — Inside Sales & Furniture Specialist
Cowan’s Office & Art Supplies | Nelson, BC
Full-time, Tuesday to Saturday | Position open immediately
We’re looking for someone who likes variety in their day and enjoys helping customers find the right solution.
What you’ll do:
    •    Inside sales — quotes, orders, and product research, including supporting our outside sales rep
    •    Run our furniture showroom: keep it looking sharp, sell to walk-in customers, and place orders with suppliers
    •    Help with furniture installations, plus the occasional delivery in Nelson and the surrounding area
    •    Pitch in on the retail sales floor
What you bring:
    •    A clean, valid driver’s licence (required)
    •    Comfort with hands-on work — furniture installs involve lifting and assembly
    •    Strong attention to detail and follow-through on quotes and orders
    •    A friendly, helpful approach with customers
To apply: email your resume to [email protected], or drop it off in person at 517 Victoria St, Nelson.
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We are the largest commercial office products supplier and art supply shop in the Kootenays!

08/25/2026

Intro to Watercolours with Steve Quattrochi | $50 per person | Saturday, September 19th, 1:30-4pm

Watercolour is an unpredictable but very rewarding medium. It lends itself to a variety of styles, and even a beginner can produce lovely works with a little practice. In this workshop, we will cover basic techniques and materials (brushes, paints, and papers) to create a simple landscape painting using only two colours.

· All materials are provided
· Please wear studio appropriate clothing
· Suitable for beginners or experienced artists