Pauline Paquin

Pauline Paquin was born in 1952 in Sainte-Monique, Quebec, where she grew up on her father's farm and began drawing at a very young age. After studying nursing for three years at college in Saint-Jérôme, she worked as a nurse in Montreal. In 1980, a painter neighbor introduced her to oil painting, sparking a serious interest that led her to become a full-time artist in 1983.

As a self-taught artist, Paquin has developed a distinctive style often described as "fresh" and "honest," focusing almost exclusively on the world of childhood. Her paintings feature children engaged in various activities, using bold colors and rapid brushstrokes to capture their movements and energy. Notably, she intentionally leaves the children's faces indistinct, explaining that this choice helps them "represent all the children of the world" rather than specific individuals, while also encouraging viewers to connect with their own childhood memories.

Paquin's work has gained significant recognition across Canada. In 1996, Canada Post honored her talent by issuing a $0.52 stamp featuring her artwork to commemorate the 50th anniversary of UNICEF. Her paintings are held in numerous public and corporate collections throughout Canada and beyond. Beyond original artworks, her images have been adapted into various products including limited editions, lithographs, greeting cards, and puzzles, and have appeared in school books, business magazines, and television shows.

Currently residing in Sainte-Adèle in the Laurentians, Paquin continues her artistic career that began in 1979. She is a member of the Institute of Figurative Arts and remains dedicated to capturing the spontaneity, simplicity, and imaginative world of childhood through her distinctive paintings.