Author Archives: Linda Denis

Linda Denis, Three Fisherman, Coteau Landing, watercolour, 2015

I continue to sketch at the Soulanges Canal. Early morning and late afternoon the

one of four on lawn of St. Clet Church, Qc

fisherman take up their favourite spots.They tend to be still for several minutes, making them ideal models. The next best models are the four stone angels on the front lawn of the Catholic Church at the junction of Cité des Jeunes and the #201 highway.

Linda Denis, Abandoned Light House, Pointe des Cascades, watercolour, 2015

Yesterday at Pointe des Cascades, a few daring souls where jumping off the locks into the pool of water below. I looked only after I heard the big splash.

Linda Denis, West Point, watercolour, 2015

Earlier in the week I sketched the west point of the canal looking towards the great expansion of sky in the far distance. I was thinking about Jeff and I know he made the journey. It was a sad day Tuesday; we said our final goodbyes. His religion was to live and die without regrets.

The Soulanges Canal (1891-1958) bypassed the rapids of Cascade, Rocher Tendu, les Cédres and les Coteaux which made it a major shipping lane between Upper and Lower Canada. In 1958 the St. Lawrence Seaway opened and the canal closed. Many locals want to rehabilitate the canal to be used as a throughway for pleasure crafts. For now, the bicycle path  following the canal is very popular and many use the water to fish and others to dive for relics underwater at Point des Cascade.

Linda Denis, South side of Electric Power House, watercolour, 2015

The red brick electric power house designed by Alfred Arthur Cox (1800-1950) often called “le petit pouvoir” was built between 1899-1900 to supply the locks and lights on a 24 hour basis. No longer in use, it is located about midway on the canal and can be seen from highway 338 on the north side or the south side from chemin du Fleuve. To see it close up, the bicycle path is the best choice.

Linda Denis, North side of Soulanges Canal Electric Station, watercolour, 2015

Linda Denis, Derelict Canal, watercolour, 2015

Linda Denis, Water Passage alongside Locks, watercolour, 2015

Linda Denis, Lock at Pointe des Cascade, watercolour, 2015

Every spring for more than twenty years Linda Drewry sends out a list of tuesday plein air painting locations. This week, May 26, we met at the small Quebec Village of Pointe des Cascade in the Parc des Ancres (over 100 anchors). Here is the starting point of the abandoned Soulange Canal built in 1899 and closed in 1958 stretching westerly 14 miles to Coteaux Landing. Now the waterway is closed to watercrafts with all locks in various stages of disrepair and decay.

Canals St Lawrence River, map by drawn by A.U. Almon, 1909

A watercolour sketch, completed later in the week at the westerly entrance to the Soulange Canal.

Linda Denis, Lock Coteau Landing, watercolour, 2015

A few weeks have past since the cold sunny days of the spring paint out at Les Éboulements. Since this outing I have thought often about the artistic works of Marc-Aurèle Fortin (1888-1970). My first encounter with his works was a painting of sail boats painted on a card board poster which I thought of as good way to use up readily available material. I progressed quickly to looking at his other works; oil, watercolour, engraving and his innovative use of artist’s tools. Fortin painted the Charlevoix region landscape with bold exaggerated strokes showing the beauty of trees, mountains and skies. It is well worth a visit to look at his works.

Allison Robichaud sends me three paintings from the recent outing. Always true to his style he finds the spirit of Charlevoix.

Allison Robichaud, Back country of Charlevoix, oil, 2015

Allison Robichaud, Along the River, oil, 2015

Allison Robichaud, Freighter, oil, 2015

Another watercolour sketch painted from the steep hill into Saint-Irénée, Qc

Linda Denis, Top Tier, watercolour, 2015

The usual and other hardy souls arrive to spend four days of outdoor painting in Charlevoix, Qc. There is plenty of subject matter for all taste; villages, woodlots, cattle or horses, the waters of St. Lawrence, and the mountainous terrain near Les Grands Jardins. Home base is the Auberge de Nos Aïeux in Les Éboulements where we are welcomed with great food, a view of L’Isle -aux-Coudre, le Massif and the ferry crossing at Saint Joseph-de-la-Rive.

Stuart Main, Catching the Warm Sun, oil, 2015

Stuart Main, Allison Robichaud and Catherine Young Bates have for years outsmarted us. They know the best places to paint, how to prevent frostbite and very important where to park our cars so as not to be wiped out by logging trucks.

Catherine Young Bates, oil, www.cybates.com

No Venezia sketchbook this time. I bring my easel, a wide mouthed thermos for water, watercolour sheets, a metal palette and a few brushes. After setting up, I leave most of my gear in the warm car except a mechanical pencil and paper. The sketching precedes fast and I fetch the other essential tools. Then I put my first wash on to see jack frost playing on my paper so a higher angle catches the hot sun rays. Then granular ice particles start forming on my palette but the sketch is finished.

Linda Denis, Baie-Saint-Paul the Three Spirals, watercolour, 2015

A special thanks to Daniel Brunet, who works at the desk of the Auberge. He is a local artist who keeps his studio open year round and enjoys the company of other artists. Juan Cristobal, another full time Charlevoix artist and teacher takes time out to paint with us. We appreciate his reminder to pay attention to where we park. Knock on the door, if you wish to paint close to a farm yard or residence and a 99% warm welcome is a certainty.

Some more watercolours from my paint out in Charlevoix, Qc

View down hill to Saint-Iréneé,Qc

Municipalité Saint-Hilarion, Qc

Quai at St. Iréneé, Qc