Chantal Julien

Originally from Donnacona, Chantal Julien lives and works in Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships. Her interest in the visual arts began very early. Mainly self-taught, she participates in professional development workshops and has obtained a certificate in visual arts from the University of Sherbrooke.

She has bee invited to prestigious symposiums and exhibitions, in particular Sakai and Kyoto, Japan and Monastir, Tunisia. Her awards are numerous and also includes scholarships including a  two time recipient of  the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. Her works are part of many public and private collections in Canada, including Loto-Québec and Sherbrooke City, the United States, Europe and Japan.

"When I look at a landscape, an emotion arises, just waiting to be immortalized. Light, often the first impression to capture my attention, becomes the trigger for the composition. I symplify the shape and use color and light to their expressive qualities, exploring the mysterious land between perceived and felt, between instinct and rationality. I take the vitality and richness of the landscape while concentrating on the emotional context.
I bring nature to the essential: line, shape and color. The contours less defined, leave ample way for the free and spontaneous gestures. The atmospheres created contribute to the feeling of attending a special moment, meditative, where the unspoken is part of the painting.
My paintings reflect my commitment to bring my vision of the Canadian landscape, both by the measurable and the abstract. With my works of modern and contemporary design, I look primarily to produce an atmosphere that creates an intense emotional dialogue with the viewer."
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She is a member of the Institute of Representative Arts (IAF) and the coalition of artists in visual arts of Quebec (RAAV), member of OPA (Oil Painters of America), AWA (American Women Artists) and SCA (Society of Canadian Artists). She has been published, since1996, in the Biennial Directory of Canadian artists in galleries of Magazin'art. An article on her work appeared in the journal Magazin'art spring 2011.

See Chantal Julien's works at Fallen Leaf Art Gallery the next time you're in Canmore.