Shalin is a self-taught artist with a background in journalism and writing. She began painting during the pandemic lockdown while revisiting photos clicked during her hikes in the Rockies. Guided by books from her local public library and online tutorials, what started as a curiosity quickly became a dedicated practice.
Her work focuses on landscape painting, primarily in acrylic. She often uses palette knives to build texture and depth. Through her work, she explores light, contrast and the emotional atmosphere of natural spaces.
She lives in Calgary with her husband and their cat, who loves her studio more than he’s allowed to.
Shalin Thomas
Silver Linings, Maligne Lake
Thunder in the Valley
Green Cathedral
Hallowed Grounds
Misty Morning in the Valley
“Precision has always been a fascination. My works are created entirely from memory, which is unfortunate, because my memory of what a human body looks like is apparently a circle on top with five lines coming out of it.
Through my process I develop original interpretations of the world around me. By simplifying and reducing, I can showcase the essential truth of any subject — that at its core, everything can be expressed in five lines or fewer. My loop-da-loops demonstrate a mastery of the continuous curve. My snowflakes contain multitudes.
So, as you can no doubt tell, I am an artist. Maybe? Probably... Yes, probably.”
— ARTISTS STATEMENT