My Journey

Her earliest dreams of becoming an artist were stifled by the expectation that art be a perfect replica of its subject—a standard her restless imagination never quite fit. “My grades in art were very low!” Rosin laughs, but confesses that, deep inside, the artist had always been there. It was only with adulthood, and later retirement, that she found the freedom and time to truly explore the world of watercolor—a medium whose unpredictably fluid movement echoed her own creative spirit.

Despite no formal art training, Rosin followed an intuitive, determined path. Creativity threaded through her varied careers: she spent years as a retail window designer and later apprenticed under a theatrical mask maker. A year immersed in mask-making led, unexpectedly, to her work being exhibited in galleries and acclaimed with commissions—including a standout project for “Beauty and the Beast.” These experiences nurtured her belief that “the subject chooses me,” inviting a playful openness into her creative process.

Rosin’s approach to watercolor is as unconventional as her journey. She favors heavy 180lb paper, generous water, and even old credit cards to coax pigment and pattern into life. Guided by YouTube tutorials, she embraced loose, abstract techniques, tilting surfaces to let colors diverge and mingle, resulting in compositions that are celebrated for their vibrant textures and a sense of meditative calm. For Rosin, inspiration dwells in everyday desire—the urge to create simply for the joy of it, with the hope of drawing out that involuntary “awwww” from viewers.

Her family, too, is threaded with artistic sensibility: a cousin, sister, and daughter all share the creative flame. Beyond painting, Rosin finds joy in hiking, attending festivals and concerts, and performing with the Geriatrics and Friends Theater Group, a senior drama troupe that writes and stage shows for local residents—each outlet feeding the reservoirs of feeling and story that enliven her work.

Recently, Rosin has sought professional development through courses such as “Getting Gallery Ready” and Art2Life’s online curriculum, which honed both her craft and her approach to the business of art. Recognition followed, including an in-depth critique and mentorship with Jason Horejs from the Professional Artist Association. Artists who’ve reviewed her pieces praise both their impact and market readiness—a promising affirmation as she sets her sights on wider gallery representation in Canada and abroad.

Rosin’s philosophy insists upon art’s essential place in the broader culture—not only as a mirror of political and emotional realities, but as a gentle source of serenity and delight. She dreams of seeing her luminous, calming paintings exhibited across Canada and, one day, accepted by a European gallery or a fabled residency like the Banff School of Arts and Music. Ever an advocate for art’s quiet revolution, Shirley Rosin hopes most of all that her paintings might offer viewers a moment of stillness, a flash of color, and the restorative breath of wonder.