How It All Started - Campfire Journal by Slay Illustrations

Campfire Notes by Slay Illustrations | Canadian art, bold illustrations & creative inspiration

How It All Started

Hello, I’m Stephen Lay, the creative mind behind SLay Illustrations—or simply, SLay.

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, I spent over two decades working in Mississauga’s newspaper industry. My career revolved around marketing, coordination, ad creation, and production—crafting visuals, managing systems, and helping get newspapers to press week after week. It was fast-paced and creative in its own way, but I found myself wanting something more personal—something that belonged solely to me.

That outlet began to take shape in 2014 while creating custom Christmas gifts for friends and family. I developed Mirror Image, a single-panel comic strip inspired by the sharp wit of Gary Larson. To my surprise, it was soon published in The Brampton Guardian, The East York Chronicle, and other publications. From there, my illustration work expanded into humorous science pieces for Secondcell Bio and political cartoons for TOTimes—always with the goal of sparking thought, reflection, or conversation.

The true turning point, however, came during a quiet summer on Lake Superior at the family camp. 

Sitting by a campfire, surrounded by the stillness and subtle magic of the Canadian landscape, my work began to shift. I started experimenting with bold, trippy digital illustration—art that felt more immersive, emotional, and reflective of the natural world around me. At the same time, I was navigating the difficult realities of my parents aging, including my mother’s Alzheimer’s and helping care for her with my father. What began as simple doodles based on photographs slowly became a form of processing, healing, and grounding.

Day Fire on Whiskey Bay (one of my first illustrations in this genre)

Those early digital sketches grew into the fine art style that defines SLay Illustrations today: psychedelic, modern Canadian landscape art inspired by campfires, cottages, coffee, concerts, and the outdoors. My work is about reflection, tranquility, and connection—offering moments of calm in an increasingly loud world. Childhood influences like cartoons and comics still show up too, quietly shaping the playful and illustrative side of my work. For that, look no further than my trippy mind-bending Groovy Collection renderings feature on t-shirts. It is an exercise in relaxation and deep imagination. 

I like to think of these blog posts as campfire notes—stories shared in good company.

There’s something endlessly fascinating about a campfire: starting it, feeding it, watching it breathe. It’s a place where friends gather, new ideas form, stars come into focus, and wonder feels close at hand. That sense of presence and curiosity is what I try to capture in my digital art and canvas prints inspired by the Canadian landscape.

I hope you’ll join me here—in conversation, reflection, and wonder.

Remain in wonder,
Stephen Lay (SLay)

PS my hope is to post about 2-3 times a month. Stay tuned. 

For a closer look at campfire-inspired themes, explore Day Fire on Whiskey Bay and Firepit in West Guilford.