Born and raised in the Laurentians, a region celebrated for its natural beauty, Céline Bastien developed a deep love of nature early in life. This lasting connection to the outdoors continues to inspire her creative journey. As a child, she struggled with severe seasonal allergies that often kept her awake at night. To soothe her during those quiet hours, her parents gave her paint-by-number kits. The calm, meditative process of painting became a source of comfort and joy, planting the seeds for her later passion for acrylics. Creativity was always part of her life—needlework, crafts, drawing, and colouring filled her youth.
As an adult, photography became a way to capture scenes she dreamed of one day painting. Following early retirement in 2017, Céline enrolled in acrylic and watercolour classes through her city’s cultural programs, rekindling her love of painting and helping her develop her artistic voice. When the pandemic struck, she embraced the opportunity to paint independently. Starting with florals and soon drawn to sunsets, she explored the beauty and tranquility found in nature.
Céline’s work is deeply influenced by her Christian faith and love of the natural world. In a time often marked by uncertainty, her goal is to create art that offers peace—a visual expression of calm and well-being.
-Written by Lucy Anglin
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Which hood are you in?
I have been living in Beaconsfield for 25 years. This West-Island city is beautiful with mature trees and waterfront parks. It is community oriented and offers its citizens many cultural and sporting activities.
What do you do?
My husband and I retired several years ago (an early retirement for me). We are grandparents to two grandchildren who live nearby, and two others who live in Calgary. We are involved in our local church, and I am a member of the Beaconsfield Artists’ Association. I have served a first year as Vice-President of the association, which has been a great time of getting to know some of my fellow artists better. We hold two exhibitions every year, one in spring and the other in fall and are always looking for new venues for other exhibitions. I have also had solo exhibitions in several places, including the public library, Old Brewery Mission Gallery, the Victor Rose café in Pointe-Claire and the Bromont en art symposium.
What are you currently working on?
I work mainly in acrylics and have done a lot of paintings recently with sunsets as the main subject. Many of these are set in places in our province, some in the Lower Saint-Lawrence River, some closer to home, in and around the West-Island. I also do some watercolour, mainly hand-painted greeting cards and bookmarks, but also paint every now and then. Recently, I have taken a course on alcohol inks, which I really love because of the rich, vibrant colours and the abstract aspect they produce. I plan on making a series using this medium in the coming days.
Where can we find your work?
My artwork can be found on my website, as well as on my Instagram. People can also see my paintings in person at the Art and Garden Tour in and around Beaconsfield on July 19.
