2016
Offshore Wind – Surf Scoters
by Pierre Leduc
About the Painting
“Most of the time, we see scoters form large schools that seem to allow themselves to drift with currents. If they are not too far from the shore, one can easily distinguish the males’ magnificent colourful beak.
Although I have often observed them in calm weather, I opted for a more hectic scene in which the seaward wind creates large waves. This really changed the composition of the image and made the painting much more dynamic.”
About the Artist
Pierre Leduc
“It is biology that led me to scientific drawing and then to naturalistic art.”
Born in Valleyfield in 1957, Pierre Leduc started his career as a scientific illustrator at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières. For seven years, he worked to illustrate scientific literature in ecology, zoology, entomology and especially botany.
In 1986 he decided to devote himself to a full-time career as a painter. His travels and excursions made him realize that nature is a limitless source of inspiration. Today, he still looks at nature with the admiring gaze of a child and always takes pleasure in discovering the living world. He conceptualizes the ideas of his paintings weeks, sometimes months before beginning to paint. During this time, he tries to imagine the best way to represent his subjects. Although still fascinated and inspired by the beauty of nature, it is not the subject itself which concerns him, but rather the research he is doing in terms of light, composition, movement and colours.
To date, he has participated in more than ninety exhibitions. He has had the opportunity to collaborate with the Fondation de la faune du Québec, Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint and the Canada Post Corporation.
The artist currently lives in Stoneham, Quebec.
