Blossoming into a watercolour artist
"My first attempts at watercolour were less than successful," she admits. But her passion and her instructor's encouragement were the incentives she needed to exploit her abilities. Mérard, who quickly recognized her talent, urged her to pursue painting and began promoting her locally. "He is my own René Angélil," laughs Thibault, referring to Céline Dion's famous husband and manager.
Her first important break came in 2004 when she submitted her portfolio for consideration to the Parcours des Arts du Richelieu. During this annual event, professional artists, photographers and sculptors from neighbouring towns open their studio doors to the public for four days. Visitors can choose which artists on the circuit to visit, then watch them at work and learn about their creative processes. To her delight, Thibault was accepted and has participated every year since then. Now, as a member of the board of directors for the Parcours, she's also found an outlet for her past business skills and experience, because, as she says, "I can't just be a spectator—I still need to be part of the action!"
Discovering her passion
A workshop a year later with Montreal-based professional artist Suzanne Voisard provided the defining moment of her new career. Thibault's artistic inspiration comes from details and textures, such as tiny crevices in old cobblestone or the fibres of a thick rope on the weathered wood of a dock. She is also moved by the history hidden within the walls of buildings that have withstood the ravages of time and nature. In Voisard, she found a soulmate whose guidance helped further her own style. Under Voisard's coaching, Thibault blossomed as a watercolour artist.
As her reputation grew, so did the number of commissions she received. In 2008, Thibault produced a watercolour of a historic municipal hall she'd discovered in Belgium. Having heard of her intention to do the painting, the mayor of St-Denis-sur-Richelieu reserved it so he could present it to a visiting dignitary from Chastre in Belgium. The watercolour was so well received, she was invited to showcase her work in Belgium last month. Always her biggest fan, Mérard promptly booked a solo showing in France immediately afterwards featuring a collection of Thibault's Maritime landscapes.
Back at home, Thibault reflects on the past 12 years. She compares herself to one of her favourite paintings, which she calls La Survivante. The painting is of an old house in France. Squeezed between two newer buildings, it seems to have been pieced together over the years with brick, stone or whatever materials were available. To Thibault, the house has the proud look of a survivor.
Words of wisdom
"Twelve years ago, I would never have believed that becoming ill and leaving a job I once loved could be the best thing that would ever happen to me. Today, I can honestly tell anyone who is in a similar situation, ‘Have faith, the best is yet to come.'"
Meet other women who have made momentous midlife career shifts: Joining the RCMP after 40, returning to a career in showbiz, and trading the office for the ocean.
This article originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of More
