Montreal artist Marina Dieul is increasingly recognized for portraiture, and for imaginative work, including the Best of Show in the “Inspiring Figures” exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art. (Above, La Décision, oil on linen)

Dieul was born in France, moved to Montreal in 2000 and has since studied with Tim Stotz and Michelle Tully, former students of Ted Seth Jacob. She has won numerous other awards in the last few years, including several of significance in the last few months. (Above, “Le défi“)

Her painting Bacchante (above) this month won the Canadian Portrait Society’s People’s Choice award and is at Toronto’s John B. Aird Gallery until Feb. 3 as part of the society’s current exhibit.

She was also finalist for La Fille au Fil in the 2011 Kingston Prize, Canada’s national portrait competition (above).  This post focuses on Dieul’s portraits of children, but her works include adults, groups, and other subjects, including animals – most recently, mice.

Oil, each 4 inches in diameter (6" with frame)

Her website is here.

Her blog is here.