Forêt y voir (2010) Painting by Yves Downing

Originally from Montreal, born to Acadian parents, I now live in Saint-Pamphile in the Chaudière Appalache region of Quebec. I am a self-taught landscape painter. I paint in oil and acrylic and I master both the technique of the brush and that of the knife. It is with the latter, however, that I express myself best. My preference goes more and more towards acrylic, especially for the flexibility that this medium gives me. I have developed my technique over the past sixty years. I was producing between two and five paintings a week before being struck down by a stroke in 2014. This incident forced me to take a break. I resumed my artistic activities in the middle of 2019. I like paintings by large sizes, but I am also comfortable with very small formats.

I like to paint the Laurentians, the region where I started as a professional artist , the Charlevoix region, the scenes of the Far North of Quebec where I have spent the last ten years and my country of origin the region of the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick. I appreciate the rural scenes which represent for me a perpetual wonder. Contact with nature is my greatest source of inspiration and joy. Always in search of changing light, I particularly like maritime scenes, vibrant testimony to my Acadian origins.

I have always painted: Child, I had I was constantly drawing my pencils and drawing. The artist-painter Garo introduced me, in his back shop on Sainte‑Catherine Street in Montreal, from a young age, to drawing, painting and creation. During a period of my life, I dabbled in sculpture, leatherwork and cabinetmaking.

You can find my paintings all over the world. However, most of my works are acquired by North American clients.

Artistic Approach

< /strong>

In 1994, my professional career led me to reflect on the true values of life. After a period of reflection on my current condition and having no real passions other than my art, I made the decision to devote most of my time to painting and to open my studio to the public.

My works are currently exhibited and available at my studio in Saint-Pamhile, QC