Arctic Spring - King Eiders by Pierre Leduc (2002)

About the Artist

Pierre Leduc was born in Valleyfield, Quebec, in 1957. A biologist who graduated from the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivihres (Canada), Leduc worked throughout his studies as a scientific illustrator of works in zoology, entomology and especially in botany.

As he pursued his studies and his work as a scientific illustrator, he embarked on a career as a wildlife painter, a career he has embraced full time since 1986.

Leduc's favourite medium is acrylic even though he sometimes uses oil or lithography on stone. Although generally working on one painting at a time, often the next painting is already taking shape in his mind. Leduc says: "I often ponder an idea for week or months before beginning a painting. During this period of time, I try to figure out how best to paint my subject. I can change the composition, I may accentuate or blemish the colours and I can add or remove anything I want. Finally, the result is something between interpretation and reality." "Although I am still fascinated and inspired by the beauty of nature, it is not the subject itself as much as the research on light, composition and colours that captures me."

Since 1984, Leduc has done some solo exhibitions and has participated in well over fifty group exhibitions mainly in Quebec and Ontario, but also in Europe, in Africa and in the United States. The quality of his work brought him well-deserved collaborations with the Quebec Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Newfoundland-Labrador Conservation Fund, Parks Canada, "Patrimoine-Nature" (Madagascar), Canada Post Corporation and the Royal Canadian Mint.

He presently resides in Stoneham near Quebec City.

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