A Canadian painter of Japanese origin, Miyuki Tanobe talks about her Quebec neighbours. Her paintings document their rural traditions.

What was Tanobe’s initial impressions of rural and working-class Quebec and how do you think this influenced her art?

Miyuki Tanobe is a Japanese painter who has chosen to make Québec her home. She works in the Nihonga style, applying centuries-old techniques to scenes drawn directly from the working-class neighbourhoods of Montréal. The film records the progression of one of her paintings from a preliminary sketch to its completion, showing how thoroughly she has grasped the essence of her new homeland. Tanobe portrays Montréal and Québec life in a lively and perceptive fashion.