Paddle, Plot, Repeat, 24" x 24"

Rooted in storytelling, Shailyn Bruining creates paintings that hold both light and dark in the same breath. Even in uncertain moments, she looks for something bright or funny—something that suggests things can still turn out okay. She explores themes of grit, positivity, and community—moments that can connect us. Her work often begins in a real place or memory, but always leaves room for the viewer’s story too.

Shailyn has been painting with encaustic since 2016, layering melted beeswax and damar resin to create depth, translucency, and texture. Her line work blends fast gestures with careful carving to add rhythm and movement. Each piece is made in her Toronto studio, where she’s always trying to settle her impatient energy into something still and meaningful. She studied graphic design at St. Lawrence College in Kingston and and fine art at York University in Toronto. 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. 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.