Carolyn M. Boyd is a Canadian landscape artist brushing with passion and enthusiasm from the magnificent shores of Kempenfelt Bay, Georgian Bay, Muskoka and beyond. She studied fine art at Georgian College and North Light Art School, and has a certificate in the Fundamentals of Fine Art. Carolyn teaches private art classes and group workshops. Her paintings are in collections across Canada and globally.
Carolyn’s paintings have been exhibited in the Barrie Art Club Featured Artist Show, Dundas Valley School of Art Annual Auction, MacLaren Art Centre Benefactor Art Exchange Program, Barrie City Hall First Floor Gallery Plein Air Artists Show, Orillia Opera House, Women’s Art Association of Canada, Hibernation Arts Gallery, Quest Art Gallery, Stack Gallery and in various other galleries and shows.
She’s a member of the Barrie Art Club, MacLaren Art Centre, Artists in Canada, Orillia District & Arts Council, Quest Art School & Gallery, Women’s Art Association of Canada, Women’s Art Association of Hamilton, Art Gallery of Ontario, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kawartha Art Gallery, Arts on the Credit, Muskoka Arts & Crafts, Newmarket Group of Artists and CARFAC.
Artist’s Statement
I am an artist living with multiple physical disabilities. Despite facing various disabilities and challenges, I have persevered and now thrive. I am also a survivor of gender-based abuse. My passion lies in using art to help people heal, raising awareness about women’s issues, and making a meaningful impact in my community. I believe people with disabilities and challenges need more of a voice in the art world. They need to be seen and heard and their story needs to be told. I have challenges that slow me down, but that will never stop me from expressing myself in my art. To be inclusive, is to be seen and heard. It’s important for people with disabilities and challenges to feel valued, respected, included, and represented. We can contribute to our community in a meaningful way, and we have a strong voice.
As a landscape painter, my approach currently resides in deep and abiding passion. My landscape paintings will jump to life with colour and movement or retreat to gentle tranquility as I depict the wondrous beauty found in nature. The Canadian landscape offers a continual changing panorama with its change of seasons. My paintings portray a message of beauty and belief in its power and majesty.
Memory takes me back to childhood where my Mother was a landscape painter. Fortunate to be taken to galleries and plein air painting excursions, around Ontario, we painted in lock step. Muskoka was a favourite place to visit. She encouraged me to observe and imagine the rhythm and flow of water, the gentle movement of trees, as well as light and shadow, and imbue my paintings with deep belief in the power of nature. My Mother introduced me to the world of art and many of her favourite artists are also mine. The Group of Seven artists, along with Tom Thomson, and Emily Carr, as well as Vincent Van Gogh have influenced my artistic style. Over time, my art has come to heal the rough passages of life.
As I show up in front of a blank canvas, I am never really certain where it will take me. It is like starting a conversation with a stranger or going into a new neighbourhood. Each chosen subject will dictate the size of the canvas I will use. Using a reference photo I harken back to the feeling I experienced while being in that moment. Therein lies the magic. After a few minutes of reflection, I do a rough outline sketch. Dipping, swirling and blending, I experiment with squirting paint right out of the tube. Then, I choose flat and round brushes to paint the dominant colours. Finer details are added for refinement and interest. Often, I enjoy creating an element of ruggedness to my work. I check myself when it is time to stop painting. Overworking is so tempting!
Artistic Mediums
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
June 2024 – Featured Artist, Ruth Upjohn Gallery, Women’s Art Association of Canada, Toronto, ON
Apr & May 2024 – Featured Artist, Art in Town, Tiffany Dining Lounge & Restaurant, Coldwater, ON
Oct 2023 to Feb 2024 – Display Artist, Grillicious Gourmet Tap & Grill Restaurant, Barrie, ON
July, Aug 2022 – Featured Artist, Barrie Art Club, Barrie, ON
Nov 2020 to Mar 2022 – Emerging Artist, Grillicious Gourmet Tap & Grill Restaurant, Barrie, ON
Oct 2020 – Artist of the Month, Barrie Art Club, Barrie, ON
Oct 2020 – Culture Days Artist, Grillicious Gourmet Tap & Grill Restaurant, Barrie, ON
Sep 2016 – Display Artist, Community Art Show, Community Wholeness Centre, Barrie, ON
Dec 1999 to Aug 2005 – Wall of Art, Bluehaven Art Studio & Gallery, Hawkestone, ON
Group Exhibitions
June to Dec 2024 – Inclusion, Stack Gallery, Orillia, ON
May 2024 – Benefactor Exchange Program, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
May 2024 – Bravado Art Exhibition, Georgian College Theatre
May 2024 – Rotunda Show, Barrie City Hall, Barrie, ON
May to July 2024 – Melody in Blue, Orillia Opera House, Orillia, ON
May & Jun 2024 – Spring Art Show, CDC, Orillia, ON
Mar to Jun 2024 – Everyday Life Now and Then, Simcoe County Museum, Minesing, ON
Mar & Apr 2024 – Keeping Dreams, Women’s Art Association of Canada, Toronto, ON
Mar to May 2024 – ODAC Spring Show, Orillia Opera House, Orillia, ON
Feb & Apr 2024 – Art Show, CDC, Orillia, ON
Feb & Mar 2024 – Winter Show, Hibernation Art Gallery, Orillia, ON
Feb & Mar 2024 – Love Is, Hibernation Art Gallery, Orillia, ON
Jan & Feb 2024 – What’s On Your Plate Art, Quest Art School & Gallery, Midland, ON
Jan to Mar 2024 – ODAC Winter Show, Orillia Opera House, Orillia, ON
Dec 2023 to Jan 2024 – Reginal Differences, Artists in Canada, Online
Sep 2023 – Toronto Artisan Market, Christie Pits Park, Toronto, ON
Sep 2023 – Culture Days, Meridian Place, Barie, ON
Sep 2023 – Dundas Artisan Market, Dundas, ON
Aug 2023 – Art & Music, Busby Centre Charity Auction, Barrie, ON
Jul 2023 – Horticulture Society’s Summer Garden Tour, Oro-Medonte, ON
Jul 2023 – Plein Air Paintings, First Floor Gallery, Barrie City Hall, ON
Jul & Aug 2023 – Toronto Artisan Market, Trinity Bellwoods, Toronto, ON
Mar 2023 – Benefactor Exchange Program, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Feb 2023 – Spring Show, Simcoe County Museum, Midhurst, ON
Apr 2022 & Apr 2023 & Apr 2024 – Annual Juried Charity Art Auction, Dundas Valley School of Art, Dundas, ON
July 2021 – Art & Book Launch, Heritage Estate Winery & Cidery, Barrie, ON
Mar 2020 to Present – Art Display, The Artisan Boutique, Barrie ON
Apr 2016 to Present – Rotunda Show, Barrie City Hall, Barrie, ON
Feb 2016 to Present – Barrie Art Club Monthly Members Show, Barrie, ON
Studio Tours
Jun 2024 – Coldwater Canadians Heritage Museum, Coldwater Studio Tour, Coldwater, ON
Festivals
Aug 2019, 2022, & 2023 – Kempenfest, BAC Booth, Barrie, ON
Jun 2022, 2023, & 2024 – Barrie Pride Parade & Festival, Barrie, ON
Art Demonstrations & Competitions
May 2024 – Art Blast Live Painting Competition, Barrie, ON
Sep 2023 – Culture Days Live Painting, Meridian Place, Barie, ON
Aug 2023 – Kempenfest Live Painting, Barrie, ON
Jul & Aug 2023 – Beach Road Market Live Painting, Innisfil, ON
Dec 2022 – Art Battle Toronto Live Painting Competition, Toronto, ON
Feb 2019 – Interpretive Dance Drawing Demonstration, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Nov 2018 – Drawing Demonstration, Shelter Me Documentary Film, Barrie, ON
Awards, Recognitions & Nominations
Apr 2024 – Certificate of Excellence, Art Contest Winner Doug Shipley MP, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Aug 2023 – Certificate of Appreciation, Indian Independence Day Award, Barrie, ON
Nov 2022 – Excellence in the Arts Award Nomination, Creative Barrie, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Public Art
Dec 2021 – Holiday Window Art, Co-Designer & Artist, Grillicious Restaurant, Barrie, ON
Sep 2020, Sep 2021, Sep 2022 – Pickering Community Banner Program, Juried Art, Pickering, ON
Contributions & Publications
Jun 2024 – Promotional Colouring Book, Kempenfest, Barrie, ON
Jun 2024 – Newsletter, Doug Shipley MP 2024, Barrie, ON
May 2024 – Program Magazine, Bravado Show Georgian College Theatre, Barrie, ON
Nov 2023 – Artwork, Doug Shipley MP 2024 Calendar, Barrie, ON
Apr 2021 – Artwork, Shelter Me Book, Barrie, ON
