Inspired by the everyday avenues of beauty that unfold en plein air or in the studio, Sheila McGregor is a bold artist who works primarily with acrylic paint.
Part of Sheila’s childhood story has been featured in Woman’s World Magazine and on the front page of a newspaper published in Dallas, Texas. Growing up in foster homes, Sheila changed schools over a dozen times. As the oldest of four children, Sheila took responsibility for caring for her younger siblings. Throughout the upheavals, the one constant in Sheila’s life was art class - a place where she felt she truly belonged.
Sheila was separated from her maternal grandmother at an early age, but this remarkable woman would be the role model Sheila looked to for guidance. “I remember watching my grandmother stop and sincerely listen and respond to whomever she met. It was important for her to look for a remnant of beauty in each story and person.” She passed her gift on to Sheila, enabling her to forge friendships while trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape where she was always ‘the new kid.’
Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sheila married and raised three children in Northwestern and Eastern Ontario. Experiencing motherhood and a sense of family has been an incredible part of her journey. She began painting in watercolour in 2002 with encouragement from her husband during their canoe trips. The thrill of being in the wilderness and discovering the creation around her reminded Sheila of the sense of belonging she felt as a child creating art. Thoughts of her grandmother took her on a journey to her birthplace where, standing at her grandmother’s grave for the first time, Sheila read her grandmother’s headstone, “GREAT LOVE LIVES ON”. Shortly after that trip, Sheila traveled to New York City to attend the International Arts Movement Conference. It was listening to founder and artist, Makoto Fujimura, speaking about how beauty feeds our soul and sharing his understanding of generative creativity that Sheila realized she needed to respond to the call of ‘GREAT LOVE’. Sheila found herself at a crossroads, contemplating the call of that romantic notion and wondering where it would take her.
After many trips to art galleries big and small, Sheila craved more, and began studying Art History, Figure, Still Life, and Landscape Drawing under the mentorship of professional artist, Jane Bonnell. Learning the dynamics of acrylic paint gave Sheila the opportunity to work large, which seemed necessary to her unfolding process. Sheila also realized painting in the open air of the Canadian landscape was vital to capturing the inspiration for her larger studio work. “At times, I am overwhelmed with the scene I’m in and I’m unable to paint, so I sit and listen like my grandmother taught me. There is a story to be told that I need to hear, and then I attempt to paint the remnants of beauty that are shared.”
Since 2009, Sheila has lived in Deep River, Ontario where she currently works out of her studio. She has expanded her repertoire, delving into clay, printmaking, fibre art, and artistic design for local theatre productions, recently working on set design for “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Acceptance and participation in the 2014 Pontiac Artists Association Residency was a catalyst for Sheila’s growth, both personal and creatively, and she has remained an active member of the organization since. Attending workshops and building a peer group has been key to Sheila’s creative development. Sheila has participated in group and solo exhibitions in galleries throughout the Ottawa Valley. With the desire to continue to grow as an artist, Sheila is developing her business acumen through the Art Business Academy developed by Jason Horejs of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sheila hopes that her work will bring encouragement to the discouraged and beauty to the broken.
“I’ve recently been commissioned by a husband to create a painting for his wife. It’s an incredible honour that something I’ve created would be part of their expression of love.”
Sheila McGregor – Curriculum Vitae
sheilamc5@sympatico.ca 613-639-9604
Sheila McGregor is an artist working primarily with Acrylic paint. Responding to the call in the manner of “just pushing paint” employs vivid colours while fostering expressive, spontaneous gesture like marks. Inspired by the everyday avenues of beauty that unfold ‘En plein air’ or in studio.
Education
2016 – 2017 Art Business Academy, Jason Horsche
2016 Exploring Printmaking, Rob Hinchley
2015 Pontiac Artists Association Residency
2015 Printmaking, Rob Hinchley
2015 Nuno Felting, Wendo Vanessen
2003 Studied Art History, Colour Theory, Painting with Acrylics; Figure, Still Life, and Landscape under Jane Bonnell
Exhibitions
June/July 2019 – Solo Show: STONE SCHOOL GALLERY, Portage du Fort, Quebec
March 2018 – Café 349, Shawville, Quebec
February 2018 – Solo Show: DEEP RIVER LIBRARY ARTS COMMITTEE, Deep River, Ontario
July 2017- Group Show: Canada 150 Celebration DEEP RIVER GALLERY
May 2016 –Solo Show: STONE SCHOOL GALLERY, Portage du Fort, Quebec
June 2016 - Café 349, Shawville, Quebec
September 2014 - Guest Artist: ARNPRIOR & BEYOND ART DISCOVERY TOUR
Arnprior, Ontario
August 2014 – Guest Artist: Carol Grant, SUMMER FEST STUDIO SHOW
Deep River, Ontario
July 2014 – Group Show: Janna’s Café, WATERSHED, Pembroke, Ontario
February 2014 – Juried show: VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL, Pembroke, Ontario
July 2013 – Group show and opening; WATERSHED STUDIO, Eganville, Ontario
November 2013 - Group show: WATERSHED STUDIO, Pembroke, Ontario
March 2012 - Juried show: VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL, Pembroke, Ontario
August 2012 - Guest Artist: Carol Grant, SUMMER FEST STUDIO SHOW
Deep River, Ontario
August 2010 - Guest Artist: Carol Grant, SUMMER FEST STUDIO SHOW
Deep River, Ontario
July 2010 - ART IN THE PARK, Deep River, Ontario
Collections
Private Collection:
Chicago, Illinois
Regina, Saskatchewan
Mansfield, Quebec
Deep River, Ontario
North Bay, Ontario
Midlothian, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Austin, Texas
Holland
Switzerland
Corporate Collection
Investors Group/CI Assante Wealth Management, North Bay Ontario
Publications
North Renfrew Times: January 31, 2018 – Article pg. 13
The Humm: April 2013 – Article pg. 24 – “The Art of Coffee
Journal du Pontiac: June 1, 2016 – Article/ Photo pg. 4