Category Archives: enjoyable places

Life moves on and it’s time to update. This spring we spent 5 days at Charlevoix to sketch, to enjoy fellow artists and the local ambiance.

We stay at the L’Auberge Cap Aux Corbeaux, Baie-Saint-Paul, Qc with it’s panoramic view of Isle-aux-Coudres to the Massif from sunrise to sunset in all types of weather.

View from Auberge Cap aux Corbeaux

Each artist has a favourite spot maybe Port-au-Persil, parc national des Grans-Jardins, Saint-Hilarion or Malbaie but my preference is along the Fleuve Saint-Laurent. As usual, I go to the small gazebo beside the sailor’s church at Saint-Joseph-de-La-Rive. It provides shelter from the cold, rain and wind this day. My watercolour sketches were not truthful to the reality of the weather this day. I have no explanation but one of those times when the hand over rides the mind.

Saint-Joseph-de-La-Rive, Qc

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My stay always includes a stop at L’idée Forgée to chat with the artisan-forgeron Jeannot Duguay. What a special man, artisan and blacksmith. There is a photo of him in his atelier taken by Mon Charlevoix which reminds me of Anselm Kiefer and the saying “same mother different father”.

There is an informative article by Léa Asselin-Abston with more photos of Jeannot in his studio. Here is the link

 Duguay, le passionné artisan-forgeron de Saint-Irénée 

Lastly before leaving we have lunch at Pains D’exclamation in Malbaie – always a treat and it never disappoints. A place to warm up with a cappuccino some bread pudding and do some sketching.

Pains D’exclamation, Malbaie, Qc

As always we take an hour to walk the Main Street in Baie St. Paul to look at the galleries. Galerie  Guylaine Fournier was our favourite of the day. She was generous with her time and knowledgeable. There is a wide variety of sculptures, furniture, watercolour and acrylic or oil paintings.

A great 5 days to recharge the soul.

Time to take a mini vacation and explore parts of Quebec and Martimes.

Our final destination was Parrsboro, Nova Scotia to follow a three day figure workshop with Bill Rogers….wonderful generous artist and person. Each day another model was presented and we just painted. Bill would pass by and make the best suggestions for a better likeness, better values and colour choices.

On our way homeward, we passed an easy three hours at the Jardins de Métis near Sainte-Flavie, Qc. This particular spot of 45 acres enjoys a microclimate supported by the confluence of St Lawrence and Mitis Rivers which allows plant to grow here not found elsewhere in Canada.

Final days were spent enjoying Kamouraska food and scenery. Poissonnerie Laurier/Bistro, is a local bistro offering seafood with beer or wine. You line up to order- then take the beep puck to your table which signal your order is ready to eat. Prices are moderato, quality superb, service friendly. After labour day weekend this appears to be the only eatery open daily. Other have their signs out opening on the weekend.

This summer we visited Hunts Point, Nova Scotia. I did some watercolour sketches from our small rented cottage on the harbour. The harbour was quiet with lobster season closed but the scenery of moored boats and mixture of old wooden buildings and new aluminum was picture perfect.

Hunts Point, NS, watercolour on Arches paper

Harbour Buildings, Hunts Point, NS, watercolour on Arches paper

Nearby were restaurants, cafes and general shopping in Liverpool. The Hunts Point Market and Cafe across the street was especially appreciated for coffee and croissants in the morning.

This fall I will have a solo exhibition at Galerie Two Barn Owls, Hudson, Quebec, 420b Main from October 3 until 12th. The gallery is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 5. The vernissage will be Friday October 4 from 4-7, please come and enjoy.