Lucie Bilodeau in her Chicopee studio.

Courtesy of Reminder Publication



CHICOPEE Chicopee artist Lucie Bilodeau's animal paintings are startling in their detail. It's little wonder as Bilodeau has traveled to Africa to photograph and observe her subjects first-hand.

One of her paintings will be featured as part of a national television show to appear on Animal Planet later this year. An Australian film company, Southern Star Entertainment, has selected her painting "Eye of the Lion" to appear in the opening title credits of its most recent documentary "Warrior's Survival Guide."

It's the latest recognition for the award-winning artist who has made her home in Chicopee for the past eight years.

Bilodeau started drawing when she was seven years old and attended the Mission: Renaissance School in her native Canada at 14. There, she focused on fine art and by the age of 23 she had won eight national art awards.

She has been working and living as a full-time artist for the past 15 years and her original work is represented by three galleries as well as featured in a series of prints and note cards.

Her works includes portraits, still lifes and works that reflect spiritual beliefs, but animals dominate.

"I just love them," she explained.

In her home studio a large painting of a wolf awaits finishing touches. On an adjoining easel there is a painting of a mountain lion and the juxtaposition makes one look twice the lion seems to be casting a wary look at the wolf.

Bilodeau said that she has made trips to a number of parks in Africa to take the photos of animals in their native habitats. She also goes to a game farm in Montana where animals can be photographed almost like models. A lion cooperatively posed for her and Bilodeau used that image as well as those taken in Africa of the Serengeti to create her painting.

"I inspire myself from the photos," she said.

Her husband, Chicopee native and portrait painter Kevin Candon, added that in Africa they saw hundreds of lions, but few were "posing" for their cameras.

Animals closer to home also inspire Bilodeau the couple's cats are also subjects.

Bilodeau's art actually brought the couple together. Bilodeau was living in Key West, Fla., with her work being exhibited in a gallery there. Candon, who was visiting the gallery, was impressed by the work and asked the gallery owners about the artist. After assessing he was single a fact Candon and Bilodeau recounted with a laugh the owner called Bilodeau who came down to meet him.

Despite travels to Africa and living in the tropical environment of Key West, she enjoys the quiet Chicopee neighborhood where they live.

"I love the four seasons," she said. "[In Key West] there are two there: hot and more hot."