Biography
Originally from Mauricie, self-taught in drawing, Claudine Dontigny decided to further her knowledge starting in 1983 for six years; including two years in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, where she studied painting with the painter Jean McEwen; and a year in painting with the painter Serge Brunoni. In 1987 and 1988, she worked in serigraphy at the Presse Papier workshop in Trois-Rivières.
Since 1983, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions, exhibited in several galleries in Quebec since 1985, and has held eleven solo exhibitions, including nine exhibitions in collaboration with the International Festival of Poetry. She was awarded the first prize at the 15th Painting Festival of the Grand Prix d’été de Québec in 1989.
Since 1991, her work has been traded on the public market and listed in the index of Canadian Arts. She has been represented by several reputable art galleries, such as Galerie Michel-Ange in Montreal, and currently by La Marée Montante Art Gallery on Île D’Orléans and by Galerie du Vieux St-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Artist’s Statement
For me, painting is above all a necessity, a way of life. To translate the natural and let instinct look around to perceive things. To love the spectacle of a tree, a river, a stream. This grandiose nature where man feels very small. I particularly appreciate this plenitude of light and its effects with dramatic and mysterious flashes. Glow, energy where a simple and beautiful landscape is steeped, constantly linking meaning to essence.
The encounter with poets from my region has contributed to developing my creativity, with the poetic and joyful connections of Alphonse Piché, Eugène Guillevic, Dargis, and Beaulieu, allowing me to further structure my personal vision. A poem, an idea, a photo, a sketch, a drawing, a fertile source for inspiration.
In my quest for answers to my existential questions, poetry, like music, allows me to look at the dynamics of life, nature, water, birds, and stone. The poem allows me to put a diaeresis on this transience. A sanctuary where strangers speak on the poetic traces of a passage, from here, from elsewhere.
My painting is a response by adding multiple layers of paint on the canvas, and ultimately, it has taken shape in impressionism. I will conclude with a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke, who tells us: “The creator must be for himself a universe. Find everything in himself and in the nature with which he has bound commerce, let quiet and serious, your growth follow its own law.”
C.V.
Professional training
| 1997 – 1998 | Directed studies in cello with Sylvie Lambert, cellist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra |
| 1994 – 1998 | Certificate studies in music culture (cello) at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières |
| 1988 | Watercolour workshop with Maurice Domingue, watercolourist |
| 1987 – 1988 | Serigraphy workshop internship at the Presse Papier workshop in Trois-Rivières |
| 1985 | Directed studies in painting with the painter Serge Brunoni |
| 1983 – 1984 | Bachelor’s degree studies in Fine Arts at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières |
| 1984 | Directed studies in painting with the painter Jean McEwen |
| 1976 – 1983 | Drawing studies (self-taught) |
| 1972 – 1975 | College diploma in Nursing Technique from Collège Sainte-Foy |
Gallery – Representation
| 2024 – Present | Galerie du Vieux St-Jean, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Canada) |
| 2008 – Present | Galerie d’Art La Marée Montante, Île d’Orléans (Canada) |
| 2012 – 2016 | Galerie C2 de Trois-Rivières (Canada) |
| 1998 | Galerie Arts et Passions de Trois-Rivières (Canada) |
| 1994, 2010 – 2014 | Galerie Michel-Ange Montréal (Canada) |
| 1999 – 2003 | Galerie D’Art Beauchamp de Québec (Canada) |
| 1992 – 1993 | Galerie Zanettin de Québec (Canada) |
| 1989 – 1992 | Galerie d’Art l’Heureux de Trois-Rivières (Canada) |
| 1989 – 1990 | Galerie d’Art Nicolas de Montréal (Canada) |
| 1988 – 1989 | Galerie La Turlutaine de Saint-Angèle-de-Laval (Canada) |
| 1987 – 2010 | Galerie Saint-Antoine de Trois-Rivières (Canada) |
| 1985 – 1992 | Galerie Gaby Lamothe de Grand-Mère (Canada) |
Public collections (Quebec)
| 2014 | Pierre Boucher Museum Collection, “Window of Eternity” 1993-1999 |
| 2014 | Pierre Boucher Museum Collection, “Angelico Blues” 2010 |
| 2010 | City of Trois-Rivières Collection, “Glow in the Harbor” 2008 |
| 1990 | Loto-Québec Society, “Therrien Lake Dump” 1989 |
| 1987 | Quebec National Library, serigraphy by Atelier Presse-Papier |
Solo exhibitions (Canada)
| 1996 | Solo Exhibition, Pavillon Michel-Sarrazin at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Rodolphe-Mathieu room |
| 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2019 | 9 Participations in the International Poetry Festival in various cultural centers with poets Alphonse Piché, Eugène Guillevic, Daniel Dargis, and Germaine Beaulieu, the last exhibition being held at the Pierre Boucher Museum in Trois-Rivières. |
| 1985 | Solo Exhibition, Galerie Gaby Lamothe de Grand-Mère |
Group exhibitions
| 2019 | Solo Exhibition, Galerie Gaby Lamothe de Grand-Mère |
| 2018 | 49th CAPS International Exhibition in Poland, Galeria Miejskiego Domu Kultury (Poland) |
| 2018 | Signatures, IAF Members, Musée l’Odyssée des bâtisseurs, Alma, Lac St-Jean |
| 2016 | Visa art, Body-to-body, Part 2, Centre de la culture, Magog |
| 2012 | Maison de la culture de Trois-Rivières, City of Trois-Rivières Collection |
| 2011 | PEGHB Eco Salon, Production l’Envol du Grand Héron Bleu |
| 2010 | Mayor’s Salon of Trois-Rivières for the year |
| 2010 | “Repérage II” event, City of Trois-Rivières Collection |
| 1991 | “Spring Salon” at the Empire auction house in Montreal |
| 1990 | Expo-auction for the Arthritis Society of region 04 in Trois-Rivières |
| 1989 – 1991 | Loto-Québec Expo-sale, Cultural Center of Trois-Rivières |
| 1989 | 5th International Poetry Exhibition, Galerie d’Art l’Heureux de Trois-Rivières |
| 1988 | 10th Anniversary of the Presse Papier workshop at the Parc Art Gallery in Trois-Rivières |
| 1988 | Galerie La Turlutaine in Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval |
| 1987 | Presse Papier Diffusion Center in Trois-Rivières |
| 1984 | Arthabaska Museum in Arthabaska |
| 1983 | Nérée-Beauchemin Pavilion at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières |
Jury-selected group exhibitions
| 1989 | Irénée Lemieux Prize at the St-Malo Credit Union in Quebec |
| 1989 | 15th Quebec Summer Grand Prix Festival |
| 1988 | 14th Quebec Summer Grand Prix Festival |
| 1987 | First National Biennial of Painting in St-Eustache |
Achievements and projects
| 2006, 2009 and 2014 | Creation of a DVD summarizing the exhibitions of 2006, 2009, and 2014, in collaboration with photographer Gilles Roux |
| 1996 – 1999 | Personal research in painting, multidisciplinary project combining music, text, and painting |
| 1994 | Launch of two posters at the New York Art Expo |
| 1991 | Trading value on the public market and listing in the index of Canadian Arts at the Hôtel des Encans in Montreal |
| 1988 | Design and serigraphic printing of the Certificate of Excellence for Polyvalente De-La-Salle in Trois-Rivières |
Awards and distinctions
| 2018 | Honorary Medal at the 49th CAPS International Exhibition, Poland, Galeria Miejskiego Domu Kultury (Maison de la culture), Mikolow, 2018 |
| 1989 | “Summer First Prize” at the 15th Quebec Summer Grand Prix Festival |
| 1988 | “Summer Second Prize” at the Quebec Summer Grand Prix |
Professional memberships
| 2018 – | Member of CAPSQ, Circle of Painters and Sculptors of Quebec Artists |
| 2018 | Signatory Member of the Institute of Figurative Arts – IAF |
| 2013 – | Member of Culture Mauricie |
| 1992 – 1993 | Active Member of the Quebec Painting Council |
| 1987 – 1988 | Active Member of the Presse Papier workshop in Trois-Rivières |
| 1986 – 1987 | Member of APCAQ, Associated Painters and Creators of Quebec Artists |
Press reviews (non-exhaustive)
Print media and art magazines
- Biennial Directory of Canadian Artists in Galleries, MAGAZIN’ART, editions 2015-2016; 2011-2013; 2004-2005; 2002-2003; 2000-2001
- Promotional brochure Circuit en art 2014-15, with a painting represented on the cover page, 2014
- Promotional brochure for the 28th colloquium of the Quebec Association of Mental Health Nurses, sent to all hospitals, universities, colleges, correctional services in Canada, and several partners, 2011
- Art Quebec Calendar 2011 by Utilis, Quebecor Media, 2011
- Art Agenda, Galerie Michel-Ange, Montreal, 2010
- Article, Mayor’s Salon, Le Nouvelliste Daily, 2010
- Article about Repérage II event, Le Nouvelliste Daily, 2010
- Article, L’Hebdo de la Mauricie, 1992
- Publication of articles, Le Nouvelliste Daily, Trois-Rivières, 1992, 1989, 1985 Interview
Radio / Television and Multimedia
- Interview with Louise Hamel, Radio-Canada, radio 96.5, 2006
- Exhibition of two posters in the set of the Virginie show, Radio-Canada television, 2002-2003
- Interview, CKTR – CKTM, television, 1985
