C. Joy McCallister

Born in Nova Scotia and currently residing in Kirkfield, Joy had a career in adult education with a focus on training material design and project management. A mini-career teaching ballet, combined with a love of music and nature, helped guide her to the artistic practice she enjoys today. Drawing on her project management experience, she leads KAN’s Programming Committee. 

Joy describes herself as a self-taught artist with an array of artistic interests. Through research and experimentation with many art forms and mediums, she has settled on acrylics and mixed media as her preferred approach. However, she will not let go of her interest in Scratchboard and pen & ink. The style most appealing to her is abstract realism imposed on an intimate look at nature.

Her work demonstrates a sense of movement and rhythm stemming from her passion for dance, as well as exuberance and vibrant colours inspired by her love of nature.

Energetic and disciplined, Joy actively seeks opportunities to learn, especially from her own failures, to help her excel through her creative ups and downs. Through it all, she treats painting as if it were a dance and her brush a dance partner.

Following 6 years being active in the decorative arts with the Ottawa Valley Decorative Arts guild, she attended a “Painting Wildlife” course with Canadian artist David Alexander Risk in 2002 at the Haliburton School of Art & Design. A milestone event, this course made it clear to her that she should take art further. David Risk’s teachings from that time remain a strong influence. In 2026, she attended Robert Bateman’s “Passions & Practices” class, also at the Haliburton School of Art & Design. This proved to be another milestone. Everything she learned first-hand from these two artists meshed and became the catalyst to take her art to a new level, and she has not looked back.

Joy has been a member of the Kawartha Arts Network since 2017, and is also a member of the Kawartha Art Gallery and the Kawartha Lakes Art Council. You can contact Joy at joyspaintbox@gmail.com