Detail: Magnolia Mischief 18x24"
Artist Statement
Rooted in storytelling, my paintings often begin with a real place or memory before moving into imagined directions. I aim to evoke an emotional response by showing that it is possible to hold both light and dark in the same moment. Even in uncertain times, there is something bright or funny that suggests things can still turn out okay. I explore themes of grit, positivity, and community, the strength we find in each other and in the moments that connect us.
I paint with encaustic, layering melted beeswax and damar resin to create depth, translucency, and texture. My line work blends fast gestures with careful carving to add rhythm and movement. Each piece is made in my Toronto studio, where I’m always trying to settle my impatient energy into something still and meaningful.
Artist Bio & CV
Shailyn first got her hands on encaustic in 2016 and was instantly hooked by the process—molten wax, layered texture, and all the unpredictability that comes with it. She’s been painting since she was 15, beginning with photo-realistic oils under the guidance of a local artist in Eastern Ontario. Her style loosened and became more expressive during her studies in graphic design and fine art at St. Lawrence College in Kingston and later at York University in Toronto.
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She’s a juried member of the North Toronto Group of Artists (NTGA) and a member of the Artists Network, and volunteers with both communities. She first exhibited her encaustic work with NTGA in 2022 and continues to show and collaborate with fellow artists, building her practice within a vibrant creative network. Her work has been featured in exhibitions across the Greater Toronto Area and is held in private and corporate collections throughout Canada and the U.S.
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Exhibitions, Shows & Tours
Current & Upcoming​​​
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Skagen Gallery, Shops at Don Mills - June 30 - Sept 30, 2025, Toronto​
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Micak Gallery, June 25 - Aug 31, 2025, Aurora, ON
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True North Unshaken, Leslie Grove Gallery, July 3 - July 27, 2025, Toronto - Juried Group Exhibition
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NTGA Fall Show & Art Tour - Sept 27 & 28, 2025, Toronto​
Previous
2025 - Riverdale Artwalk, Toronto​
2025 - NTGA Spring Show & Art Tour, Toronto​
2025 - The North Toronto Perspective, Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Etobicoke – Group Exhibition
2024 - Holiday Smalls, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto - Juried Group Exhibition
2024 - NTGA Fall Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2024 - Fur, Fins & Feathers, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto - Juried Group Exhibition
2024 - NTGA Spring Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2024 - You Do You, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto - Juried Group Exhibition
2023 - Kingston Square Foot Show, Kingston ON - Juried Group Exhibition
2023 - NTGA Fall Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2023 - Bayview Fall Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2023 - NTGA Spring Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2022 - NTGA Fall Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2022 - NTGA Spring Show & Art Tour, Toronto
2004 - Steamwhistle Brewery, Toronto - Solo Exhibition
2004 - Distillery District Outdoor Art Fair, Toronto
2003 - Distillery District Outdoor Art Fair, Toronto
2002 - Matthew's Gallery, Toronto - Solo Exhibition
2001 - Art5. Woolfitt's Art Gallery, Toronto - Five-artist showcase
2000 - Art6. Arts and Letters Club, Toronto - Six-artist showcase
1999 - Art4. Evening Telegram Building, Toronto - Four-artist showcase
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Volunteer Positions
Artist Network: Leslie Grove Gallery committee member
NTGA Executive committee & jury member
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Education
York University, Visual Arts
St. Lawrence College, Graphic Design
Tide Out 60x24"