our mission
To bridge the gap between the public and the vibrant community of artists in Calgary and the surrounding areas. Being an artist is a deeply personal and multifaceted experience that extends far beyond the finished artwork.
By offering opportunities for intimate and informal interactions between the public and local artists, we aim to provide a unique and meaningful experience that allows for a deeper understanding of an artist's inspirations, creative process, and personal stories.
We will connect, inspire and enrich the lives of those who engage with us, supporting the growth and sustainability of our art community.
These experiences can create lasting connections between artists and the public and cultivate a shared sense of creativity and inspiration that enriches the community.
how it all began
In the spring of 2022, Jean Parker contacted Marcela Strasdas, a key member of the Hills to Shore Studio Tour in Victoria, BC, to seek guidance on starting a similar initiative in Calgary. With the generous support of Marcela, a group of volunteers interested in showcasing their work and studios to the public began working together to launch the Calgary Artists Studio Tour (CAST) with 12 participating artists.
interested in starting a tour in your area?
Use this form to reach out to us and we will be happy to share our experience with you!
the 2025 CAST Committee
Jean Parker
Jean, a Calgarian artist, is inspired to paint the beauty that nature gives us through the INTERPLAY of the elements. It is in the collision of elements such as water and rock, atmosphere and light, cold and heat that she finds the Aha moments in nature. Jean tries to bring to life these moments by building layers, playing with light and using bold colour, texture and brushstrokes. She hopes you, the viewer, can connect to that energy, strength and beauty of our world when you step into her paintings.
Heather Kinahan
Heather is a Canadian landscape artist presently living in Calgary, Alberta. From the prairies to the mountains, she draws endless inspiration from her surroundings and travels to create as an acrylic artist.
Heather’s passion for painting combines her love of learning, exploration of new places and enjoyment of nature. For Heather creating art is a visual method of sharing a memory, thought or vision; all which have the potential to elicit strong emotions. Engaging with art is an experience; she hopes her art has a positive impact on the human spirit.
Mary-Jo Lough
Mary-Jo Lough is an abstract artist based in Calgary, Alberta. While depicting her interior life as a neurodivergent individual, Mary-Jo’s work flows from her intuition. Her art is an invitation for the viewer to navigate the world through an ADHD lens.
She utilizes line and pattern to represent how her mind transforms overwhelming and seemingly random ideas and emotions into an understandable and connected network. Energetic, bold, and intricately detailed, Mary-Jo’s work is the visual language of how she harnesses her internal chaos.
past committee memebers!
Brandie Cormier
Brandie is an acrylic painter who primarily uses landscape and florals as her subject matter. Her goal is to bring vibrancy and optimism into all her collectors’ hearts and homes.
Christina Gouldsborough
Christina Gouldsborough was born and raised on a farm in Northern Ontario in a remote community that provided a great passion for the outdoors and less populated and peaceful areas. Christina has lived in Airdrie, Alberta, since 2001, spending several years in Environmental Management, Innovation and Technology before transitioning to art. Christina passionately paints in her home studio, drawing inspiration from nostalgic moments, agricultural landscapes, and serene Canadian vistas. Her work bridges realism and emotional depth through oil on canvas, creating a dialogue between artist and observer where memories, dreams, and reality intertwine.
Deb Nicolaisen
Deb Nicolaisen, a wildlife and landscape painter based in Calgary, Alberta, draws inspiration from her upbringing in Quebec's Gatineau Hills. With a fine arts education from Champlain Regional College and Queens University, Deb passionately explores the beauty of nature, whether in the Rockies or hidden corners of city parks. Renowned for her wildlife art, she cherishes encounters with flora and fauna. Landscape painting holds equal allure, capturing the essence of cherished moments and places. Deb's work serves as a portal to memories and dreams of travel, inviting viewers into a world of natural wonders and artistic expression.
Isabel Ostrom
Artist Isabel Ostrom finds creative inspiration through her love of animals and the outdoors in British Columbia and Alberta. Isabel is a “colourist” who celebrates nature in all its forms.
She loves bringing joy into people’s lives through her bright and happy paintings and she is well known for her ability to convey an animal’s larger-than-life personality (both domestic and wild).
Isabel paints primarily in acrylic, sometimes in oil, and whether painting animals or landscapes, her work reflects an emotional connection to the subject matter.
Maya Corona
Maya Corona, a self-taught visual artist based in Calgary and originally from Mexico City, infuses her vibrant and bold paintings with a profound sense of freedom and joy. She explores techniques such as acrylics, watercolours, charcoal, mixed media, and digital art.
Transitioning from a 20-year graphic design career, she fully embraced her fine art journey in 2019. With two solo shows at the Jubilee Auditorium and cSpace Mardaloop and participation in 20 group exhibitions, Maya unites communities through art, sharing her vision and inspiring creativity.
