Author Archives: Linda Denis

My exhibition at the Galerie 2 Barn Owls, Hudson, QC commences on Friday, Aug. 24 with a vernissage from 5-7pm. Suzy will be my bartender in her converted vintage Rice Horse Trailer. Please come and enjoy. From Aug. 25 until Sept. 2, I will be present at the gallery on Friday and Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-4. These are the same opening hours as the 2 Barn Owls. You will enjoy the creative talented works of art by co-owner Mavis and Nancy in the adjacent room.

                                                                                                                                                           

This summer is hot and it was a good choice for vacation time to go to Vancouver island and visit our friends. Here we dined on local food and watched the ocean.

Sushi Ichi in Parksville, is an eatery we visit each time we come to the island. Sushi rolls, tempura, Japanese soup and warm sake.

We always dine at Cuckoo Trattoria in Coombs on the terrasse or inside.The menu has a wide variety of Italian favourite and all are wonderfully good.

At Kingfisher Spa and Resort, Courtenay Comox, we stop for lunch at Aqua Ocean 7.  The vista toward the ocean is spectacular and the food exceptional with choice of mussels, seafood chowder, salmon and many other seasonal local foods.

I have my watercolours and paper with me but did only a few sketches.

Linda Denis, Autour du Marais, oil on canvas, 30×30, 2018

This summmer I will be the artist in residence at the Galerie 2 Barn Owls, Aug.24 – Sept 2, hours Fri-Sat 10-5 and Sun 11-4, at 420 Main, Hudson, Qc. Vernissage August 24, 5-7pm. Please come and enjoy my art. There will be mostly Quebec landscapes paintings, on a scale of 36×24 or 30×30 completed on canvas with oil or acrylics.

Invitation 2 Barn Owls 2018

For those of you who follow my blog you will know I enjoy plein air painting especially in Charlevoix . This year we were the lucky ones for weather- not spring nor winter somewhere in the middle- cold north wind, occasionally sunny spots and always star filled skies at night.

We stayed at the Auberge Cap aux Corbeaux, just 5 minutes east of Baie-St-Paul. It is small and intimate with a panoramic view from Ile-aux-Coudres to the Massif ski hill. Here, breakfast is included and this is the time we talk about where and what is the best scenery to paint or sketch. Here are some of my favourite spots from previous years completed in oil and watercolour.

This year the village of Les Eboulements, St. Joseph -de- LaRive, Baie St.Paul were my subject matter is, close to coffee at the gas station, lunch at nearby restaurants and no worry about dubious roads.

Manse, Les Eboulements, watercolour,2018

Dry dock, Tugboat listing, watercolour, St.Joseph-de-LaRive, 2018

St.Joseph-de-LaRive, watercolour & gouache, 2018

View from the Pharmacy, watercolour, Les Eboulements, 2018

What artist was I looking at before my sketching in Charlevoix?  British impressionist Peter Brown (1967-), known as “Pete the Street” since he paints constantly outdoors. I loved his quote about why we sketch and thought it so appropriate I decided to reproduce it here.

“Exhibitions of your own work are all about showing off. You try and present the best of what you can do. You present a series of finished paintings or drawings editing any that do not work or are not up to scratch. Sketchbooks however are the opposite. They are for anything and everything – ideas, sketches, aides memoirs, diary notes and even shopping lists.”

Another year of spring painting in Charlevoix is over but already thinking of 2019.

Freya, pencil drawing

Friday, February 16, 2018 is the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Each year the day of celebration changes in accordance with the lunar calendar. One of twelve Chinese signs, it is the year of the dog. You can see from my previous posts we enjoyed more than our share of wonderful dogs.

“Honest and loyal, Dogs are the truest friends and most reliable partner.”

Freya was a given dog not aggressive enough in nature for her previous owner so she came to live with us. What a pleasure to have her in our lives.

Kleo, pencil drawing

Kleo was from the SPCA, she joined us as a puppy and we had her for 16 years. Another great one.

Qajaq was a huskie from Iglulik via Iqaluit, her standout characteristic was a three spiral corkscrew tail…unusual but so was she. She came to live with us because she had an independant streak and needed more supervision.

Linda Denis, Tundra dog and Mistress, oil painting, 30×30 inches, 2006

Here is a family photo of my Mother’s family with Arthur holding the family dog.

The best dogs are found dogs.

Alex on Limebank Farm, 90 years young this year 2018

I could not let this day pass without honouring some of these special dogs who have shared their lives with my family.

Time to talk about food. For breakfast I like the arena style Los Juouilenas on 8 Norte before the big indoor Mercado. I order a fresh orange juice then add ice cubes, café con leche which always comes sweetened and a quesadilla à la flora (squash blossoms).  Good service, reasonably prices and variety of Mexican food on menu. As an alternative for breakfast, light meal or snack we have Chedraui a large megastore offering a cafeteria style eatery. Before you get in to this store you may be asked by the security guard to check your bags, maybe look in your bag, do not be offended, just smile. My favourite beverage here is illy coffee- cappuccino, latte or expresso This eatery offers good value, air conditioning and great people watching.

For atmosphere next to the sea, Los Crotos is one of many places for seafood. The prawns brochette is a simple meal but perfectly prepared and enjoyed. Pascale next door offers similar fine dining. The appetizer of grilled vegetables is plentiful and easily shared with another. Tuna about one and half inches thick is cooked to perfection served with rice and green salad.

For Italian cusine, Benditos, is at the end of the street fair on your left, open for supper. Excellent pizza from their wood burning oven but also lasagne, fettuccine with a light sauces of tomato, mushrooms and fresh grated Parmesan cheese for topping..much more to chose from you need to go often.

I continue to sketch and paint daily.

Los Crotos Terrasse, watercolour, 2018

Lady on the Phone, watercolour & gouache, 2018

Happy Valentine, watercolour, 2018