Rene Tardif
René Tardif was born in Sainte-Foy, Quebec. His father, originally from Bas Saint-Laurent, was a man of the woods and a lover of the great outdoors and unconsciously communicated his respect for nature and his love for the surrounding beauty to his son.
Early on, a pronounced passion for drawing took hold in young René. He was an enthusiastic participant in the various artistic activities in grade school. Guided by a teacher who did not hesitate to venture into the open air to teach his students the essential elements of composition and color grading, René started to create his first drawings under this tutelage.
As a teenager, René perfected the art of drawing and was particularly interested in oil painting, which has become his preferred medium. His studies in colorimetry and photography, as well as his research on plastic mediums, have made him a solid craftsman.
In 1984, he successfully held his first solo exhibition, and he has exhibited regularly since then. His numerous excursions have taken him to The Maritimes, Charlevoix, Gaspésie, Saguenay, Estrie, and, of particular interest, to Bas Saint-Laurent, the land of his ancestors. His favorite subjects are landscapes that represent the interaction of the elements and their constantly renewing transformations.
The changing seasons occupy René’s canvases since he finds both emotional and spiritual comfort therein. There are no questions and no answers; there is only admiration. René Tardif's art is an urgent invitation to contemplate and protect this indispensable beauty.
