Léo Samson: man of all seasons

At 96 years of age, Leo Samson is still painting. His paintings are a reflection of the long and varied life he has had. A self-taught artist, the oils he has created over the past 10 years were on display at the Salle des arts in Mont-Tremblant’s Centre-town district, below the Samuel-Ouimet library, April 23 to May 2. They proclaim that he still has a sharp eye and a deft hand, quite capable of vividly capturing on canvas the things he loves.

His impressions of landscapes featuring mountains, waterfalls and the sea tell of his appreciation of nature. His depictions of race cars and airplanes express his pleasure in speed and the rush of the wind. Other paintings recall the story of Mont-Tremblant – portraits of Tremblant resort founders Joe and Mary Ryan and the Saint-Bernard chapel they built. Léo Samson, the artist, car buff, pilot, musician, innkeeper, is a man of all seasons and is himself the living incarnation of local history. If you missed the exhibit, you can call him and ask to see his paintings in his home in Mont-Tremblant’s Centre-town district. He has many interesting stories to tell.

André Courey, journalist